The film is plain but not procrastinating. It seems that there are not many characters in the film, but it covers three models of the bottom people of British society.
Faced with the same harsh social rules, the black neighbors are "rats" who are in desperate circumstances, drilling the loopholes of the market economy and reselling sneakers to make ends meet. Katie is the "candle" of self-sacrifice, forced to sell herself to support her family.
I personally think that the sneaker in the film is not a coincidence, but an artistic design. Ironically, a pair of shoes can allow smart people to see business opportunities and make a fortune; it can also be the last straw that crushes a camel and makes people who are dead end degenerate. There is also an irony that the value of social existence is to allow members of society to live with dignity, but all the little characters in the film sacrifice a part of their dignity in order to survive. Every character is "good in nature", at least they can get the emotional recognition of the audience, but why can't they get commensurate social welfare and social recognition? The director may be accusing society of ills through the encounters of small people.
Whether there is no way to find a way ("mouse") or desperate to self-destruct ("candle"), but how bleak the ending and how difficult the process is, these two social roles are compliant with the rules. There is another type of people who don't obey the rules, just like the male protagonist Blake, who is the "bull" at the bottom of the pyramid.
I think there is more or less a shadow of heroism in the "bull". Black's purpose is to reconcile with the world, but the premise is to stick to his integrity and all bottom lines of life. This path forward is too difficult for him to adapt. Although he moved forward slowly and cumberly like a cow, he never gave up fighting.
This "bull" is a hero of his own spiritual kingdom, and it can even be said to be a leader in the eyes of his class. However, in the overall social structure, he is a pawn that can be flattened at will and needs to be flattened. It is insignificant. In the Western value system, the back of heroism is generally tragedy. After all, Mantis can't block the car. Human relations and system are always two different things, and they are two different things that are difficult to reconcile. Like Blake, even if your virtue and your personality are respected by everyone and limited to your class, the cold system will not give you respect.
I think this film is very deep. It is a single point and a single aspect. I will show you the reality without whitewashing, and show you the beauty. These three social role models are the most interesting experience after reading them. I believe that everyone can find their own constant or flowing position among "candles", "rats" and "cows".
This film is available on station B.
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