"A Man Without a Past" tells a story: a man who was beaten by a robber and lost his memory was reduced to a group of homeless people at the bottom of society. He was suspected of being a stowaways and was arrested and imprisoned for unfair treatment; on the other hand, he gained the friendship of the fallen people and the lover who saw the truth in adversity. When he finds out who he is, he faces the choices of his past and present life.
It is still the theme that director Aki Kaurismaki is good at deducing: through the story of a man who was deprived of various rights by fate, it shows the positive living conditions, the stubborn and stubborn vitality of the little people in the ups and downs of suffering, and the cold and weird in the real society. The human emotions surging beneath the surface.
【"The gods are not beautiful, but they can make soup"】
The potatoes planted by the male protagonist grew very small because of the rain, but the male protagonist was still proud and optimistic about how to entertain his lover with it. Life is weak, but it can still be complete, alive, and productive. This is the man's outlook on life. The male protagonist always uses optimism and humor to resolve all kinds of predicaments: when he is ripped off without a penny, "I have nothing but a bandage", when asked to sign a document, "is it okay to draw a cross?" "I'm out of luck, but they'll come in a few days." Even if good luck has not come, it has never stopped pursuing love and dreams, "-you regained the joy of life" "-your encouragement makes me strong, I want to be a rock band manager". When he was suspected of smuggling and facing imprisonment, he used all his rights to save himself. "I think I have the right to make a phone call." When entrusted by a bank robber, he did not shirk the right thing.
["God only gift to those who go to heaven, but on earth we have to help each other"]
It's a shame that the Finns are stigmatized as "indifference", their friendliness just has a unique Finnish label: no loss, arrogant attitude, game-like equality. The male protagonist thanked his friend for the treat, "-Thank you for inviting me to drink." "-You're welcome, you gave me a reason to drink eight glasses of wine, but I may be beaten when I go home, but she won't beat me in front of the children" ; The male protagonist asked the electrician who connected him, "-do I owe you anything?" "- No. If you see me in the slum, help me carry myself up"; the male protagonist has no money to eat, "- I can't pay." "- It doesn't matter, if you don't eat them, they will run out"; the male protagonist owes the landlord's rent, "- It's a good day, should I raise the rent?" "- I was about to talk to the landlord. You said that I can only give you money on Friday." "-bit him (to the pet dog), be careful, most people will be killed by the bite"; the man went to the rescue station to pick up clothes, "These are all donated You're not going to look stylish"...that's Finnish kindness, full of considerate, unassuming care that preserves dignity for those in need.
Through the loss of memory and the absence of a name, the film conveys that the most painful and powerless situation is deprivation. In fact, the metaphor is that after World War II, in exchange for self-government and respect for the democratic system, Finland obeyed the policy decisions of powerful neighboring countries with almost no bottom line in international affairs. , fate returns to its own control. The film vigorously refutes the doctor's sentence "It is better to die than to live", in fact, it is to feel the Finnish people's national character of forbearance, stubbornness and unity.
"A Man Without a Past" is full of director Aki Kaurismaki's labels: "radio", "cigarettes", "suitcases", "mines", "courts", "representing hopeless hope in difficult reality" Green pieces”, a red shirt that ignites the passion for life, and dark humor in a heavy story. Narrative, camera, color and other elements in Aki Kaurismaki's films constitute a subtractive film style, and together with zero-degree humor and metaphorical expressions, Aki Kaurismaki's poetic image world and politics are constructed. position.
"Never give up even when you are delirious. The revolution is going to go on, it can't go backwards."
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