First, the oriental aesthetics. Only for female aesthetics. What does a woman in the East look like in the eyes of Westerners? Just as we look at foreigners, we have our aesthetic standards, and Westerners look at us the same way. I don't know if it's a historical reason or a historical coincidence. Westerners look at Easterners, especially women, and their habitual thinking is petite, weak, and half-covered with a pipa. "Miss" is showing the world a real oriental woman, or what an oriental woman should look like, and the lady is the representative. Although she grew up in a boudoir and never went out of the garden designed by her parents, she is repressed in her heart, and her nature is rebellious. If she is given a chance, she will choose to escape all shackles and pursue the life and love she wants. . The so-called subtle, gentle, considerate and cowardly characters formed by oriental women are not by nature, but by institutional culture. From this perspective, the film deeply discusses and reflects on women in Eastern culture.
Second, the sexual culture of the East. "Plum in the Golden Vase" and erotic paintings, which are not unfamiliar to Chinese people, have appeared in the movie, and there are even fragments of grand reading. Chinese people have always been taboo to talk about these things on the surface, so some people will feel uncomfortable. But the film itself is to reflect on social reality and present the real thing. "Jin Ping Mei" is indeed a Chinese thing, and the erotic palace is a once glorious painting in ancient times, and Tang Yin, who is familiar with the price comparison, is the representative figure. In the eyes of Westerners, women in the East are mysterious, and one aspect of mystery is reflected in the surgery in the room. The greatness of this film is also to face up to the sexual culture of the East, which is the characteristic of the East. However, after unveiling this mysterious culture, the film tells us that under the so-called surgery in the room, oriental women do not necessarily have sexual freedom. As long as there is inequality between men and women, women are all playthings and lustful existences.
What is more controversial is that at the end of the movie, the bells on the sea are crisp and sweet, which arouses the shame of many people. When I watched it for the first time, I thought it was a mess. But now I apologize for the previous hype, this setting has ulterior motives. My point of view is the unique sexual culture of Asia mentioned in the second point. In the movie, I read the description of using Burmese bell, and the ending corresponds to it. Since it is passed down from generation to generation and is an indispensable culture for human nature, it naturally has its merits. On the one hand, only by getting rid of the oppression and lewdness of male power can women gain real sexual pleasure. On the other hand, from the perspective of love, through the ancient same-sex love and desire to show the equality of love and desire, it not only paved the way for the love between Xiuzi and Shuji, but also spoke for the more open same-sex love in recent years. This is sensitive and worth discussing in Asia today.
Third, the oriental concept of superiority and inferiority. Classes and inferiority are more obvious in Eastern culture. Ancient love stories, as far as I know Chinese classical novels, South Korea and Japan, etc., are almost all talented and beautiful. "The Story of the West Chamber" Zhang Sheng and Yingying's love, there is a matchmaker. Taking this as a routine, almost all love stories are matched by a young talent, a beautiful lady, and a clever maid. "Miss" is also set like this, the handsome and romantic earl, the lonely lady, and the clever and clever maid. Needless to say, the irony is obvious. When I recommended this movie to my roommate, the roommate exclaimed, "How did the young lady and the maid fall in love?", stopped me, and replied, "What can't be in love?" This also reflects the thinking of many people, the maid should be It is only reasonable to be a supporting role, the maid should lead the red line and then step aside, wishing the young lady and the uncle a double habitation. The concept of superiority and inferiority is the enslavement of human nature, and its essence is the continuation of bureaucratic thought. Those who are high above look at the subordinates with a arrogant attitude, while the subordinates can only look up to the master with a posture of looking up. Born as human beings, they built a high and thick barrier between them. From this point of view, the love between Shuji and Xiuzi is the breakthrough of this barrier. Xiuzi is not without a sense of superiority. From the maids she beats one by one, she can see her young lady's temperament and master attitude. But her love for Sook Hee made her gentle and considerate, and the most expressive thing was bending over on the deck at the end to tie her lover's shoelaces. I remembered a passage in "White Snake", "At this moment, humans and animals are all equal, old and young, male and female are absolutely equal, silently, she told her with the eyes of equality between humans and animals that she is hers." Love is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful feelings in the world, and it is also the most intense feeling. Therefore, it can best rebuke the concept of superiority and inferiority that distorts human nature, the superiority of status, the superiority of men and women, and so on.
Finally, the patriarchal thinking of the East. It is obvious in the film that the most direct one is to read aloud men's lust for women and almost perverted sexual desire in women's mouths. Because of this, the love between Xiuzi and Shuji is the greater irony. This has to mention the bed scene that makes people pose, and I admire the actors who can make sacrifices for art. There are mixed reviews for this sex scene. Some people denounce it as a gimmick for male sexual obscenity, and some people interpret it from the perspective of desire release. I want to change my way of thinking. It is true that this bed scene is very realistic and full of strong desire. There are frequent switching of various positions, and there are endless tentative love words. Because lust is not meant for people to see, what the director presents to the audience is the desire for a lover shared by human nature. In this matter, there is no question of who is more beautiful than the other. On the contrary, it once again conveys the concept of love equality. In the movie, Xiuzi likes the pure and kind Shuji, and has an uncontrollable desire for her. She desires to combine with her from the mind and body. This is the most natural love for people. And Shu Ji was moved by the beauty of the young lady from the first sight, and then from sympathy to pity to love, all these movies give us such a natural feeling that many people forget that these are two women The love between them, in a momentary trance, men and women are really equal. Movies that can give people a similar illusion are actually rare. However, the concept of love has been distorted in the patriarchal society. What is even more terrifying is that this concept is deeply rooted in the hearts of women themselves. Marx talks about people who are alienated, so oriental women are unknowingly alienated by the culture produced by the patriarchal society, so much so that they are not aware of themselves. What love is really needed is gradually lost. On the contrary, she thought from the bottom of her heart that the young lady should marry a handsome, sassy, and prestigious talented person. If she fell in love with other people, such as servants, maids, and women, it would be wrong, so she condemned herself from the bottom of her heart. This is the tragedy of Oriental women, and it is equally applicable in the world. No wonder the director claimed at the Cannes Film Festival that it was a feminist film.
Although I am just a movie lover, I hope to use the knowledge of literary criticism I have learned to appreciate a wonderful movie. To be honest, the beauty and depth of this movie are no less than the feeling of Lust and Caution. I even think this is a grand masterpiece that is very representative of Asia. The last thing I want to mention is the theme of the movie. It is indeed the story of two women falling in love. Regardless of its metaphor, from its performance, it tells the love story of Xiuzi and Shuji. When the United States passed the same-sex marriage bill in 2016, I was shocked and excited at the time. It was not unexpected. After all, the United States is a free and open country, but so far no country in Asia is truly legal. This can reflect the attitude of the oriental people. Park Chan-wook dared to make this film, and made it so full and beautiful. What is even more commendable is that it entered the world and caused quite a stir. This should be able to leave traces in the history of Asian films. (The above is just my personal opinion)
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