Edward Norton wanted to make the film full of Chinese style, so he specially came to China to set the scene, and also made appropriate changes to the Chinese background of the story. Although it is not easy for Hollywood films to fully highlight China, I personally feel that the film "The Veil" is in This aspect is still good enough. After all, it is unrealistic to show China completely and truly from a Western perspective. The film actually joined the wave of China’s anti-imperialist movement in the 1920s, placing the conflict between Chinese and Western cultures behind the love story, making the story of the film based on a more credible historical background, although there are also some There are minor omissions, but it is undeniable that this expands the novel's pure focus on love and makes the film richer. The difference in cultural understanding between the Fein couple and the Chinese as outsiders, and the blindness of resistance to outsiders in the imperialist colonial era, are all touched by the film, but in such a film on the theme of love It is impossible to dig deeper.
Most of the Chinese characters appearing in the film are obscure. This is also a limitation of Hollywood movies. Compared with the roles played by Xia Yu and Lu Yan, the officers played by Huang Qiusheng are much more abundant. The film still paves the way for the background of Huang Qiusheng, a Chinese soldier who has been overseas, and a new soldier with revolutionary tendencies in the old warlord era. He was initially resistant to the arrival of Fein and his wife, but due to more new ideas and in-depth exchanges with Fein than more ordinary Chinese people, he eventually became friends with Fein, and through himself The way he helped Fein asked the Overseer for help. Although the trio of the Overseer, the regiment commander and Fein is not long, it is very exciting. The dialogue between the three presents the current political situation in China at that time, and draws Fein’s rigid character. The most important thing is to express It is difficult to realize the arrogant idea that Westerners want to use their own science and knowledge to change China. From this, it can be seen that the film has done enough homework in the content of China. Huang Qiusheng gave up the method of physical performance in the film, and has a lot of subtlety in the performance to match the film's introverted style.
Putting aside the novel to talk about the movie's love theme, the husband Fein in the film is a typical British stereotyped gentleman, a scientist who has no interest in life and is passionate about working, and has a deep rational color. As his wife, Kitty, obviously belongs to the kind of spoiled and rebellious lady, who is more emotional about life. Such seemingly contradictory relationships between husband and wife and stories about their marriage before they love each other are everywhere today. This is a seemingly eternal marriage proposition. As written in "Sense and Sensibility", the only destination for women from large families is marriage. This tradition continued until the beginning of the twentieth century and did not change. Kitty's parents were eager to send their daughter out quickly, Kitty Marrying Fein also belongs to a kind of rebellious psychology dictates, get rid of the blame of parents as soon as possible. And a marriage without the foundation of love means that the relationship is not strong. Betty's character is destined to be difficult for her to resist the temptation, and cheating becomes a matter of course.
Traveling to the cholera epidemic area is Fehn's punishment for his wife's betrayal. This punishment method even has a tendency to self-abuse, as if it is angry with his unwise love. Using the fear of death and loneliness to punish a spoiled wife is like a kind of rubble, so that Betty, who has been hiding in her boudoir, matures psychologically, and gradually gets to know and understand her husband, and sees his work. Greatness, so from understanding to love. This pattern of getting married first and then falling in love is actually very common in China. Love will always develop over time, and so many people's marriages are established in this way. But this kind of love is sometimes not strong, because this kind of love breeds in a dangerously enclosed space. There is no other choice and no temptation, so it lacks tests. In the novel, the heroine is moved by the hero, but the film makes Betty fall in love with Fein. After returning to London, she refuses the invitation of her lover. This is a different ending, but it reflects the difference between the original author and the director. Perhaps novels can be written more profoundly and more realistically, but movies sometimes have to consider the tastes of the public. It is better to be warmer than colder.
The story of the film is neither bizarre nor tortuous. It is plain and well-formed, without all the shocking selling points of killing, sex, etc., but it reveals a little plain and watery beauty in the delicacy. This beauty is far different from Zhang Yimou's use in "Golden Armor". The beauty of the senses presented by the strong colors is just a few ordinary people in their ordinary lives. Sometimes perverted and exaggerated stories are more likely to attract the attention of the audience, while telling a plain story is not so noticeable. From this level, it is more difficult to make a good "veil" than to make a "Golden Armor".
Text: Eyebrow Ruler
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