This movie does not present as exaggerated images, or have characters of great personality, even doesn't have dramatic plot to attract the audience. It costs $100,000 only, but it is not a crudely made film. Black and white film, less use of moving lens, no gorgeous scene, these aspects save costs, furthermore, it formed a unique visual style and ideographic method, and unified with the theme from director.
Colors bring passion, hope, and complex emotions, while a black and white tone is quite right for the living state of the characters, and shows invariably emotions. Color and space reveal is significant in character creation.
In the first part of 'the new world', Eva walking in the street of deserted. This show the city an indifferent image, and when look back after finished, I find this scene and scenes they appear in tourist attractions inopportune imply the stress and estrangement from outside world. Everyone could be strangers to it, which not only because of different culture, but also related to the consciousness of the soul.
Most scene shoot in room, many shot inside a car when they are travelling. We can barely enjoy the scenery outside, so does the characters. It represents the state of mind of the characters with isolation. The way director photography and editing the film in order to create characters and reproduction of their living conditions, at the same time, express his ideas. Most scenes shot in fixed lens, static and few changes, same as their state and the heart.
Willie tries hard to fix in after he came to New York as an immigrant. He refused to speak native language, and convince himself to eat TV dinner, try to speak like local people, and watch American football, while he dose not really enjoy all these stuff, otherwise, he would not be so uncommunicative.
For the purpose of to be regarded as an American citizen, he pays a lot. We can't know who he is because he hides his thoughts and heart behind his American behaviors. He almost doing nothing but stares blankly, or staring at the TV , or sleep. When with Eddie around is always speechless. His house keeps him away from dangerous of outside world. When Eva wants to go to a place further south than Clinton Street, he was opposed strongly because it's dangerous there, after she said she's going alone, he agreed and relieved. He is not worry about her, the truth is he's scared and don't have confidence to face the world. After a period of time getting along with her, small changes have made.
Eva is braver than her cousin, and she accepts her true reactions and thoughts. She's living honestly, not rich in emotion, but quite outgoing. She's quite her style, while she almost does nothing as well. Every single thing seems meaningless, but the character's inner world is revealed by things all together. Her disapproval with TV dinner, American football, and the dress make her uncommon, when Willie lost himself under the weight of cultural differences, her special behavior and independent character touched him and helps him recover his courage.
At the second part 'One Year Later', Willie and Eddie get rich and go to Cleveland to visit Eva. Willie insists on asking a man the direction, while he was known already. His confidence behavior makes him unconfident, and they even feel sorry for him because he works in a factory which they can't stand. The funny thing is their lives just like working in a factory, boring and run in a groove.
He seems happier when staying with his aunt Lottie and familiar environment make him regain himself gradually. When Eddie says they're not doing anything, he has no response, and he doesn't know what he wants to do. Then they walking aimlessly on the outside, Eddie says 'you come to someplace new, and everything looks just the same', and Willie thinks Eddie was kidding. Willie doesn't rethink profoundly about his own actions, thoughts and feelings, but Eddie does. Meanwhile, Willie can make decisions and changes, but Eddie can't. Willie tries to tell Eva a joke, but failed. His passion for life is coming back in this relaxed environment, but still blunting of feeling. When the three go to the big lake, they just standing and staring at the scenery and don't know what to do. They see things with eyes only, and can't feel.
Then the third part 'Paradise', Willie, Eva and Eddie seems like step on an exciting journey at first. They may start brand new lives, but no one can change to another overnight. Restraint use of scenery, silence still, even they do something new, everything looks just the same. They have good aspirations, but lack of sensitive emotions and firm and clear inner world. Compared to the scene of lake with the beach, it seems they are quite released, but they are still in this world of strangers, and stuck in the middle of nowhere.
Willie failed to get off a plane to Budapest, but in that place he doesn't need to hide himself. Perhaps this is a way to reach his heart.
People always complain that life is so boring or poor surroundings, and always feel their lives could be different if they have enough money or go to a new place to start a new life everything would be amazing. But this material world is not everything, more imprison is just from the heart. Three characters are quite different, except they all get lost in the appearance of the world, and can't find themselves. Eva got a lot of money but she just returned to the motel because she doesn't know where to go, and have no dream, no desire, and no passion to do anything.
The movie's internal spirit is not how cultural restraints human mind, but caring soul with dust of common people. Observe the world with the heart instead of naked eyes. Wake your sleeping mind up rather than confused by dazzling world. Change the environment can't lead to happiness, but spiritual enlightenment can.
[Mid-term assignment]
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