First of all, the reason to watch it is because it was mentioned in the debate between Soochow and the New National University Death Note, and because Teacher Luo Xiang once recommended this movie in the video. In fact, these two made me watch the movie with the exploration of "free will" at first. But after reading it, there are some other concepts to think about.
First of all, this is a film with religious overtones, involving many propositions such as law, morality, justice, human nature, and free will. But the overall perception seems to be criticizing the nature of human vanity. But in fact, the protagonist Kevin has been striving to pursue career and opportunities and finally walked into the "inning" set by Satan. I personally think that people's pursuit of "aspiration" and pursuit of "vanity" sometimes seem very similar. The difference is that the former is a match of ability and reputation, while the latter is a mismatch of virtue. And what Kevin got along the way was all his hard work and strength, but unfortunately his offer was sent by Satan. It seems a bit inappropriate to directly call it a "vanity" criticism.
But the main thing that the princess is criticized for is that he is a lawyer. Some people accused him of making "black money" by defending rapists and murderers without losing the case. This reminds me of the lawyer Gu Meimen in legal high. But the difference is that when Gu Meimen wins the case, he usually collects lawyers' fees first and then helps the criminals get out of the crime by deliberately giving false evidence. On the other hand, Kevin has really collected evidence and found that the evidence seems to be in question when he is about to be interrogated, but there is no turning back. He has received the client's attorney fees and must fight for the client's interests with all his strength. Otherwise, wouldn't it be criticized as "taking money to do nothing"? If you temporarily pursue the so-called "justice" and refuse to defend the client, you will lose the lawsuit and lose competitiveness in the industry, and no one will be willing to entrust him again. So what does it mean for him to be a "lawyer"? It seems that the simple emotions of the public always think that the defense lawyer of the criminal suspect is the bad guy who is in the gang of bad guys. But in fact, the job of a lawyer is not to judge whether a person is guilty or not. It is the job of a judge. The job of a lawyer is to strive for the client's rights and obtain corresponding compensation. As for whether the client is a bad person or not, it has nothing to do with the lawyer.
I personally think that there is no point in imposing moral criticism on a profession based on personal moral likes and dislikes. Just like a poor man who is in critical condition entering a hospital, the doctor says helplessly that he needs surgery and medical expenses. In fact, it is quite speechless. The poor can indeed call doctors "immoral". After all, human life is the most precious, how can human life be measured by money. But will everyone say that such "moral" hospitals will go bankrupt? How do doctors and lawyers make money and survive? What's more, everyone's perception of "morality" is one-sided, which is why convictions need to be based on the law rather than the simple moral sentiments of the public.
Furthermore, the film seems to imply everywhere that Kevin and his wife would live happily, happily, and contentedly if they didn't go back to their original town and not in New York. But is this an advocacy of being content with the status quo and not having lofty aspirations? The film criticizes Kevin's "vanity", but Kevin wants to go to a big city. He has ambitions to make a career and make the family live better. What's the problem? After being rich, he didn't indulge in fragrant cars and BMWs, nor did he use illegal means to collect evidence as a lawyer. Usually, Satan "calculated" him behind his back. A grass-roots struggling boy ended up with a tragic ending, not to blame Satan for his cruelty, but to blame the hero's "vanity" and blame the hero for "not paying attention to family". Kind of hard to accept.
And when Kevin knew the truth and finally shot himself in the temple and said "free will" in order to get rid of Satan's control, I suddenly felt a kind of tragic and desolation that a small human can only get rid of the controlled fate by death. The whole play is like the devil playing a big game of chess, using the self-motivation and so-called "free will" of a small character to make him go to a pre-set inevitable tragic ending. Then smiled and said, "Everything you do is out of free will, and you have come to this day because of vanity." But if there is no secret mischief by Satan, Kevin's "free will" allows him to choose to work hard and make progress, he can at least let him and his normal wife live a good life, although the offer is not as good as the one given by Satan, but Nor will there be a final ending to destruction.
So I thought that in terms of free will, as an ordinary person, Kevin's free will makes him choose to be upward and work hard not to be a salted fish. There is no problem. The film wants to remind people not to have "vanity", which is certainly true. But as far as the content of the whole film is concerned, I am more inclined to try to see through the "big chess of the devil" and identify whether people who seem to be "good people" in life have other intentions. Otherwise, it will be like the boss painting a cake, you excitedly went to work and found that you were tricked, so you resigned and you were scolded "We didn't force you, you have free will, you chose to come, it's your vanity. You are the one who covets our company's high salary and great appearance." It really feels like eating flies.
Finally, sum up my thoughts on watching movies: We may not have the way to be a person of high morals in the eyes of others, but we can be a good citizen who obeys the law; we may not always be able to make the best decision every time, but we can work hard not to be judged by others. People who have plans are harassing them. When two conflicting values have to be chosen, it is enough to choose one and try to take into account the other while working hard. After all, man is neither God nor Satan, and cannot be omniscient and omnipotent. Many times we need reflection rather than criticism.
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