Many years ago, I saw an American movie "Blood Battle Hacksaw Ridge" that was released in theaters. It is about an American soldier who was unwilling to carry a gun to defend his beliefs. After going through ups and downs, he was almost convicted of a felony by a military court. In the end, he was unexpectedly acquitted, and the army finally allowed him to go to the battlefield empty-handed. As a result, on the battlefield, with the same persistent attitude of "not holding a gun", he was specially responsible for carrying the wounded soldiers off the line of fire and receiving treatment. So many lives were saved. The rescued are both allied soldiers and people from the enemy camp! He radiated the radiance of God in the principle of humanism. This unreal, fairy-tale-like movie story is said to be based on real events during World War II. A great example of promoting the "American Dream".
This story touched me. I also wrote an afterthought at the time. However, I also know that such stories, in the world, even if they exist, are very rare. Its existence, there is a big background: the democratic social system. Even so, the warrior was seen as an outlier and a freak, and looked upon with all the incomprehension and disdain—at least until he became a hero. And almost, was disposed of by military law.
Change another system, the same perseverance, only blood and tears - even if you have a noble spirit in your heart.
"The Hidden Life" is another World War II-themed film by master director Malick after "The Thin Red Line". Comes out in 2019. This nearly 3-hour film tells an extremely simple story. An Austrian farmer believed that Hitler's fascism was evil and against the will of God, so he was resolutely unwilling to swear allegiance to Hitler. Under this insistence, the life of him and his family was difficult step by step, and in the end, he himself was destroyed.
3 hours of film, in fact, no plot. A large number of subjective shots, showing the various words of the various people around him, the various words of himself, when the protagonist believes that Hitler is evil, refuses to make the famous gesture and shouts "Long live Hitler". encounter.
If you're a viewer accustomed to watching cool movies with plot twists, this one can be very boring.
However, if you have the inner persistence of the protagonist shown in the movie and the situation he suffered, and even see him finally executed, you will feel resentful, depressed and powerless.
Why, in 2019, more than 70 years after the end of World War II - which is the length of many people from birth to death - is still making such a dull film, showing only an ant-like life, What about the seemingly useless inner insistence?
I think many viewers are touched by the protagonist's persistence on the one hand, but also puzzled on the other hand. Just as many characters in the movie advised the protagonist, why should you, why should you be so stubborn, when everyone bows their heads and swears allegiance to Hitler In the meantime, if you don’t bow your head, what can it affect and what can it change?
What's more, you can just pretend on the surface. When you shout "Long live Hitler", you will not lose a piece of meat, but life will be much better. You can disagree with Hitler in your heart. Life is not just a game. Why do you have to be so serious? If you do this, you will end up beheaded.
Those smart people, all with a caring attitude, advised the protagonist in this way. They hoped that the man would not cause trouble for the jurisdiction he administered, and that he would not make himself unhappy. Hello, hello, hello, everyone. Just a word of allegiance.
What's more, this guy has a beautiful wife who loves him like glue, has two lovely children, and a mother who has suffered a lot in the first half of his life and deserves a happy old age, not to mention, this guy is in the picturesque mountains. , there is fertile land, there are lavish farms. The superficial allegiance in exchange is the preservation of the happy life of the whole family. After the war and chaos, you can still live a peaceful life. And a gesture of resistance that is determined not to shout out will ruin all this.
You said that this guy can't always open his mouth to express his allegiance to the leader who is far away. Isn't this stupid X behavior, why bother, why bother, it's always okay to pretend.
As he gradually fell into a deep prison, his mother hoped that he would change his attitude. He originally understood that he supported his wife, but also gradually changed his attitude, and hoped that he...can change his attitude. Although I didn't say it verbally, I just said "no matter what your attitude is, I will always support you".
Even after he had been sentenced to death, the leader in charge of the prison still took a letter of repentance in front of him and told him that as long as he signed it, he could be spared from punishment.
I believe he was shaken too. In the face of this obviously unbalanced balance, the huge benefits that can be exchanged for such an easy action, in the face of family members, thinking of the responsibilities on my shoulders, and the expectant eyes of my lover...
I believe he was shaken.
But in the end, like a joint that's been straight for too long and loses flexibility and somehow bends, he can't sign the word, he can't handle the softness.
If he signs and submits, what is all the sacrifices, sufferings, and humiliations he has faced for those who persisted in front of him?
The key is: once the belief he insists on collapses, will he still be able to live with dignity in the future?
Therefore, this stupid X-like guy finally chose not to sign and refused to accept the softness. He eventually made his way to the execution room. He shivered as he sat outside waiting to die. In the end, however, he suffered the death.
He is not a hero. After his death, even soon after, people forgot about him. At most, those people will remember: there was such a stupid X, who did that kind of pointless struggle, didn't listen to anyone's kind advice, and finally killed himself and his family.
He is an ant-like life that is not too much if there is more than one, and not less if there is less of him.
Why is such a dedication necessary?
I think this is the thinking and position of the vast majority of people in this secular world.
Those who bend their knees rationalize their knees. They will think that this is a "stoppable measure" that sometimes has to be made to survive in this world.
And the person who really chooses not to bend his knees will be regarded as a fool.
If this idiot X used his own sacrifice to change some patterns in the world, it would be worth it. That is also a hero. Just like Jesus did.
However, this is not the case.
Jesus is a hero. called the savior.
And this man who sacrificed himself, did not change anything. Just changed the lives of myself and those who are closely related to me.
Still a negative change.
I think that more than 70 years after the end of the war, Master Malick still came to make such a film, and he made such a long film and described the situation of such a life for us so delicately.
It is to let more people think about an existential proposition.
For Malick, who graduated from the philosophy department of Harvard University and then taught philosophy courses at the university for more than 20 years, this film, which is also said to be based on real events, must have prompted him to do a lot of ultimate thinking:
What do people live for.
Should a person only live for the belief in his heart-even if he defends this belief, he will lose everything, and even his closest relatives will pay a heavy price.
In other words, in order to obtain happiness and tranquility in the world, people should not be so persistent in pursuing "metaphysical" principles and truths.
If a person makes sacrifices like Jesus and suffers the pain of fate, but does not bring about the results like him, is such a "sacrifice" necessary?
I think when Malick put so much effort into telling the story of the personal choice of an ant-like life, he also wanted to remind the world:
There are always so few people who are different from your pursuit.
Even that pursuit won't bring any practical benefits - at most, it's just gaining inner spiritual consistency and self-integrity of personality.
If there are no such people in this world, are humans still worthy of being called humans?
Although this ant seems to have had a miserable life.
But when he made a decision that he would rather sacrifice himself than betray his heart.
He is no longer an ant.
He is much more powerful than those who are in power and who control the fate of others, those who are Confucian and powerful, those who are rich and proficient in all kinds of knowledge in the world.
He seemed to be filled with extreme unfreedom.
However, he was also the most free man.
Because he would rather lose everything for what he is unwilling to give in.
And I will never bend my knees in order to live a life of resignation.
This inner strength is close to God.
"Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains." We may not be able to choose our circumstances.
But we can choose our own attitude to life.
When you can choose your attitude, you gain true freedom.
I believe Malick had this answer in mind when he made this movie.
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