The title borrows the title of a book by the Western left-wing scholar Marcuse. That's my immediate impression after watching the movie.
For some reason, I don't see any beauty in British restraint, rather, I find it somewhat pathetic.
Mr. Stephens (including his father) has dedicated his life to the manor, and as a steward, they are undoubtedly competent and dedicated. They are good housekeepers, but only good housekeepers.
Stephens' father said he never loved his mother and had to continue the marriage because of his birth. He devoted all his energy to the housekeeping business. This is the impotence of love, and this impotence must be filled by the pursuit of excellence in business.
Stephens gave up love for the housekeeping business and even missed the last time with his father. The pain of losing his father was restrained by him. He knew that Miss Keaton wanted him, but he still congratulated him on the surface and arranged the work. This is nothing but inherited inability to love from his father.
After the Second World War, he began to realize that the cause he devoted himself to might be just a tiny part of the whole complex society, not even a part of the society, and not as noble as he had imagined before. His individual consciousness is beginning to awaken, but he is also getting old.
He hopes to recover the love he once lost at the last moment of his life and complete a transformation from one-dimensional to multi-dimensional. However, the author did not arrange it in this way, and perhaps real life will lead to such an outcome more.
When we were young, most of us pursued fame and fortune and limited ourselves to a one-dimensional life. We have given up the multiple dimensions of life and the emotional communication with our relatives and friends, and have become a one-dimensional person. Life seems to be a one-way street, and there are many things that cannot be turned back.
Finally, I have to say that Hopkins' performance is too good~~
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