"ミサトさんだって...other people's くせに...what's the solution!"
Miss Miri, you are not yet, you are an outsider at all, you don't know me at all!
Probably because I read Kenzaburo Oe's novels and Sartre this semester; the themes of existentialism and identity are particularly prominent to me in this theatrical edition. With the mentality of reviewing the classic animation of the century, I completed the TV+ old theatrical version within two days; the lighthearted and funny scenes of the first few episodes once made me think that this is just a blood of "the selected boys and girls save the world" The originator of the story. Although the story becomes gradually darker in the later period with the disintegration of each character's inner "belief", there are still many moments that make me feel ok. This is a contradictory rising action that must be experienced when reaching a climax. Soon the protagonists and teenagers will experience The inner self-doubt and self-conflict will be redeemed by someone like a mentor ( ie Miri). It's like Blessing "motivating" Shinji while watering flowers in an apocalyptic scene:
Shinji, I can only pour water here, but there is a time when only you can do it and you can definitely do it. No one forces you to think for yourself and decide what you should do now, and never let yourself regret it.
The young man was thoughtful, as if he had made up his mind, as if he understood his identity—as the savior of this world. However, it is clear that he still does not understand, he does not understand the definition of identity given to him by others, just as we see him in the end, who is once again slumped, and once again falls into self-doubt and isolates himself from others and the world. The same thing happened to Asuka, when her complacent self-esteem was defeated when she declared to others "I actually hate myself" and no one responded. Misato heard her hysteria in the bathroom, and she only showed a worried expression. The next day, she still had to play the role of the commander and let the pilots continue to "save the world"; Once hopeful: the squad leader, hurry up and encourage Asuka, hurry up and cheer her up. However, the moment when Asuka really "awakens" and cheers up is the resolution of her self- contradiction, her inner demon, and the resolution of her mother.
It's better to compare Shinji to a tool man, a tool man who can't find his motive, can't find himself, and is asked by a group of adults to control another doll (the first machine). Audiences often see Misato as Shinji's mentor, a character who can guide him to find himself, until the director denies our expectation again - Misato is also seriously ill. As commander, her motivation for eliminating the apostles stemmed from more personal reasons, avenging her father's death; she hated the apostles.
With the death of blessing, as nerv's conspiracy gradually surfaced; the plot ushered in the dilemma of all members being autistic, all sick, all eager to obtain redemption from others but unable to cross the gap between each other.
Hell is other people
Others are hell
When people all over the world merged into the ocean of LCL, Shinji was very disturbed by the ambiguity that "truth always accompanies pain, lies are tender" .
Ambiguous (ambiguity): This does not include the relationship between men and women with ambiguous attitudes, but refers to the meaning of vagueness and ambiguity
This unease is the uneasiness towards others, the unease that others cannot understand. Anxiety about the gaze of others. Thus the incomprehension of each other creates irreparability; once there is a desire for others to understand themselves, or for others to evaluate themselves differently ("the gap between other people's reality and their own reality"), there is this between people The insurmountable estrangement, aka AT field, ultimately leads to mutual disgust or shame; our expectations, which reflect self-worth by others' needs/evaluations of us, are betrayed and abandoned.
accept oneself
Man is the sum of his actions
--Jean Paul Sartre, Existentialism is a Moralism
At the end of the film, Shinji's mother/Rei/Eve asks, "Then what is the meaning of your hands?" It is undoubtedly an affirmation of existentialism, that is, the essence of human beings is defined through behavior .
I can have such an understanding of this movie because I accidentally saw another fan's comment while listening to the OST. I am excerpting it here.
This was such a well made movie. I wish more people could see the optimistic meaning behind it instead of looking at it shallow in a depressing way. Its message is inheritely optimistic. It's about accepting the "AT fields" that exist in our psychology and we protect ourselves with, but behind them are just people who want to be accepted. The human instrumentality is the "Kombaya" everyone comes together idealism, but that it may not be as you hope. Our reality is accepting that we have these barriers and it's apart of what makes us human, and that we must strive under our own will to come together as a species. And it starts with each individual accepting themselves first, and from there being able to also accept others. From here you can come together .
This is a great movie. How I wish more people could see the upbeat meaning behind it and not just take it as a depressing ending. What the film is trying to convey is positive. It's about accepting the "AT force field" (the estrangement) that exists in each of us, which we use to protect ourselves, but at the same time we desperately want to be accepted (understood). The so-called "Human Completion Project" that allows all people to break down the barriers and become one is ideal, but it is not realistic. Our reality is to accept the separation between people, because only human beings are innate; and we can only bring everyone together by our own will (not any kind of false will or coercion). Therefore, it must be that each of us first begins to accept ourselves and then others; in order to finally be one with one heart.
Reality is the insurmountable gap between people. If you want to break through it to get closer to others, or to truly understand each other, you can only act on your own will.
miscellaneous
1. I like this very realistic work very much, because every character has flaws, no one is perfect, no one can save others like the savior, the only person who can save once again can only be himself.
2. The scene of Blessing's watering flowers at the end of the day is very similar to his funeral, and under the background of the atmosphere, he is given a God-like image, so he has the ability to guide Shinji. (I don't know if it can be more vivid to compare the all-white station space that Dumbledore entered after Harry's "death"?)
3. I prefer the old version with City Pop-style music from time to time, sexy and independent women, and the urban Tokyo feel at night.
4. Feminist Criticism off topic: The male gaze is too serious, but the cultural context of the 1990s must be considered.
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