Clicking in for the 9.2 rating and the word "comedy".
Originally I just wanted to laugh like an idiot, but after reading it, not only did I laugh like an idiot, but I was shocked.
Although this is a black-and-white film released in 1942, his shooting technique, script, and actor setting are extremely full. Every seemingly nonsensical plot is so subtly integrated into it. Without special effects, it can fully reflect the contemporary era. Some hugely expensive blockbuster is underfoot.
"You Escape Me Also" directed by Lubitsch is really good!
(one)
Here is a brief account of two backgrounds, one is the golden age of Hollywood, and the other is Lubitsch.
The golden age of Hollywood began in the 1930s and ended after World War II. During that time, a large amount of capital entered the Hollywood film industry, forming a "big studio system" pattern monopolized by large factories and large industries in Hollywood. This profit-oriented system gave birth to a film production model, which led to the suppression of film art and the personalities of many filmmakers.
But at the same time, the function of movie stars is greatly magnified, and people often know a movie through them. Just like "Gone with the Wind", people say to watch Vivien Leigh's "Gone with the Wind" instead of Fleming's "Gone with the Wind".
The star training system at that time was similar to the contemporary idol training model. how to say? That is, "star" does not correspond to an actor's real body, but corresponds to his "personality". The assembly line production team of the big studio will revolve around this "personal design" and create the same type of role for him in different movie scripts.
In addition, stars will sign extremely strict contracts with big producers. During the contract period, the company can resell the stars and even punish them by violent means. So, let's stop criticizing the monotony of the actors' roles at that time, because they really have no right to speak.
You may ask, since it is so unfriendly to filmmakers, why can it be called the golden age of film? The answer lies in the birth of many types of films during this period, including westerns, horror films, police and bandit films, musicals, thrillers, etc., although these types of films have similar plot routines, character settings, modeling styles, and shooting techniques. , but they attracted huge audiences and laid a solid foundation for the continued prosperity of American cinema.
Although the creative enthusiasm of the film artists subjected to the assembly line production system is completely suppressed, there are still some talents who emerge. For example, Alfred Hitchcock, like a ray of light, shines into the otherwise dark world of filmmaking; and William Wheeler, the legendary filmmaker who filmed "The Golden Age" and "Roman Holiday", he always keeps a sharper focus. High creative standards, its films make love alive; and what I will introduce next - Ernst Lubitsch.
To be honest, before this, I just heard the name but didn't really know him. After watching "You Run, I Run", netizens unanimously exclaimed that "Lubieqian is awesome" and "As expected of Lubieqian", I just did my homework out of curiosity. Of course, these materials can also be found on the Internet, so I have selected some key points.
The name may seem Chinese, but Ernst Lubitsch is actually a German. He started his career as a comedian, then moved behind the scenes to become a director. In his more than 30 years of filming, he has filmed masterpieces such as "The Troubles in Heaven" and "The Oyster Princess", and has been nominated for the best director of the Oscar three times, and finally won the honorary award of the Academy Award. He created his own unique "Lubitsch brushstrokes": sophisticated, stylized, subtle, witty, captivating, refined, delightful, elegant nonchalance and unbridled eroticism", "infused with pungent sadness in the happiest moments of the film .
After the passing of Lubitsch, considered one of the best directors of the Golden Age, Bill Wilder said sadly: "There won't be another Lubiechen." William Wheeler added: "Worse, There will be no more Lubitsch films."
(two)
After introducing the background, back to the film itself.
"You Escape Me Also" is really exciting. There are too many issues to discuss. Given my limited writing ability, let's talk about the Shakespeare elements in the film that attract me the most.
First of all, look at the title. Its original English name is TO BE OR NOT TO BE. Yes, it is the first half of the classic line "To be or not to be, that's a question." in "Hamlet". This line seems simple, but it contains profound connotations. What does "to be" refer to? How to understand "be to"? This naturally creates malleability for the movie, and everyone can use their imagination to give their own understanding after watching the movie.
Image: https://uploader.shimo.im/f/R36GhpGlb5PcZGor.png
Personally, I agree with the interpretation of "to live or to destroy". In Shakespeare's play, Hamlet's father died suddenly, his mother remarried, and his uncle usurped the throne. His heart was full of suspicion and pain, and in confusion, he said this line: "To be or not to be, that's a question." And "You Flee Me Also" was shot against the backdrop of the Nazi invasion of Warsaw, Poland. At that time, the Nazis attacked Warsaw and implemented brutal military rule in Poland. The Polish people were embattled and faced the threat of death at any time. Their situation is somewhat similar to Hamlet's - are they sitting there anxiously waiting to die? Or stand up against this unjust aggression? this is a problem.
Of course, it is also very appropriate to understand it as "revenge or give up", "do or not do, escape or not escape".
"to be or not to be" also appeared in the film many times, not only echoing the title, but also as a burden to promote the development of the plot. The male protagonist Joseph is an actor in the theater, where he plays Hamlet, and when he comes out and says "to be or not to be", someone will leave. For this reason, he was still very sad and made a fuss about his wife Maria. Unexpectedly, this was Maria's password to meet Xiao Xianrou. After the victory broke out, Xiao Xianrou went back to join the army, but he was obsessed with Maria, and even asked someone to bring this sentence to her. This unintentional act caused the entire troupe to be drawn into the shadow of war. Because of this sentence, Joseph's disguise was seen through, but at the same time, it also inspired the courage of the troupe's actors to resist, and they finally successfully escaped from Warsaw. At the end of the film, Joseph played Hamlet in the British troupe, but after saying "to be or not to be", someone left, and there were two.
Look at how smooth the logic is before and after this, the links are linked together, especially the last scene, which echoes the beginning and the end, it is really clever!
In addition, the film also quotes a passage from Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice:
do I have no eyes? I have no hands?
Organ, Sensation, Scale, Influence, Passion
Eat the same things, get hurt by the same weapons, suffer the same diseases
Won't we bleed if we pierce us?
Won't we laugh if you tickle us?
Wouldn't we die if we were poisoned?
The Jews in Shakespeare's writings are greedy and selfish villains, while the Jews in the eyes of the Nazis are unpardonable traitors, and they both treat Jews unfairly. Lubitsch is Jewish, and this may be his catharsis to this cruel world. No matter what country you come from, no matter what ethnicity you believe in, people are equal, and everyone deserves to be treated gently by the world.
background source
http://ny.zdline.cn/mobile/audioShareCard/index.html?artId=83234&code=071h6X000p6olK1OAf000phSS82h6X0w&state=STATE#/
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/VwCWyckszRu23OXtK49eOA
https://baike.baidu.com/item/Ernst· _
"The Wild History of Fish and Sheep" by Gao Xiaosong
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