"American Sweetheart " sees insects and also sees the American spirit . The film critics, lecturers, screenwriters, and screenwriters of the American Sweetheart
100 -episode Oscar film commentary series answer the following questions from fans. 1 Why does this film introduce a lot of insects? 2 The theme of the film, what is the American spirit? 3. The significance of the key plot is very lens language to interpret the cake that fell on the ground... 4. At the end of the film, how to interpret the firefly in the dark The following content is the script version of the upcoming film review program, please do not reprint it! Cannes Film Festival (2016; 69th) Award: 1 Award · Jury Award This film allows us to better understand the living conditions, concepts, and ideas of the young people at the bottom of the United States. Can we experience the spirit of the United States from American culture? Female: From a large number of plots and pictures, I feel that the cultural spirit of the United States is: advocating freedom and pursuing happiness is very good, then we will analyze the plot step by step and prove your conclusion. We found that a large number of insects, of various kinds, were interspersed in the film. Woman: Really, I was just about to ask, what's the point of this? The camera often takes follow-up shots, just like when we go to capture insects, and the director reminds the audience to follow the protagonist's point of view. Then we all have to think about a question, what is the difference between these young insects? Fluttering his wings frequently, aimlessly, flying for the sake of flight! But you have to ask them where is the best place for them, where is the final destination, where is the place that belongs to them...? I don't know, in short, I want to fly, even if I fall into the water...
Woman: Ha, I can really feel these things when I go there. They searched according to the map and arrived at a place. The people in this car were like bees in a hive. Every time they arrived at a stop, they swarmed out of the car and were scattered out to collect honey
. Tomorrow, live only in the present! Indeed, this car is a lot like a moving honeycomb.
And have you ever found out that no matter the male lead or the female lead, they can't escape this group in the end, as if something glued them together.
Woman: Really, really! Those who fly out will eventually come back, and most people have nowhere to go!
Let's not talk about the United States, just think about the reality, think about your side, you will find a lot of work, only people who are in a hurry can do it, and those who have ideals, goals, and lofty aspirations are disdainful. Kind of life is
right! Now college students are picky about finding jobs? It doesn't work or it doesn't work, those boring, uninteresting and low-paying jobs are not in their consideration at all!
Yes! These young people in the film have ideals, but those who are very ambitious will never be able to do these things. This kind of sales method is direct selling in the United States, and it is also a bit like pyramid selling and the insurance industry. Let's not talk about legal or illegal, these have nothing to do with the plot, just talk about today's children, post-90s, post-00s, including yourself, do you have the courage to maintain plenty of physical strength and an optimistic attitude, every morning, being driven away, Accepting that challenge with pressure but happily?
When you ask me like that, it's really... an indescribable feeling.
I ’m still a bit old now, and it’s euphemistically called graduate school and postgraduate entrance exam, but, hey, am I not as good as these people? A few movies, if you go on like this, it really doesn't make much sense to study for graduate school!
Woman: Then what should I do?
I still don't recommend you go to Amway!
Female: Nonsense!
Be bold!
Female: sorry, sorry, people are in a bad mood!
ideal? Oh, it's too far away! It's not that no one asks, but that I dare not think about it! It's like when climbing a mountain, you don't think about the top of the mountain, when you fly, don't think about the distance, just have fun, walk a stop, take a rest, get a rest when you're tired, drink water when you're thirsty, and want to mate, go look for someone...
Female: Wow, I can find everything you said in the picture!
Of course, I'm just deciphering the language of the camera!
So what do you say should be done, worth doing, meaningful? No one can tell you the answer, and any so-called instructive answer is meaningless for survival!
In America, you want to feed these people chicken soup, hehe, that stuff is worse than piss! They know better than anyone what life should be like and what happiness feels like.
Do you want to consider whether that fits the definition of ideal in life? In the film, these young people laugh at themselves and make fun of themselves. Do they feel hurt in their hearts? It is conceivable that if the poor are entangled in the anguish of life and indulge in comparisons, they will not have the courage to live! Like insects, they live in groups, live in groups, and comfort each other. They know who belongs to their team and who is the target of hunting.
Woman: I feel that their work, everything is for money, just for money!
What is money? Money is air, money is sunshine, what a simple and simple truth about life!
Woman: Speaking of insects, one word comes to mind, parasites! Are you saying they are parasites?
Who is not? Which insect is not a parasite or a victim of nature, and which work is absolutely meaningful and valuable? At least I think that in China, at least one-third of the work is useless, and it is not beneficial to the earth and the environment!
Female: One third?
This is what I have said less. The harder you work, the more ruined the earth will be...
Female: It seems to make sense! Especially mining, digging, and fishing are really wasteful things...
These are all digressions. I just want you to understand something. We think about the foundation of life and the value of life. For these people who are struggling in slums, the pursuit of life Meaning is the most meaningless thing! The meaning of life lies in life itself.
Most of the elites in American society stand out from the bottom of the pyramid. This selection is a process of hard work, and it is not how lofty your thoughts and vision are that will determine your future. This will not work in the United States!
Woman: I remember that the movie "Little Miss Sunshine" had a similar idea!
Yes, easier said than done!
In front of us is a group of vigorous young people. Although they are aimless, they are definitely not those who can only dream and become depressed, because it is not
that the meaning of American spiritual life is always reflected in struggle and squandering!
Female; you mean, this is the American spirit?
That's right! This is the ideological theme that the director wants to convey.
Don't think about going to college, being a civil servant, serving the people, serving the motherland... Oh, you slowly realize that these are really nonsense. You are not in that state of life and circumstances, and you will never understand these thoughts. Just because you're not them, and you're not American...
The salespeople in the film are no different from most people, which is what this film tries to show, the only difference is their purposeless lives, they can't tell the meaning of life , but this is the meaning of life.
It is not because people have ideas that they understand life, but only because people understand life can they reflect their ideas.
Woman: You're pouring chicken soup!
no!
Woman: No, you are definitely chicken soup!
you sir! Are you still learning?
I think this is the so-called American culture, the value orientation shared by young people:
eager to succeed, advocating freedom, energetic, and having fun.
Woman: In this scene, the birthday cake fell to the ground...how to interpret it?
In survival and enjoyment, they choose to pursue happiness without hesitation! At this time, cakes represent survival, and flowers represent enjoyment!
In fact, there are some good revelations here. The best memory of life is not the candles on the cake, but how many happy memories you capture!
Female; then tell me more about the prostitution scene of the heroine...
In fact, this plot also has a strong purpose and metaphor. I guess the male audience may have been a little anxious at the time, and there will be many ideas in their minds: such as: how to use the funds of prostitutes, do you still need to teach them? The implication: We don’t need to point fingers to others, and they don’t listen to you, what is worth it or not, what is a good deal, what is a meaningful life or a high-quality sex life? ...do you still teach me?
That is to say, don't talk to others about ideals, the meaning of life and the three views... If you are not comfortable, you know that if you can't give others an orgasm, just shut up!
Woman: If you say so, the design of this scene is wonderful! Sometimes I'm really afraid that the radio and television bosses will delete these plots, and it will be troublesome to cut plums!
Every scene has a purpose. While pursuing drama, the director cares more about conveying ideas!
In addition, if the audience's appreciation level is generally improved, and everyone can understand these metaphors and highlights in the picture, we will have enough ability and persuasion to defend the classics, defend the art, and maintain the integrity of these excellent films.
At the end of the film, the girl is immersed in the water for a long time swimming in the dark. At this time, do you care about her life? Of course! Hope you care about the lives of all the underprivileged and think about how they flutter their wings...because they are fireflies, and they are America!
End credits, look, insects again! In childhood, we often ask a question: Why do fireflies glow?
If we have to set a reason and meaning for it, because it is happy, it is happy, so it exists, and it is enough for us to feel all this!
Also ask yourself, how often do you see sunlight? Can you feel the light of life emitted by those fireflies in a difficult living environment, like in a long night?
The article is included in the 100-episode Oscar film commentary series https://www.zhihu.com/people/sen-sen-96-74-82/posts
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