No big Europe, can't put a peaceful dining table

Josianne 2022-10-03 18:28:42

Four years after it was released, a movie called "Journey to the West" suddenly became popular. After experiencing the bad wind and rain at the box office, it suddenly became popular again by downloading the videotape VCD network of the students in the afternoon. This kind of tampered version is constantly seen in major BBSs, and various students throw away the sage books in their hands and rush out, dubbing the film "surrealist masterpiece", "deconstructionist film" and other definitions. Two ignorant Hong Kongers were pulled out of the bathroom to receive applause and worship before they had time to wipe the toothpaste from their mouths.

For years, I thought it was an obvious conspiracy.

This is nothing but a collective and conscious movement of wearing yellow robes by the new intellectual class because of cultural reversal. In this day and age, I don't think it's possible to overestimate the creation of art without a sense of initiative. From the subsequent works of Zhou and Liu, it can be seen that they do not know what "postmodernism" and "deconstructionism" are, as they say. Since there was no such concept in the minds of the main creators before the filming of "Journey to the West", the various halos that were placed on Zhou Liu's head were inevitably somewhat ironic.

For a true "surrealist deconstructionist film", look at Luis Buñuel's "The Charm of the Bourgeoisie" to get a more comprehensive impression. The first was a dinner party that I couldn't eat all the time. There were eight times in total, and it was constantly interrupted for ridiculous reasons. The task of deconstruction is mainly completed by two soldiers and a policeman, always suddenly inserted. A man forced to tell the dream of meeting his deceased mother, and then left. Then there is a series of intertwined dreams that resemble reality, completely deconstructing the entire film. The director plays with the audience until he stops, and you can't tell whether you are seeing day or night? This enormous amount of control is staggering. The use of sound effects is also playing deconstruction. When some characters start to enter their lines, the ambient noise will suddenly increase and suppress the vocals. These sounds of boiling water or sirens or tools are completely increased to an unrealistic level, which is rude split the movie. In the film, the Latin American left-wing female assassin just opened her mouth and said "Mao Zedong said" and her voice was overwhelmed by the sound effects. This is my biggest regret during the filming process. If Buñuel chooses a paragraph of Chairman Mao, which one will he choose? Woolen cloth?

In the early years, Buñuel and Dali cooperated very much, and filmed "A Dog Named Andalus". Later, their artistic conception began to break. In "The Charm of the Bourgeoisie", you can see that Buñuel is completely free from Dalí's influence. He realizes that surrealism is no longer about hanging a limp clock on a tree branch. Surrealism is actually a distortion of reality and a Dismemberment, the illogical reorganization of objects and relationships that are visible in reality after being shattered.

Compared with the language of the film, the theme is much easier to understand. The hypocrisy of the bourgeoisie, the breakdown of morality, the deceitfulness of religion, etc., are all over-educated in middle school. The means of distorting reality are just an irony of what the bourgeoisie is doing to distort the status quo. The film finally won four major awards, including the 1972 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.

Favorite scene: The seventh meal. When the bourgeoisie finally sat down at the table again, the waiter came up to spread the meal, and the roast chicken fell to the ground. He picked it up and placed it on the table as if nothing had happened. , it turns out that they are on the same stage, and there are many audiences waiting to see their performance at the table...

When you are in good spirits, I advise everyone to watch it, and don't say "Westward Journey" after reading it. Deconstructionist works, please.

View more about The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie reviews

Extended Reading

The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie quotes

  • Henri Sénéchal: Any news from Miranda?

    Rafael Acosta: Yes.

    Henri Sénéchal: The situation?

    Rafael Acosta: Quite calm.

    Henri Sénéchal: And the guerrillas?

    Rafael Acosta: There are a few left. They are a part of our folklore.

    Alice Sénéchal: You have problems with the students?

    Rafael Acosta: Students are young. They must have some fun.

    Simone Thévenot: How's your government treating them?

    Rafael Acosta: We are not against the students, but what can you do with a room full of flies? You take a fly-swatter and Bang! Bang!

  • Colonel: I didn't know that chivalry still existed in your semi-savage country.

    Rafael Acosta: Sir, you just insulted the Republic of Miranda!

    Colonel: I don't give a damn about the Republic of Miranda!

    Rafael Acosta: And I shit on your entire army!