"Air Doll" film analysis
Humans are solitary living beings in the entire observable universe, and exploring the dialectical relationship between nothingness and existence in this gregarious animal has become the main thread that runs through this film. Director Hirokazu-eda and director Hou Hsiao-hsien have similarities and differences in the style of the film. Both of them are discussing issues in a life-like way, but Hou Hsiao-hsien prefers a simple life, while Hirokazu-eda expresses a life full of regrets and drama.
From the beginning of the combination of "moving and shaking" the mirror movement, to using "side heel" to frame the grandfather into the lens, which marked the doll's gradual entry into this society, and also established that the old grandfather and the doll will definitely meet in the future. relationship occurs. In this dialogue between the puppet and the grandfather, the most used are the medium and close-up shots, the words that a functional character such as the old grandfather said to the puppet, and the doll's words when he heard these words. A reaction that is better presented to the audience. When the puppet heard the old man say that there are still many people like her, the editing of the camera was slightly accelerated to express the puppet's excitement, hope, and the puppet's pursuit of real life. The rhythm of the camera cuts determines the narrative style of the film. The editing of the shots is sped up, but it is not as fast as a commercial film like "Mission Impossible", which also depends on Hirokazu Kore-eda's own directing style.
In the last scene of the puppet and Chunyi, except for the first and last two close-up shots to reflect the relationship between the two, the whole process uses very tight scenes. In such an inner space Inside, the accumulation of close-ups of multiple character parts creates a sense of oppression for the audience. Coupled with the sound of deflation, blowing, and the characters' breathing, the tension is amplified again, and an inner space like a room is slowly transformed into a "psychological space" where the characters and even the audience are constantly squeezed in the film.
A small detail in the film, the hand touches the rain to obtain life. Water is the "source of life," and the hand is the end of the human body and the starting point of emotion. The contact between the hand and the water gives life to the puppet. Such feelings More outgoing and authentic. Movies are the art of repetition. "I'm an air doll, a substitute for solving sexual desire." This line appears repeatedly in the film, in fact, it aggravates the protagonist's inner extroversion, showing the emptiness and powerlessness to the fullest.
In the film, there is a comparison and discussion of the images of "ego" and "superego", white-collar workers who eat too much, middle-aged wretched men who rely on inflatable dolls to satisfy their sexual desires, women who don't want to grow old, from children to the elderly, these are typical examples. , Void individual characters constitute this society, confirming the idea of "self". Three recurring scenes in the film: the characters sit on a bench, with their backs to the audience, and facing the tall buildings in front of them. It seems to be leaving the emptiness behind, looking forward to the beautiful fantasy in front of him, and creating such a "superego" image, but in such a panoramic view, the relationship between people and the environment has become particularly prominent, and reality oppresses the characters. out more emptiness.
The director simply divided the characters in the film into two categories: male and female. The key words for women are "empty" and "lost," and the key words for men are "virtual" and "inversion." They have no way to pour their feelings on people, but turn to nothingness, they are all "lonely cities" The silhouette of "people" surrounds the puppet. I can't help but ask: Is the existence of human beings the nothingness of the body and the truth of the heart, or the nothingness of the heart and the truth of the body?
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