Pursuit of Freedom - "The Legend of No. 42"

Rubie 2022-04-23 07:02:52

Hollywood movies often refer to the United States as "the country of the free". This word triggers the yearning of countless people for this country. Is it really free? I checked the Chinese explanation of the word freedom, and it means "to decide by oneself; not to be restricted or restrained." The restraint here, I think, is the embodiment of law and morality, and represents freedom in a broad sense. At the same time, it can also be a state of mind. A happy mood is freedom; being respected is freedom; equality is freedom.

"Number 42" is a real-life-altering biographical film. It tells the story of Jackie Robinson, the first black player in Major League Baseball history. The film is set in the 1940s and 1950s. At that time, there was still deep racism in the United States. White people ruled the government class and considered themselves superior to others. Black people have been oppressed for historical reasons. So even if you play, whites and blacks must be separated, each has its own league, and must not be allowed to appear in the same game at the same time, and the appearance of Jackie Robinson changed this history.

This is an inspirational movie. Everyone is familiar with the routines. The director of the film made the film very delicately. Through many details, the transformation of the filmmakers was promoted. The timeline and some text prompts made the viewing process not abrupt, and finally presented The result is smooth and natural. If you look at this film separately, it will be the first, and the audience can simply see it as a sports film that fights for racial discrimination. Jackie Robinson is just an ordinary baseball player. In the era of black and white isolation, he is a warrior. He withstood all the insults and ridicules, and defeated those discriminations silently and head-on with his victories. His victories were not alone. The victory of a race is a victory that lays a solid foundation for future struggles.
Second, this is a movie that Maxima often has and Bole does not often have. The owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Blanche Ritchie, is a bogeyman. He selected Jackie Robinson from a pile of resumes and wanted to risk the world to let Jackie join the Major League Baseball. He told Jackie that he wanted a player who had the guts to not get angry. This is a 100 times more difficult task than getting angry. Jackie overcame all difficulties with his bravery, won the recognition of his white teammates and the audience, and finally the inspirational story of both being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Overall, the director really put a lot of effort into it.

Regarding the racial discrimination of black people, I have studied it in history class, and I have studied Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" in Chinese class. In music class, I have introduced why MJ has plastic surgery again and again. However, the text is sometimes not intuitive enough to deeply feel the pain caused by racial discrimination. A few months ago, I watched "Furious Debate" and "Remember the Titans". The film is also a biographical film about black racial discrimination. That was the first time I felt the injustice of racial discrimination. I believe racism in reality is more violent than in movies. Returning to this film, the No. 42 hates racism. He wants to change and has the opportunity to change, so he starts to work hard. He proves to people with victory after victory that anyone can succeed as long as they are talented, willing to work hard, and endure loneliness. Anyone can pursue that piece of freedom in their hearts.

View more about 42 reviews

Extended Reading

42 quotes

  • Ben Chapman: Hey, Stanky, what's it like bein' a nigger's nigger?

    Eddie Stanky: I dunno, Chapman, what's it like bein' a redneck piece of shit?

  • Pee Wee Reese: Maybe tomorrow, we'll all wear 42, so nobody could tell us apart.

Related Articles