people as collectives and animals

Kaya 2022-08-20 21:53:35

The audiovisual level of the film is superficial, but in terms of expressing themes through characters, not only are the character settings diverse, but also quite profound. Although this is a relatively abstract and profound, speaking of abstraction lies in the fact that its narrative is based on an abstract development process. After leaving, and then in the process of being trapped, the norms gradually collapsed, and the "animal" (black bear) broke free from the rope and wandered in the house, until finally, the apocalypse-like comprehension in despair allowed everyone to escape. The design of character identities and actions are details in the process. Examining all the characters in the film, you will find that the three most important connections between people in social relationships are put to the test: love, friendship and family. There are young couples who go to Huangquan together, marriages that are falling apart, (conductors) who wake up in the middle of the night to have an affair, friends accuse each other, and even hurt each other, etc. Everyone is peeling off the shell of society little by little under the physical test. , revealing inner desires, revealing its animal side. Compared with the people in the living room, the servants left early, which is not only suspicious of some kind of reference to class differentiation. But I think the more crucial theme is about a flaw in the collective unconscious of humanity. At the end of the film, the church also becomes an inescapable place. Similar to the situation in the living room, there are many people in both "rooms", while in contrast, there are basically one or a few servants who leave early at the beginning. There is a direct and stark contrast between a group of guests coming in and two maids going out. The soldier on the street at the end further corroborates this conclusion. The way people act as members of the collective exposes a room in the human subconscious, where people cannot step out, whether consciously or subconsciously.

In addition, about the meaning of bear and sheep. Apparently, the sheep and bears, who were initially tethered to the kitchen, moved freely through the mansion after the host and guests were trapped in the room, and they were clearly different from the people in the room. As for the difference, I think they each represent people's subconscious desire to obey and resist. At the end of the film, the flock of sheep and the crowd on the street are similar in composition, not only pointing to the crowd driven by the police, but also pointing to the drive away The police of the crowd, the former obeys the state apparatus, the latter belongs to the state apparatus, and naturally obeys even more. As for why the sheep flock into the church, I think it is to pray for the protection of another world, which is cowardly and sad.

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The Exterminating Angel quotes

  • Edmundo Nobile: Everything was perfect, Lucia, despite - at this hour even lipstick begins to fade.

  • Edmundo Nobile: I love the spontaneity of this situation. If you'd like to spend the night, we'll make up as many rooms as needed. I'm pleased to see the old spirit of improvisation is alive and well.