voyeur mystery

Teagan 2022-03-21 09:03:07

"Wandering on the Roof" (2007), directed by British director David Mackenzie, won the Best Music Award and the Independent Jury Award at the 57th Berlin International Film Festival. David Mackenzie has directed "Adam on Fire" and "Eros." The film's male lead, Harlan, is played by child star Jimmy Bell, who starred in "Dancing Life". The cartoon style of the film and the pervasive fantasy plot are exactly in line with the simple and paranoid male protagonist in the film.

Haran, who is about to turn eighteen, has been tossing around in the tree house next to his home since his biological mother passed away, either drawing eyeliner, applying lipstick, piercing ears, or peeping around with binoculars, mainly to follow and monitor his stepmother. . Because of his attachment to his biological mother, he always thought that the sudden death of his biological mother was related to his stepmother, and concluded that she was trying to kill her mother for family wealth. The stepmother is a casual and frivolous woman. After trying to eliminate the barrier between her and Haran, she went to the tree house to tease Haran. The purpose is to make him leave this place forever. This made Haran feel ashamed and had to escape from his hometown.

Harlan took the train to Edinburgh, Scotland. Here, he hurried past a young woman who looked like his biological mother on the street and followed him to a hotel. What a mistake, she turned out to be the female supervisor of the hotel, named Kate. In order to get close to her, he did not hesitate to work as a handyman in the hotel kitchen, which was the hardest and most tiring job, but after all, his life was settled and he had a place to sleep. After get off work, he followed Kate to the residence. Later, he found that the top floor of the hotel happened to be facing the window of her house, which was the best observation point. With a telescope, he could spy on her behavior at home. To get closer, he sometimes climbed outside her roof to peer carefully through the glass cover.

It turns out that Kate and the hotel's male supervisor, Alastair, are lovers. And the two were always arguing. Haran hated this hypocritical male supervisor because he had a family. At this time, Kate asked Harlan to work as a hotel luggage porter, which was a clean and comfortable job. The two also grew close and developed a mutual attachment relationship. But Harlan's peeping was discovered by Alastair, who was beaten and faced the danger of losing his job. In order to prevent him from telling Kate, Harlan had a plan, and went to Alastair's house, with his wife and children. The game was so hot that Alastair, who went home, was overwhelmed. Harlan said in his ear that you keep a secret and I will keep it. This is a muddle through.

And Alastair and Kate's relationship is getting more and more delicate. One night, when the two of them were quarreling, Harlan, who had been spying on the outside, rushed towards them desperately, making Kate, who was stunned, embarrassed. Only then did Kate know that Harlan had been following her. So Harlan lost his job. No matter how Ren Haran explained, Kate ignored him. As time went on, the depression gradually subsided, and Kate's heart became more and more reluctant. She let Haran in. He talked honestly about the origin of the stalking, and Kate realized that it was only because she resembled his biological mother. She told him to go back to the hotel to continue his work as a porter.

During this period, Haran has been tracking down the truth about the death of his biological mother, and found a lot of doubts. His father and stepmother came to visit him. When the stepmother saw Kate, she told Harlan that you were here because you found a woman just like your biological mother. This made Haran hate her even more. So much so that he secretly returned to his hometown, kidnapped his stepmother at night, and pushed him into the icy lake, where his biological mother committed suicide.

When he saw that the lake was getting calmer, he woke up suddenly. He dived to rescue her and brought her back to life with artificial respiration. His father came to tell his son that your mother committed suicide, and it had nothing to do with your stepmother. That was your mother's choice after suffering. The mystery is revealed. Actually, that's the truth. It's just because Haran can't accept the reality of his biological mother's death, the key is his attachment to his biological mother, the so-called Oedipus plot.

When Harlan put aside this heavy concern and returned to Edinburgh, he also matured, lost his youth and childishness, and Harlan stopped peeping and wandering on the roof. He bids Kate goodbye. She said you will soon find the one who will heal your wounds. And look forward to seeing you in five years. He smiled and nodded. They both wanted to see how each other would change. As the ending song sings, "When the chill is gone, we'll go back to the house..."

2013, 6, 18

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Extended Reading
  • Ivory 2022-01-21 08:01:04

    Basically, they have lost the ability to judge this kind of film. But one thing I want to say is, what kind of audience does the director define? If it is shot for the underage confused strange boy or the strange girl, some of the clips are too harmonious; but maybe the director just shot to those normal uncles and aunts who have experienced this period with emotion, then is this necessary? It's a thing of the past, it is the young people who really need help!

  • Trycia 2022-03-15 09:01:08

    The main line of the story is that the rebellious boy of Oedipus suspects that his mother was murdered by his stepmother, and slowly isolates himself from the world. He likes a person who hides in a tree house and "observes" others from a distance. He says that he is peeping, not for "you The kind of reason imagined". The part that explores the mystery of the mother’s death is almost "Butterfly Dream", which is considered one of the shortcomings of this film, but the scene where an angry Hallam went home and tied his stepmother and threw it into the river finally reminded me of "Young Adam". If the story comes to an abrupt end here, I like it better. It's a pity that the director was not so cruel. Hallam suddenly turned to rescue her stepmother and gave her artificial respiration. Then, she came back to life without saying a word, looked at him coldly, and turned away. The director said that this was dark enough for a 17-year-old boy.

Hallam Foe quotes

  • Hallam Foe: Look, you're very attractive but I'm politically very committed to the gay cause.

  • Kate Breck: Is there a love in your life?

    Hallam Foe: She's dead. Would you like to meet her?

    Kate Breck: I like creepy guys.