Immoral Judgment, Unsought Justice

Donato 2022-03-25 09:01:16

A good play caused by a coincidence, the role transformation of the three people is very intriguing. The wife is both the victim (plaintiff) and the judge (judge), the doctor becomes the suspect (the defendant), and the husband is the contradiction between the close relative of the plaintiff and the defense attorney of the defendant.

Such a setting will undoubtedly collide with different sparks. This is also the original intention of my watching this movie. When procedural justice cannot be guaranteed, can substantive justice be achieved? In other words, in order to pursue substantive justice, can procedural justice be abandoned? Wife's trial, who identified the doctor's murderer with just the doctor's voice and a tape, is a no-brainer for the modern judicial process. Why did she do it, just because the doctor hurt her?

The doctor was, in a way, an embodiment of the power of the state apparatus of that era: hypocritical, vicious, and inhumane. Wives tortured by doctors are like innocent people overpowered by power. In the eyes of his wife, the doctor, like the secret police, is the cancer of that era. The wife's hatred of the doctor is also the hatred of that era. This is why the wife is furious about her husband's appointment. What she wants is the doctor's confession and the confession of that era, and modern justice has no way to give her such an account (the beginning of the film can be drawn from the conversation between the wife and her husband) , she can only find the justice in her heart. But is this the only way? Could this be the reason for this trial? If the doctor is innocent, who will be responsible for him? There is a deep sense of sadness and powerlessness after watching the movie. Immoral judgment, unrequited justice.

ps: The script and actors are very good, the best movie I have seen recently (I have seen the director's killing before, or the heart water)

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Extended Reading
  • Jayne 2022-03-27 09:01:15

    The ending is a little weird. Until the end, I always thought that the film was saying "those who are insulted will become insulters, and those who are dictator will become dictators". Of course, the film is still full of tension before the ending, and Polanski is too good at making such closed-space scenes.

  • Ezra 2022-03-27 09:01:15

    At the end of the film, the three of them look at each other in the background of the music of "Death and the Maiden", and the undercurrent is surging under the calm glance, just like the shuddering fear hidden in the quiet tune. Paulina finally let go of Miranda. So Polanski is still a director with grace and humanity flowing in his bones. The structure of the one-act drama involves topics such as dictatorship, tyranny, moral accountability, and psychological struggle. The rhythm is tight and tense, and it really is a movie adapted from a drama script.

Death and the Maiden quotes

  • [first lines]

    Gerardo Escobar: Are you quite sure you won't come in?

    Dr. Roberto Miranda: No thanks, just want to get home after that.

    Gerardo Escobar: Yeah, me too. Look, I'm really sorry for all the trouble I put you to.

    Dr. Roberto Miranda: Yeah, no problem.

    Gerardo Escobar: Well if I can't persuade you, why don't you come over some time. Thanks again, goodbye.

    Gerardo Escobar: [returning again to the car] Ah, you now it's crazy, I never introduced myself. Gerardo Escobar.

    Dr. Roberto Miranda: Dr. Roberto Miranda.

    Gerardo Escobar: It's very nice to meet you. If you're ever passing...

    Dr. Roberto Miranda: Escobar? The lawyer?

    Gerardo Escobar: Yeah, that's right.

  • Gerardo Escobar: Just give me time. Give us time. I promise you, I'll *get* them for you. I'll bring you justice instead of a flat tire.