Also see The Defender

Zander 2022-04-20 09:02:30

"The Defender" is so popular in Korea, in China, and especially in the legal world. Teacher Li Zujun talked about it in class, saying that he cried several times while watching the movie. I don't have this kind of emotion, I think, like me, the classmates who watched this film in recent days probably seldom have such a strong emotion. I think this is not because we are slower than Mr. Li, but because the teacher has come all the way and knows more about the hardships of being a lawyer and the responsibility of being a lawyer to the country.

Ai Qing said, because I love this land deeply.



[Hero]

Song Youshuo, a tax lawyer who only wants to "find money", became attached to a restaurant because of an evasion a few years ago, because the restaurant knew the son of the proprietress, and because the son was forced to be involved in the "Fu Du Reading Union" "The incident, involved in politics, became a democracy fighter and a movement standard-bearer. Heroes can create trends, but more often times create heroes.

It is a pity that the heroes who are created do not necessarily want to be heroes. But this is also helpless. As long as people enter the game, they are tired of the game.

Guo Lite said that at the beginning, we were playing chess, and at the end, we were all slaves of the chess game.



[Villain]

"One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter."

Unfortunately, almost every one of us unknowingly sees ourselves as freedom fighters and our opponents as terrorists. In the eyes of Lawyer Song, Officer Che is a demon who abuses citizens and extorts confessions by torture. In the eyes of Police Officer Che, Lawyer Song is an idiot who does not know the righteousness of the country and hinders the eradication of red elements.

Who is right and who is wrong, in reality, it will never be as clear at a glance as in the movie.

Miyazaki Hayao said, "The possibility that the street you love or the country you love may turn out to be bad for the world cannot be ignored", which is what we have learned from previous wars. The lessons learned should be remembered.



[Fear]

Fear is a bad thing, but unfortunately, we also have no good reason to convince others to be brave enough. It is not unreasonable for the government to be afraid of rebellion, but at the same time, in order to remove all the dissidents, it will inevitably hurt the innocent - because it is too afraid. Enough fear, will lead to enough violence.

No man, no country, no government is brave enough. Stalin and McCarthy were always afraid of the capitalist roaders and the "red elements" mentioned in the film. We can't count on their bravery, we can only hope that there is such a system that when some people are afraid, another part of the brave people can stand up and prevent the fear of that part of the people from causing disaster.

Such a system cannot exist under dictatorship and despotism. Because dictatorship and despotism are the most cowardly and cowardly.

In the Dali Temple, the jailer in charge of the custody told Yue Fei that if the monarch doubts his ministers, he will be executed; Doubt you and you will rebel.



[Echo]

At the end of the film, 99 of 142 lawyers in Busan appeared in court to defend Song Youshuo. The judge named them, and they stood up one by one, suddenly they were soldiers on a certain battlefield, and finally raised their heads, ready to face a war.

This scene seems familiar, it is the end of "Dead Poets Society" (that is, "Spring Breeze and Rain"). The students ignored the principal and stood at the desk to pay tribute to Teacher John Keating. Just like at the end of "The Defender", the lawyers ignored the authorities and went to court to defend Song Youshuo.

"Everyone is for me, I am for everyone", this sentence is wrong, it must be reversed: "I am for everyone", then we can count on "everyone for me". Only by giving your sincerity can you gain your sincerity. Only by devoting yourself can you call on others to dedicate yourself. Only by burning your heart can you ignite the hearts of others.

There is a lesson in "New Concept English", "One Good Turn Deserves Another".

This kindness is not necessarily the reward you get, sometimes it is just the echo of your own voice from others.



[Outstanding Bird]

If you were Song Youshuo, would you let go of Haidong Construction's business and a prosperous and stable life? Will you fight against the authorities and seek the innocence of political prisoners for the sake of a little faith under the pressure of your family's safety being threatened?

If you had the chance, would you be willing to be brave for a little, for once?

If you could choose, would you rather live a normal life, or die vigorously?

You don't have to answer. At that time, we will know.



[Eggs and Stones]

There is such a line in the film:

"Even if the rock is hard, it is dead, and the egg is fragile, but it is alive. The rock will eventually break into fine sand, and the egg will eventually hatch over the rock.

" Don't live in a time when the children of the world are slamming the brakes on such absurd things."

If this is a metaphor for citizens and state machines, then I want to tell you that even if that rock breaks into fine sand, deposits or remelts , will also turn fine sand back into rock.

It will always make a comeback.

The meaning of the lines is that the scenery ahead is beautiful, so we have to survive, we have to sacrifice and sacrifice. It is "death to life".

And my interpretation is that the front is not so beautiful, so do what you can do now, and don't make it worse. It is "living to death".

To die for life is full of passion, intoxication and tears of devotion.
To live toward death is to return to peace, with a sense of tranquility and perseverance.



From the WeChat public account [Buer Famen], ID: buer-famen.

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Extended Reading

The Attorney quotes

  • Choi Soon-ae: Old debts are settled by face, not money.

  • Jin-woo: You can throw dozens of eggs, but it can't hurt a boulder... As weak as eggs are, they are still living things... Boulders will break into dust, but eggs will hatch with life.