Here, I would like to briefly analyze the women, girls and their fate that appeared in the movie.
Regarding Dolly’s mother, many film critics briefly mentioned "unhealthy" mental illness" or even "useless". When I saw her eyes, I thought: What caused her nervous breakdown? Many countries, many Many mothers in this era, even if their lives are unhappy, or even hard and dangerous, they will clenched their teeth. (Digression: I am not partial to this attitude of doing everything for the child, and I don’t think it is more important to do so. The right or the great choice.) Of the mother’s three children, the oldest is only 17 years old, and the youngest Essiri is about 6 years old. How can she let it go?
It’s easy to find the reason if she continues to watch the movie: Her husband, the father of the children, is a well-known local drug dealer. She often disappears, so she is always in fear. And what he did is not for her, their children or family. He is just a drug maker in a remote mountainous area. A small drug dealer. Such a man has a lover. Dolly’s parents have been together for about 17 years or more. For so many years, she cannot change her limitations, cannot change him, cannot change the environment, She couldn't change or escape her life. The face and love she had when she was young have long since disappeared. There is no hope in life. So, she has a nervous breakdown. Because she gave up in her heart.
Dolly went to find teardrops, Jesse's brother. Many film critics said that Jessie’s reaction when she suddenly strangled Dolly’s neck was very violent. I think his heart at that moment was very complicated. First, he complained about his brother for not being able to keep up. Second, he complained that he could not protect him; third, he complained about life. There are so many helpless things in the middle; fourth, he does not want to break the rules and traditions of the local people; fifth, she does not want Dolly to continue to investigate or risk her life.
The teardrop's wife only appeared in this scene. She begged her husband to help his niece. The teardrop said: I have already said "shut up" with my mouth. (I already said shut up with my mouth.). The lingo was obvious, he would use force without words if she didn't shut up. So she fell silent immediately, stuffed some money into Dolly's hands in silence, and then sent her out.
I think she is a beautiful woman, not the so-called "female virtues", but she does look good. At that moment, I thought: What kind of living environment does she come from? What was her childhood dream? Does she know she is beautiful? Her beauty must have been praised many times, right? She and Teardrop must have been in love before. Are they in love? What was their life once and how will it be? Is his rudeness and her tolerance, is it the result of nature or accumulation? Is she happy? Does she think about whether she is happy or not? How does she spend the days outside and inside? ... She is also getting old, like her grandmother, mother, sister-in-law, and all women. The beauty they have never had, has been or will be slowly overwhelmed by the years.
Dolly goes to a good friend's house to borrow a truck. The friend holding the baby shook his head helplessly: He (her husband) never told me why it was not possible, he just said it was not possible. (He never says why not, he only says no.)
I can’t help thinking, what is her story like? Did you drop out of school? Did she get married so early because she was pregnant? Has she ever thought about going to college? Does she dream to see the world outside Dashan? Does she have a job? His husband looks unlearned and rude. Does she love him? What qualities do you love him? Does he love her? Is she satisfied with her life? Does she want to live a future life? Will she become another Dolly's mother or aunt?
The friend drove her husband's truck to Dolly's house. Dolly hugged her, and then said: You are still you, nothing has changed. I shook my head: She has changed, but I don't know if she changed the life she once dreamed of or the real life changed her. I sigh: realize it or not, no matter how good or bad we are, we are actually changing. The inner core of each of us, our soul, our dream, our self, whatever you call it, I believe: some people have found it and cherish it; some have never found it; some have found it and then forgotten Or lost.
The appearance of Jesse's lover: country bar, banjo, mandolin, bluegrass music, folk singer, Missouri waltz... these words put together, it sounds romantic and exotic.
I think many people like me, like observing people. We always want to know the stories that may be hidden behind the happy, sad, indulgent, lonely, expressionless faces. Sometimes, we will find that imagining at a distance is usually much better than reality.
What does her story look like? Has she ever been married, have any children, divorced, or her husband is in prison or has passed away? Has she ever had or will have other lovers? How did she and Jesse get together in the first place? In her, is it attractive or lonely, is it trying to find a support in life or something else? How can he be worthy of relying on, a man who does not take care of his wife and children but is manipulated by drugs? How will she face and spend her time in the future? Why does she have to rely on men? Why not find a job yourself? Can't find a job? I checked the information and found that the unemployment rate in Missouri is slightly lower than the total unemployment rate in the United States.
Many film critics say that the patriarch’s wife is both ugly and vicious. There is a New York woman who has a superiority to criticize how dim the faces of the women without makeup in the film are and how outdated their clothes are.
Yes, she has no makeup. Yes, her eyes and face looked hard and cold. Yes, she threatened Dolly; she poured hot tea or coffee on Dolly's face (one of the small loopholes in the film, because Dolly's face was not burned at all.); she hit Dolly. However, it was also she who took the initiative to come to Dolly's house and take her to the location of Jesse's body. He also helped her saw off his hands as evidence of preserving the property.
She used to have baby-like skin and eyes; she also had a flowery girlish feeling and face; she also dreamed of crying and laughing... She was just getting old. And many people, don't know why, are intolerant to people who are old. Especially for women.
Many film critics call the heroine Dolly a hero. I feel that when 17-year-old Dolly said confidently that she would find her father, she did not have any confidence and certainty, nor did she know what to do. She only knew that she had to do her best and take risks, because she had no other choice.
Of course, when there seems to be no hope, there is still the choice of giving up early or persisting. From this perspective, Dolly is indeed a very responsible and brave girl.
When he saw the neighbor picking deerskin in the yard, the younger brother asked if he could ask for some meat. Dolly said: Never open your mouth to ask for something that should be given to you. Some things, if others are willing to give you, you don’t want them, they will give them; if others don’t want to give you, even if they ask for it, they won’t give it. Why don't many people understand such a simple truth? In certain circumstances and situations, if there is no self-esteem, what is left of us?
Dolly teaches her brother and sister to shoot squirrels with a gun. When her younger brother didn't want to pick squirrel skins with his hands, she said: Some things in life, we always have to learn to stop being afraid.
When the scars were scarred, she did not cry or complain. She just calmly faced the next thing she should do. Yes, she shed tears at her mother weakly, because she was still a child.
Dolly tried to join the army. Not to escape her life and responsibilities, but there is no other way. The officer asked some very realistic questions: Even if she joined the army, she couldn't get the money immediately; the house could not be kept; even if the house could be kept, who would take care of her mother, younger siblings?
There is another detail that shocked me: Dolly had to grab the hands of her dead father. They were being chopped off, put in a plastic bag, and taken to the police station as evidence. Otherwise, they will be homeless. Imagine how many people can calmly face the predicament experienced by the girl Dolly in today's popular psychological fragility, mental depression, physical indulgence, and material enjoyment?
At the end of the film, Dolly's mother seemed to have a smile on her face. When I look at it, I think it's very unrealistic. At this moment, I suddenly thought that maybe it was a hint: as long as there are children like Dolly and the qualities she possesses, women, families, life, and society, there is hope for mankind. Although, in a certain sense, each of us bears his own cross; even though, there are still no choices in life at many times.
In an age where sex is paramount, I have to say that this is really a rare, clean, and thought-provoking movie.
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