Bruises, full suitcases and the doomed game of backgammon

Joanny 2022-04-06 08:01:01

"Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Always" isn't one of those tight, twists and turns films, instead, it's full of white space and emotional restraint, even in that point-and-shoot long shot where the mood of the film peaks. In the film, the heroine autumn did not completely lose control or burst into tears, and compared with some other female films, director Eliza Hitman did not let the two heroines violently and actively resist or fight, but calm. A variety of figures and symbols are used to demonstrate the silent oppression of women in contemporary social environments.

Before autumn and skylar set foot in New York, a few scenes were used to briefly describe the basic characters of the two heroines, showing the contrast between the pain in the abdomen from the nose piercing and the painkiller and the calm surface of the heroine The heroine is emotionally restrained and introverted, and through the daily chats between Skylar and male customers, she shows the second girl's cheerfulness and generosity, as well as her ability to control the real society. That scene was very interesting. When Skylar was taking the money, the camera was shown to the camera on the bright side. After taking the money, Skylar handed in the turnover and was forcibly kissed on the back of his hand as usual. The implication is very obvious. Women can escape the surveillance on the bright side, but they cannot escape the intrusion of men hiding behind the scenes.

Nose stud
bruises on belly

In addition to this scene, there is another place in the film that also expresses a sense of voyeurism. autumn and skylar go to the bowling alley with the chatting man. When skylar throws the bowling ball, the camera is like this

And when the boys pitch the ball, the camera is like this

The implication is self-evident.

And speaking of this, I have to mention the description of the male image in the whole film: from the male classmate who shouted "slut" loudly, the stepfather who has no fatherly love, the boy who made autumn pregnant who has never appeared, the man behind the scenes who forcibly kissed the back of his hand A passerby who behaves lewdly on the subway, a man who has been trying to flirt. There are almost no positive male images in the whole film, but I don't think this kind of characterization is a simple gender confrontation, but a further portrayal of the social environment. Not even "villains", many of them are just passers-by in their lives, but these passers-by are indeed like small doses of black poison that accumulate in society and cause lasting oppression and harm to women.

boy who flirts

Predicament, women seem to be in predicament all the time throughout the film, and this predicament is like the game of backgammon played by the heroine that has already been lost. When there is no money and you can't even buy a bus ticket, even the skylar can only let the boys who chat up succeed in exchange for the opportunity to borrow money. This is almost a representation of some women in distress who have to compromise with men who are more economically advantageous. It is also a direct depiction of the unequal power status between men and women, and I can seem to imagine that in the future, when she refuses a boy's request for further development, she will be rightfully scolded "slut!" These subtle black poisons exist in society. Every corner, we seem to be accustomed to enduring, autumn will not come forward and pull away the kaylar who kisses the boy against his will, just like they will not slap the wretched man and then turn away because they are forcibly kissed on the back of the hand every day. They won't beat the wretched man on the subway for his behavior. At most, they can only raise their middle finger at these small malicious acts, but who knows if these men will raise the corners of their mouths when they see their concessions And then called "slut" contemptuously? Just like the harsh jeers from the game machine after losing a chess game?

chess game that has been lost

In addition, many people have also noticed the big box they carry with them, and everyone will be puzzled, why do you need to bring such a heavy box for a short trip? In fact, according to director Eliza Hitman's own explanation, she read an article in "New York Magazine" about women who went to New York for abortion, and it was said that they always overstuffed their suitcases, and the The meaning of the big box is also very obvious, symbolizing the heavy pressure that women are subjected to all the time. Of course, my personal opinion still feels that this setting is a bit blunt and the intention is too obvious. But why on earth are women heading to New York stuffing their suitcases so full? There is no way to know the answer, it may be due to the daze of the uncertain future, or it may be due to the habit of precaution, but what we can see is that this big box is like a shackle, in front of the autumn and skylar It drags them down slightly on the road.

Therefore, "Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Always" is not a story about the awakening and resistance of women from the beginning. Some people will complain about why autumn and skylar did not do anything to express the awakening spirit in the end, they Ignore one thing, what autumn and skyler go through in New York is to a certain extent their daily life, the slutty guy on the subway and the guy who picks up the conversation are no better than the male classmate yelling "slut" and forcibly having sex with the autumn The boys are more suffocating, they can't and won't make a fierce resistance, all they can do is try their best to go on this road.

Abortion will become a secret and hidden pain in autumn's life that will not be mentioned again, and this hidden pain does not belong to autumn alone, it also belongs to other girls who have to have an abortion, and it also belongs to everyone who procrastinates. A woman with a suitcase on the road, it belongs to every victim of forbearance in society. "Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Always" is not a gripping female triumph, it is an airtight experience of pain, a secret experience in adolescence, an unusual silhouette of life.

Abortion was another big wave of adolescence for autumn, and fortunately, she survived. At the end, autumn leaned against the window and closed her eyes gently, bright light covering her body, although later , there are more huge waves waiting for her, but at least for this moment, the light is shining into her life again.

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Extended Reading
  • Idell 2022-04-14 09:01:06

    How could it be Mengji, it's obviously Kenlodge.

  • Josie 2022-04-07 09:01:07

    I have been watching popular commercial TV dramas these days, and suddenly I look back at this "niche literary film" and feel completely different. It is the second film of the American female director in her early 40s and won the Grand Jury Prize at this year's Berlin Festival. Simple and stable, but the content is still a little thin. Checking her resume, writing and directing her own films, her short film in 2011 received various compliments, she made her debut feature film in 2014, and after five or six years, she took out this film and won recognition. It's not easy for a typical independent filmmaker!

Never Rarely Sometimes Always quotes

  • Social Worker #2: Whatever your decision is is totally fine, as long as it's yours.

  • Social Worker #2: Your partner has threatened or frightened you. Never? Rarely? Sometimes? Always?

    Autumn: Why are you asking me this?

    Social Worker #2: I want to make sure that you're safe.