First of all, on the image of the East and the West shown in the film. Huo An represents the image of traditional China. Huo An's attitude towards Luques' "turning the enemy into coexistence" is also the attitude of traditional China towards foreign countries: in a way of communication, cooperation, and common prosperity, rather than in a way of conquering aggression. Just like "Zheng He's voyages to the West", the way we go out is the exchange of materials and culture, rather than the expansionary expropriation of Western capitalism. Historically, the setting up of the "Western Regions Protectorate" itself is also a reflection of this attitude, because the "Western Regions Protectorate" itself was not set up as a management agency for the Western Regions, but as an adjustment agency to ensure the stability of the Western Regions, not like the Xiongnu. When they ruled the Western Regions, they imposed taxes and deprived other races of their interests.
In terms of Western images, Lucius and Thebes represent two types of Western images respectively. Luques represents the Western image of friendship, communication and exchange. Working together with Huo An and others, not only did they complete the miracle of building the city wall in 15 days, but also in their shared life, soldiers from Rome, countries in the Western Regions, Han and other warriors achieved emotional harmony and coexistence. Support, help, and can also make fun. When Huo An and others sang Chinese songs, and then Luques sang Roman songs, this kind of empathy and emotion across languages and nations reached a climax. The 15 days at Yanmen Pass seem to have really achieved the ideal of the so-called "Great Harmony World"; on the other hand, Thebes represents the image of the West that is full of hostility and conquest. At the same time, his great ambition also peeped at the Silk Road of the Han and the territory of the thirty-two countries in the Western Regions. The final result of this conquering attitude must be war.
Regarding the war, the director's attitude has been clearly revealed, with a strong humanitarian color. This is shown in the film as the war brings only the pain of death, and no one is the victor. In the scene, when the countries of the Western Regions and the Roman army were at war, the director did not deliberately depict the heroism of the battles of the Western Regions countries that were supposed to be the righteous side, but showed the blood of the war through long shots when everyone was killed in the war. And cruelty, here, the director gives life the same value, everyone is equal in front of life, no matter the enemy or me, life is the most precious.
The result of the war naturally ended in the death of Thebes, but the film did not render this victorious atmosphere, but immersed in a sad atmosphere. Because of the killings and deaths brought about by the war, everyone is left with friends and relatives. There is only pain but no victory, which is related to the director's attitude.
At the same time, the final confrontation between Huo An and Thebes is also very interesting. As a positive character, Huo An did not have the upper hand in the battle. Instead, he retreated steadily until he was about to be killed. The memory of the scene, that is, the death of Luques gave him the courage and strength to defeat Tibes. Here the director deliberately weakened the heroic color of the protagonist, but gave more spiritual value and belief. It can be said that spiritual "faith" finally defeated the enemy.
So what is this spiritual "belief"? When we recall what Luques said before his death, we will understand: in fact, it was the "Yanmen Pass" that they completed together in 15 days. "The city we built together is a city without fear, persecution, and humiliation." "Yanmen Pass" is a symbol of a world where everyone is equal and coexisting harmoniously. This embodies the director's hopes and ideals for the world: I hope that Western civilization can put aside the desire for conquest and aggression, and sincerely communicate with Eastern civilization. Only when Eastern and Western civilizations understand and support each other, can the world be like this "Yanmen Pass". , human beings can truly have a future.
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