Amplified absurdity and desperate reality

Alan 2022-03-21 09:02:51

The whole film is dark and depressing. Although there is a bright yellow background and light, it is like a dying, gloomy corpse whispering in a low voice. When I see the introduction is a comedy, I am actually stunned. The idea of ​​​​reading to understand the development of the plot has also been severely suppressed. Life is bitter and boring enough. I don't want to relive the depressed mood again. I always need happiness and excitement.

“The sitter is lovely”

"We are constantly competing just for a little food on the table"

The operation of capital without regard to the future; the variables in a peaceful life; traffic jams for a long time; dismissed and bullied for no reason, the indifference of bystanders; the old furniture dealer (father) who set fire to his property, and finally rescued several books They all turned into a bag of black ashes and vanished; the eldest son went crazy writing poems and was sent to a mental hospital. Faced with his father's roar and other people's concerns, he chose to remain silent. His father shouted "Who can save him!" and then went to The church sought help from the priest, but the priest was also in a crisis of property. There was nothing he could do, and everyone was in danger. Just like the social situation at that time, people beat the people in front of them and moved forward with difficulty. Stock prices fell, people lost their jobs, and they went on strike. The society fell into great chaos, and the authorities also let the fate of the gods, powerless, and finally chose to sacrifice a little girl to pray for the fate of heaven, who can save this society? !

The juggling magician literally sawed off the body of the volunteer he was invited to play; the old furniture dealer touched the soul of the suicide who had borrowed his money before, the soul of the Russian guy hanged by the Germans, like a curse Follow him, and then he buys the crucified wooden Jesus from the rich merchant; the rich are busy migrating their families to escape this disaster, and they are pulling their heavy luggage like a moving traffic jam, like a stagnant In the economy, people shouted that victory was ahead, the time for disaster was limited, and they continued to move forward with difficulty, but their escape was like the global economy today. Like an infinite loop.

In the end, the wealthy businessman dumped the piles of wooden Jesus statues in the garbage dump, and the old furniture merchants also came. The wealthy businessman cursed himself for this loss-making business, lamented that he had not caught up with the trend of the times, and cursed, "Who would believe that a man trapped in a What about the loser on the cross?! He's really useless!" As if alluding to a world where beliefs are waning and new trends of the times prevail; wealthy businessmen leave the dust and go to the next business, and old furniture dealers also take them from the car. He took down the statue of Jesus he had bought before, but saw the ghost team of the owed money coming, he roared the bad luck, but more ghosts came (including the little girl who had sacrificed) People walk towards the camera, as if questioning, condemning, asking for help, how to escape from here? what should we do?

"The streets seem to be empty, why are people moving in one direction and where are they going?"

"Life is a market, we buy and sell each other just for an extra zero in the bank account, just to eat better"

The whole film is dark and depressing. Although there is a bright yellow background and light, it is like a dying, gloomy corpse whispering in a low voice. When I see the introduction is a comedy, I am actually stunned. The idea of ​​​​reading to understand the development of the plot has also been severely suppressed. Life is bitter and boring enough. I don't want to relive the depressed mood again. I always need happiness and excitement.

2021/9/9

Rosy Chen

View more about Songs from the Second Floor reviews

Extended Reading
  • Pasquale 2022-04-24 07:01:18

    3.5. "Singing from the Second Floor" is a very talented and thoughtful work, reminiscent of "Sacred Car Dealer", although it is one level worse. It has nothing to do with whether the color of the scenery art is light or not, the film color is the film color. Formalism? The director regards the inside of the camera as a big stage, and various schedules take turns to appear. There can be no special effects shots, this is the dimensional wall. Two people playing the flute is very fun. Just having an idea is not enough, you have to make the best of it. It is full of inexplicable settings, the appearance of divinity, symbolic imagery, the transition between life and death.

  • Carley 2022-04-22 07:01:46

    After watching two of Anderson's films in a row, I really like this way of expression, alienation and absurdity, but it is indeed the darkest side of everyone's heart. If you don't wear it, you still have a heart. The aftertaste of art is that you don't tell the truth, don't point it out, but it keeps hanging by your side. Anderson has made this feeling to the extreme.

Songs from the Second Floor quotes

  • Kalle: What can I say? It's not easy being human.

  • The speechwriter: My approach was a rather philosophical one. About being human year after year. This is how I see it. Life is time, and time is a stretch of road. That makes life a journey, a trip. Don't you think so?

    Stefan: Yes. I guess you could look at it that way.

    The speechwriter: Yet in order to travel you need a map and a compass. Otherwise you wouldn't know where you were. Would you?

    Stefan: No.

    The speechwriter: And our map and compass are our traditions. Our heritage, our history. Aren't they?

    Stefan: Yeah, sure.

    The speechwriter: If we don't understand this... Before we know it, we're fumbling around in the dark. Where are we?