The theme of the film has a certain realism, involving issues such as marriage breakdown, school violence, and family crisis, and it revolves around two children who grew up in incomplete families. Although the two families are not worried about life, the communication between parents and children is so weak and weak, and their roles and responsibilities are almost missing.
Facing the violence on campus, Elias was bullied and abused by his classmates and kept silent. He endured it alone without telling teachers and parents. But the arrival of his new classmate Christian changed the situation. He witnessed the process of Elias being bullied, and was very angry at his silence and non-resistance, so Christian picked up the pump and sent the arrogant and domineering The boy hit hard. Surprisingly, for such a young child, he had such deep hatred buried in his heart, and he did not feel anything wrong with his actions, but was surprisingly calm. Although the two boys have since become friends, an encounter with Elias' father Anton reignites Christian's anger and desire for revenge, ostensibly to get justice for Elias' father , in fact, to continue to vent the anger and resentment in his heart.
Although the film does not directly explain the reasons for Christian's strange psychology, in several conversations with his father Klaus, we can feel his pain for his mother's death, his hatred and helplessness for his father's behavior, and he can only learn from it. He found a trace of release in his extreme approach. He vented his hatred for his father on others, and was unwilling to mention it to anyone. But in doing so, Christian will only get deeper and deeper, he will not get the joy of liberation at all, he will only be burdened by hatred. The so-called bell must be tied to the bell. As long as he doesn't treat him honestly with Krauss and untangle the knot, this heavy pain will eventually bind him for the rest of his life.
The turning point of the film is when Christian wants to take revenge on the man who once slapped Anton in the face. If the carefully designed explosives succeed in blowing up the man's car, then the two boys will eventually suffer "guilt". Elias was injured in a blast trying to save the lives of his mother and brother who suddenly appeared. But his small sacrifice brings a bright side to everyone in the film. Christian was rescued by Anton when he committed suicide due to self-blame. When Anton yanked him down from the edge of the tall building, he knew that he not only brought the child back from the brink of death, but also forgave him as the victim's father. He replaced Klaus in his role as "father". Finally, by telling Anton his long-buried secrets, Christian finally puts down his hatred and reconciles with his father. It was also Elias who used his tolerance to win back the good heart of his friend. Although this turning point is a bit sudden and exaggerated, it is, after all, a kind reminder from the director to us, reminding us to be more tolerant and understanding when the situation can be saved, and not to turn it into an irreversible tragedy.
Everyone in the movie has an unbearable burden that they don't want to talk about, but fortunately it didn't explode as a bomb, but as a way for them to get to know and understand each other. Knowing the evil of the world, but still not giving up the good in the heart, with good thoughts and gratitude in the heart, it will eventually be a better world.
View more about In a Better World reviews