"Cold Mountain" is a film set in the American Civil War.
In the film, Ida Monroe stands alone in Cold Mountain, North Carolina, waiting for the return of her love interest Inman, who fought on the Confederate front.
The lonely Ada can persevere in the extremely difficult living environment, it is because of the help of neighbor Sally, the company of Ruby and the warmth brought by her own dedication to love.
Ada's perseverance in Lengshan is also her growth process of self-improvement and self-reliance, and her own perseverance in love.
summary movie
The film "Cold Mountain" is a film based on the American Civil War and released by Miramax Films in 2003.
Directed by Anthony Minghella, the film stars British actor Jude Law, Australian actresses Nicole Kidman and Renee Zellweger as Inman, Ada and Ruby respectively.
Anthony Minghella's representative work is "The English Patient", which won 9 awards including Best Picture and Best Director at the 69th Academy Awards in 1997;
Jude Law, who played Inman in the film, also starred in the war film "Come to the City" (2001), the comedy "The Grand Budapest Hotel" (2014), etc.;
Nicole Kidman, who won the Best Actress Oscar at the 75th Academy Awards in 2003, played the heroine Ada in the film;
Renee Zellweger won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar at the 76th Academy Awards in 2004 for her role as Ruby in "Cold Mountain".
The film Cold Mountain is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Charles Fraser, who won the 1997 National Book Award.
The film takes the American Civil War as the background, but does not focus on the famous battles or generals in the war, but tells the touching story of ordinary people in the turbulent times - a Confederate soldier named Inman, deeply loved After being seriously wounded, he left the army and returned to his hometown of Cold Mountain, North Carolina, after untold hardships.
In the end, in order to protect the lover Ada who had just met, Inman was killed by the hometown guards who were responsible for tracking down deserters.
The "warmth" of the cold mountain
At the end of the movie, Ada finally met Inman, the lover she had been thinking about day and night. After meeting in a hurry, she left the crystallization of love - a lively and lovely daughter, which is also a thought that Inman left to Ada. .
Ada, who is young, beautiful and lonely, was able to persevere in Lengshan in the extremely difficult environment and finally meet Inman. It can be said that the "warmth" of Lengshan has always supported her - the enthusiastic help of neighbor Sally , the country girl Ruby's company day and night, and Ada's own loyalty to love, all objectively played a great role in Ada's persistence in Lengshan.
Sally's kindness
Shortly after arriving in the small town of Cold Mountain, North Carolina, from Charleston, South Carolina, Ada's only relative, her pastor father, passed away in a stormy afternoon.
Inman, who had only known each other for a few days, also joined the army and went to the front.
In order to wait for Inman's return, Ada, who was lonely and destitute, had to wait in agony at the Black Canyon Farm.
Because of the lack of farming skills, almost the entire Black Canyon farm was deserted and turned into a habitat for crows - in Ruby's words, "The farm lacks everything, but there is no shortage of crows."
Ada's life in Cold Mountain was obviously quite hard, especially the shortage of food-sometimes Ada had to go out to find food when it was freezing and snowing, and then she was forced to take the pocket watch left by her father with her. People exchange food.
The hardships of the living environment almost made Ada collapse. Ada even felt that it was really difficult for her to support herself at one time, and she really hoped that Inman would come back to accompany her. In her letter to Inman, it can be seen that at this point:
"The only bit of courage I have now is my confidence in you that I can see you again. So, now I want to say to you bluntly, if you are fighting, stop fighting; if you are fighting, Please stop. Come back to me, I beg you to come back to me."
Perhaps it was because of a shared mind. At this time, Inman, who was seriously injured on the battlefield and had recovered, was also preparing to desert the military hospital and return home.
It was also at this time that the material help of Sally, a kind-hearted neighbor, helped Ada get through the initial stages of a difficult life in Cold Mountain.
Sally and her husband came to see Ida with food, Ida was afraid to come out, but she could hear what Sally and her husband said outside:
"Look at what this place looks like, she let the slaves go, and the result... Poor child, bereaved, nothing, and still waiting for a ghost."
The "ghost" that Sally mentioned here obviously refers to Inman who went to the front line to fight - the neighbors believed that Inman would definitely not come back.
In the words of a post office worker:
"...We haven't received any emails... They said that there is not one out of ten boys who can go back to this mountain."
After Sally's husband left the food at the door, the two left.
One day, Ida went to the post office to see if there was a letter from Inman for him, and was disappointed once.
When he came back and passed by Sally's house, the skinny Ada was invited by Sally to her house for dinner - Sally knew very well that Ada had a hard time alone.
At Sally's house, Ada had a rare meal.
Sally's enthusiastic help in Ada's life has helped Ada go through one such difficult time after another.
Sally's help to Ada is also reflected in psychological and emotional aspects.
Sally's husband suggested that Aida go up to the wellhead to take a look, because "everyone says that, looking down the well in a mirror can see the future."
For Ada, who has been living in Charleston since she was a child, this is obviously a superstition, but Ada is still moved.
With the help of the Sally couple, Ida lay on the top of the well, and looked at the mirror in her hand at the well water surface that was constantly rippling. On the road, a figure of a young man in a top hat who looked a lot like Inman was staggering towards her, and it seemed that he was about to fall, and with him came a crowd of crows.
The next day, Ada wrote to Inman:
"Yesterday I saw you coming towards me, or I thought I saw it myself. I was lying at the head of Sally Swangy's house like a mad woman staring at her secrets. I saw you coming back. Did the family come to me, or did I only see your ghost? After so many years, I know I have to learn to live on my own and accept that you won't come back."
Sally's psychological help to Ada gave Ada hope to live hard.
"Seeing" the future where Inman can come back, Ada's yearning for a better life in the future is even more determined.
Ruby's day and night company
Ada was writing a letter to Inman on the porch by herself when she heard voices outside - "Those cows are going to be milked. If that letter is not written in a hurry, it's time to milk the cows."
Ada got up and saw a girl with a bag standing in the yard, the other said: "Mrs. Swanji said, you need help, I'm here."
It turned out that seeing Ada's predicament, Sally introduced a very capable country girl Ruby to help Ada, and the two of them lived together.
Ruby looked around at Ada's farm, and Ada followed, scrambling to jot down Ruby's list of 16 things to do:
Put together a winter vegetable garden and grow some winter vegetables for food; repair the barn roof; weed the ground and turn it over again... Ruby helped Ida rebuild the Black Canyon Farm and taught Ida a lot about farming.
Ida also realized that compared to writing about farming in Latin, reading French, speaking about the major rivers of Europe, embroidering, arranging flowers, etc., building fences with Ruby was the first thing she did that would actually make a difference .
With Ruby's help, Ida rebuilds Black Canyon Farm, solves the food shortage, and has leftovers.
The company of Ruby taught Ada how to be self-reliant, and it also helped Ada to relieve loneliness, and brought Ada a real sense of security - at least, the captain of the guard, Teague, couldn't harass Ada casually.
It was also Ruby's company almost all the time that allowed Ada to survive the difficult years that followed.
At the end of the film, it was when I was out with Ruby that Ada and her sweetheart, Inman, met unexpectedly. On the snow-capped mountain road, Ada had just picked up the dead pheasant and suddenly found In the distance, a black figure wearing a top hat was slowly walking towards her.
Ada aimed her gun at the sudden appearance of the unshaven stranger and told him to turn away.
The other party also seemed to recognize Ada and tried to call, "Ada? Ada Monroe?"
But seeing Ada still aiming her gun at him, she turned and walked back.
Inman may think that Ada may have long since forgotten about him, and that he has not come back to find her from a long distance, despite all the hardships, only to meet but not to know each other.
What Inman didn't know was that Ada also suddenly realized at this time, wasn't this what I saw in the mirror at the wellhead of Sally's house?
Facing this unshaven man, wasn't it the Inman she had been thinking about day and night, but she didn't recognize it at the first time—in the few days when she and Inman met briefly, Inman's face was clean Yes, and that was a few years ago.
Ada's Perseverance in Love
Ada's insistence on love is manifested in her own firm belief in love and in her firm refusal to Tig's pursuit.
firm belief in love
The love obtained in Lengshan can be said to be the warmest aspect that can make Ada persevere in Lengshan.
Ada's insistence on love first turned into her firm belief in her own love.
As Inman sets off for the front lines, Ada arrives to give Inman a book and a photo of herself.
"I'm not smiling in the photo, I don't know how to keep smiling," Ada explained .
Yes, the beloved Inman was about to go to the front to fight, and Ada was not in the mood to laugh.
Before parting, Ada and Inman kissed each other involuntarily - "I will wait for you", Ada made such a solemn promise to Inman.
Once, Ida reads to Ruby a clip from Wuthering Heights:
"My love for Linton is like a leaf in the woods, I know it well. Time will change it, and with winter, so will the trees. My love for Heathcliff is like eternity. The changed deep rock, although it brings only a trace of joy, is indispensable, and he will remain in my letter forever and ever..."
Ada unknowingly took out Inman's photo, and she could see the gods - this description also matched Ada's desire for Inman.
Because Inman had only received several letters from Ada who had written him when he first set foot on the battlefield—what Inman didn’t know was that Ada had actually written him many, many letters just because he was later affected by Due to the injury, the address kept changing without receiving it.
At the end of the film, in the cold night, Ruby gave up the cabin for Ada and Inman, who had just met, so that the two could have a chance to be alone.
In the hut, Ada said to Inman: "The war has made some things pointless, and it's hard to imagine a wedding. I think my father would agree with that if he were alive... Isn't there a religious saying, you have to say I marry you three times in a row, and then you can become a husband and wife."
Inman solemnly said "I want to marry you" three times in a row, while Ada said "I marry you" five times in a row, which shows Ada's deep affection for Inman.
"Cold Mountain" ends with Ada's voiceover:
"...Day after day, I try not to think about you, because the development of the farm requires my best efforts. This time of year is full of life. From these creatures, I can see you everywhere It's as if you're still walking home. If you see us celebrating Easter at Black Canyon Farm, you'll realize that every step in your itinerary is worth it... ."
It can also be seen here that, even years after Inman's death, Ada still misses Inman deeply.
A firm rejection of Teague
Ada's persistence in love is also manifested in her firm refusal to Teague's coveted pursuit - Ada has firmly rejected Teague's concern and seduction several times, because she only has Inman in her heart.
When Inman and others were about to leave for the front line, Teague rode his horse and rushed over to everyone and said:
"This is the greatest day in North Carolina, those who follow Lincoln or advocate the abolition of slavery, you better sleep with care, the old monster might come for you... We are Haywood County Guards, from today I'm a magistrate. You're going to fight more, and I'll take care of your loved ones."
Seeing Teague drooling over the beautiful young Ada, Inman clearly felt the danger Teague would bring to his love.
Inman was very concerned about Ada's safety when he was not in Cold Mountain, so he told Ada that it would be safe if he went back to Charleston, Ada said bitterly: "In that case, who will be waiting for you here... "
In the film, director Anthony Minghella showed these three pictures, which can show Teague's coveted pursuit of Ada, and Ada's firm rejection:
(1) Ada went to the post office to ask if there was any letter from Inman, but was stopped by Teague as soon as she walked out of the door of the post office.
Teague asked gently if everything was okay, Ada just said "um" and walked away in a hurry.
At this time, the impoverished Ada has run out of food, but still ignores Tigue. On the one hand, it is because of the face of the city people, and on the other hand, it shows that she refuses Tigue to care for her.
(2) When Ada was praying alone in the church, Teague pushed the door and walked in and told Ada that Inman would not come back, and that he himself was not useless.
Ada knew exactly what Teague meant, but Ada refused.
(3) When Ida was doing the scarecrow, Teague quietly appeared beside her again. Tell Ida that the Scarecrow can't scare the Yankees and that she needs a man to protect her.
Ada did not give him a good look, and went back to the room without saying a word. All that was left was a desperate Teague roaring in the yard.
Although Ada, who was hiding in the room, was shivering with fear, she still firmly refused Teague's pursuit in a silent way as always.
In the movie "Cold Mountain", Ada even asked Inman on the battlefield to come back, but Inman, who seemed to have a relationship, really escaped the Confederate army and returned to his hometown to meet his lover Ada. This is not only a reflection of love in a special period, It is also a reflection of historical authenticity.
At the time, it was not uncommon for women to ask their military boyfriends or husbands to go home.
Some later research materials in the United States have related records that compared with the North, there are fewer men in the South who can be sent to fight, so most southern families are left with only women to take care of them.
Many women worked the farms, herded livestock, and maintained their families.
Others, after the war ravaged their homeland, found themselves homeless and with nothing.
Some women even wrote to the Union Secretary of the Army, begging him to fire their husbands so he could go home and do something for the children.
It can be seen that the love encounter between Ada and Inman shown in the film "In the Cold Mountain" is only a microcosm of the love life of many young people in that special period.
Unconsciously, "Cold Mountain" shows director Anthony Minghella's attitude towards war - war is only bloody politics, and those who suffer the most are ordinary people who just want to live a normal life.
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