Others’ ratings have nothing to do with yourself

Kailyn 2021-11-22 18:54:21

Other people’s ratings have nothing to do with oneself——Comment on "Duncan, I am asking you how you see yourself" "Scale of one to ten". The story begins with the "quasi-stepfather" of the autistic and introverted boy Duncan "Ask him how much to score himself from one to ten. Duncan replied "six points", and his stepfather replied "I think it is three." . . . Because the "stepfather-to-be" thought he was an otaku who had no friends but stayed in his mother's apartment. The public ratings of introverted children are not high. Of course, those "popular reviews" who like to rate people are often those who don't really understand themselves. And these ratings with strong subjective assumptions will deeply bury the seeds of inferiority in the minds of the judges, especially the fragile children, just like Duncan, who was originally introverted in the film, is even more repulsive with this seed. I can't let go of it for a long time.
[The lonely]
There are two types of lonely people: one is the person who is unwilling to talk to others, and the other is the person who is unwilling to talk to others. I would rather the former, because if we want to change the status quo, the former can change ourselves, and as the latter we cannot change others. Unfortunately, Duncan became the latter. The public review judged this group of people's symptoms as social disorders. Like other "social handicapped" people, Duncan resisted social activities. He was pointed out because of his restraint and out-of-compatibility at all gatherings. However, he got the favor of Susanna, who is also lonely. This may be what people often do. As I said, mental patients are normal people in each other's eyes, and perhaps only lonely people can understand their aversion to impetuousness and noise. People define the "solitary life" of the lonely as a disease. I think they confuse the lonely with the lonely, but there is a fundamental difference between the two. Professor Chen Guo of the Department of Philosophy of Fudan University explained in class that loneliness and loneliness are not the same thing, just as alone and lonely are not the same. The lonely person enjoys the happiness brought about by being alone. It is a lingering temperament brought about by thought, and loneliness is a kind of disease. His prescription is the crowd and the noise. Of course, it treats the symptoms but not the root cause. Just like Duncan's "quasi-step dad" in the film is lonely and "sneaks" with his friend's girlfriend. But Duncan the lonely can find his real back garden-WIZZ water park.
[back yard]
God created Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. When he created other human beings, he also created a "back garden" of his own for everyone. Duncan also received his WIZZ water park this summer. Most of the warmth of this film comes from the water park. In the circle of "parents", Duncan was defined as a loser with 3 points. In this water park, he became a popular "outstanding employee" and was even given the wrong name "Brother Twisting Crotch" by everyone. ". All this is grateful for the encouragement and help of "friend" Owen. One of the highlights of this film is also Owen. The director used Owen to express his outlook on life and values. Duncan and Owen’s first encounter should be in the back seat of the car, and the first real communication was at the game console of a fast food restaurant. Owen’s view of the game was only a short minute but contained a powerful amount of information. I would rather enjoy the fun of the game in your own way than to use the so-called "pattern (rule, strategy)" that everyone knows to get a higher level. It conveys to us a kind of human values-life lies in experience.
[Balance]
Seeing a third of the film, I have felt that Duncan's "quasi-stepfather" is actually a cold, overspeaking, and even dirty person, but why did my mother choose such a person? This phenomenon is not uncommon in life. Some girls who are not bad after being abandoned by their ex-boyfriends inexplicably choose a current job who is not as good as their ex-boyfriend (Duncan’s mother is also due to his father’s new love...). The director gave us his answer through Suanna's mouth. At about 45 minutes or so, when the adults were partying and reveling, the two children began to discuss this philosophical issue. "I think the thing that really hurt my mother is not my father's departure, but that he found other people and she didn't" Suanna.
[Other people’s ratings have nothing to do with yourself]
One of my favorite lines is the dialogue between Owen and Duncan on the balcony at the end of the film. It is also here that the director pulled back to the topic of "scoring" at the beginning of the movie. As an 11-year-old boy in adolescence is an age that needs to be affirmed by the adults, but the "quasi-step dad" denies himself with a ruthless 3 points, so children in this sensitive period have been brooding. As someone who came by, Owen comforted him, "(How the prospective stepdad would rate it) This is his business and has nothing to do with you" "You don't have to believe those (their rules), just go your own way" so A simple remark relieved Duncan, all he needed was an adult's affirmation.
[About the movie and the title]
Movies are not like fast food, consumed quickly and forgotten. Some are used to rebuild quality and wisdom (quoted in Martin Scorsese). This simple, slow-paced, small independent film is like a Chinese Greentown, with a light but endless aftertaste. I personally feel that the translation of the film into "Lost and Knowing Return" may be a misunderstanding of the film. It may also be that the parents’ evaluation of Duncan “strayed astray” at first, and finally came to “WIZZ Water Park” to understand the other side of the child and then examine themselves. Of course, only the director knows the true intention.

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Extended Reading

The Way Way Back quotes

  • Duncan: This is the only place I'm happy.

    Owen: What's going on?

    Duncan: I hate him.

    Owen: Who?

    Duncan: Trent. My mom's boyfriend. He said I was a three. He asked me what I thought I was on, a scale from one to ten. He called me a three. Who says that to somebody?

    Owen: Someone who doesn't know you.

    Duncan: I didn't want to have to answer! I shouldn't have to answer!

    Owen: Listen to me. That's about him, man. That's all about him. It's got nothing to do with you.

    Duncan: [vehemently] Yeah? How do you know?

    Owen: 'Cause I know, okay? Don't worry about how I know. My dad was the same way. That's why I don't like patterns and rules. And that's why you can't buy into that shit. You gotta go your own way. And you, my friend, are going your own way.

  • Joan: Carry a laser down the road that I must travel!

    Kip: Why would it be 'carry a laser'?

    Joan: Because it's a song about outer space.