Will I Lose My Dignity?
On Christmas Eve, the protagonist Mark's simple camera is aimed at a cold and secluded neighborhood in NYC that is about to be demolished and rebuilt. This is the old apartment he rented, and it is also a "non-mainstream" area where impoverished art workers in similar circumstances gather. The splendor of lights in the commercial area reflects the dilapidated walls of the block to be demolished. The festive atmosphere everywhere sets off the distress of being urged to rent on Christmas Eve. The author uses the most direct contrast to render the seemingly warm and indifferent society and the pursuit of profit below the surface. . The down-and-out people who were stingy with dignity were met with the most embarrassing situations. However, the author still thinks it is "not tasteful enough", and a large part of this group of poor people is also given another label: HIV carriers. With an eye-catching AZT (AIDS suppressant) reminder attached to his waist, they can only provide comfort to each other in the deserted small theater organization "Life Support". Under the appearance of Chengping joy, a group of people are walking on the brink of loneliness and collapse. In the team building activity, a man sang: Will I wake tomorrow from this nightmare? What is a nightmare? Is it a terminal illness that fell from the sky or the contempt of indifference and disdain around you? Humans have too strong inertial ability: to treat the pain and misfortune of others, turn a blind eye and a deaf ear, and only wish to whitewash the peace and not disturb the scenery. In the candy-colored neon lights, the sweet and greasy "Jingle Bells" is playing on a loop, and only Mark's camera with peeling paint is accompanied by this group of unfortunate people. In 1994, "Philadelphia" starring Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington brought the image of people with AIDS into the public eye and sparked a huge debate about dignity and justice. Two years later, the "neon light therapy" came out, bringing unprecedented good news to AIDS patients clinically. Compared with the previous tweaking and covering up, American society is indeed making continuous efforts to provide voice channels for AIDS patients in various ways and create a more understanding and inclusive environment. The setting of the AIDS group in "RENT" is brave and powerful. The protagonist group shouted "Fight AIDS!" in unison, which made me slap the table and applaud.
Is Anyone in the Mainstream?
No matter how disappointing the environment is, people always have to find their own way to create energy to gain happiness and realize value. The protagonists in "RENT" have different identities: independent photographers, rock singers, pole dancers, drag queens, and pioneer rappers. They use slightly crazy exaggerated methods to sway their passion for life. In the coffee shop, facing the well-dressed upper class, the protagonist group presented the handsome chorus "La Vie Boheme". Unbridled imagination combined with unrestricted words, forcing the good gentlemen in suits and ties to check out and leave. Mark jumped onto the dining table and asked: Is anyone in the mainstream? Maybe the so-called "mainstream" is just an artificially imagined frame, inside is mainstream, outside is called heresy. But what is the standard for determining "internal and external dominance"? Occupation, wealth, race, and orientation can all be the yardsticks to be assigned to the camp, and it is probably too rare to meet all the established rules at the same time. From a certain point of view, "mainstream" is just a disguise to blindly follow the crowd and deceive oneself. The mainstream should not be a cover for prejudice, but try to guide the precious qualities and pursuit of beauty in human nature based on truth. When Mark resigned from the TV station resolutely and Roger redeemed his guitar and decided to face the life he cherished and embraced in surprise on the rooftop, I was moved to tears by their phrase "You are not alone". At this moment, the connection silently formed between them is the most stable source of energy for each other.
Measure Your Life in Love
At first glance, connection and freedom seem to be in conflict with each other. Freedom, of course, is breaking through resistance, jumping off obstacles, and striding forward alone towards the sea of stars. However, have people ever thought about what they should use to resist the boundless nothingness when they have reached a strange other shore, and there is nothing familiar or reliant on all sides? The utility of reason has its limits after all, just like the real appearance of the world around us through hard exploration: the beauty we imagined in the ivory tower ends in the darkness of reality. But the ultimate goal is not to lament the boundlessness of darkness, but to recognize the direction of light in it. This light comes from a sense of homogeneous connection. It is tacit understanding, understanding, loneliness, and a sharp blade against chaos. People call this connection "love". The three couples represent the different characteristics of three kinds of love: Roger and Mimi, in the heavy snow, they sing about the courage to accept; Joanne and Maureen, they find the trust that is entrusted to them in the process of splitting, laughing and scolding. ; Collins and "King of Popularity" Angel, holding hands again and again to run down the street, brewing the most plain and warm guardian. Compared with all the fame, fortune and glitz in the world, love is the most precious treasure that is hard to find. A year later, in the old apartment, still on Christmas Eve, several old friends were sitting together, hugging Mimi who survived the disaster, thinking about Angel who passed away, and admiring the pictures taken by Mark and recording their bittersweet moments throughout the year. Movie. No one knows if they will be with each other forever, if they can withstand the test of disease, maybe separation and death are just ahead. At this time, I looked at their twinkling eyes, and in the softly hummed main melody, there was a firmer life energy.
Some people say that "RENT" is the most rock-and-roll musical in history. In interpretation, the cultural totem of "rock" should not be limited to the arrangement of electronic sounds and guitar chords. It is what people need to persevere and believe in when they are in the most embarrassing and cruel situation: love and freedom. Human beings are so pitiful, the time they can grasp is like a white horse; and human beings are so lucky that they can make their short life into what they want. A life in a hurry, but the world mayflies, no matter what fate takes on, please believe in the power of love, burn to the fullest, and live seriously.
The show must go on cause no day but today.
View more about Rent reviews
