Story 6 Analysis: The "uncertainty" of all things

Giovani 2022-03-31 09:01:03

The first half was quite boring. After the fifth story revealed the mystery, "Ba" successfully became one of my personal top ten of the year. There are 6 episodes, 6 life philosophies, and 1 central idea running through them - " the uncertainty of all things ". When it comes to Story 6, the "uncertainty" is even more of a "ghost", which is the finishing touch.

I believe that when the "reaper" appeared, the audience's questions also followed, and once again fell into "uncertainty" . By the end of the movie, most people can still see that Story 6 takes place in the afterlife. The obvious ones will not be mentioned. Let's take a look at the less obvious ones and their connotations:

The appearance of Story 6 is : 5 unidentified strangers ride in the same carriage to a place called "Fort Morgan" (the name should be a building).

The essence is : 2 "death gods" are escorting the souls of 3 people who have just died (gamblers, hunters, and housewives who are not firm in their beliefs) and a corpse (this is a pit, in the end), go to Purgatory (Fort Morgan).

gambler, housewife, hunter

grim Reaper

In Western Christianity, after a person dies, the angel of death (the reaper or the god of death) will take the undead to different places:

Good People (God's Believers) - Go to Heaven

Bad guys (guilty people) - go to hell

The unsure group (those who have no faith or are not convinced) - go to Purgatory (ie "Fort Morgan").

Purgatory has appeared in many film and television works, the more typical ones are "Lost", "Watching the World", "Twin Peaks" and so on. In "Lost", "Purgatory" is an island; in "Watch the World", "Purgatory" is a hotel; in "Twin Peaks", it is called "The Night's Watch". In addition to referring to the previous film and television works, a detail in the film can also confirm this point of view, that is, the two signs on the main entrance of Fort Morgan: an angel and a goat (the goat represents the devil or a sinful person), the former symbolizes heaven, and the latter The person symbolizes hell. So where do the tenants (souls) end up here? Not sure yet , and need to continue to evaluate.

Sign on the door: Angel and the Lamb

Speaking of this, then it is not difficult for us to guess that the driver = the ferryman. In the end, there is only one question left, what does the corpse in the afterlife represent? to heaven? Or go to hell? Spirited away? Or the resurrection of the corpse? There is no definite answer. I think this is a small trick played by the director on the audience to extend the "uncertainty" beyond the film, making every audience an unwitting player.

ferryman

The Coen brothers said: "Add a pit at the end and let everyone guess!"

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Extended Reading
  • Marc 2022-03-26 09:01:05

    In my limited viewing experience, it is quite a strange and fresh kind.

  • Delpha 2022-03-27 09:01:06

    There is really no one who has the potential to draw long films. Besides, with so many stories accumulated, it is impossible to make so many long films in this life, so let's just take it all in one pot. Personally, I like the first story that is the happiest and most ridiculous, followed by the fifth story about the history of the girl wandering on the grassland. The fourth adaptation of Jack London's short story "Golden Valley" starring Tom Waits is the least Coen brothers style. In addition, the second ballad Çurly Joe in the first story, adapted from the classic cowboy song Little Joe the Wrangler, is similar to our cowboy Wang Erxiao, the lyrics are about a joining cowboy The orphans of the group, doing the physical work of adults, finally stumbled and fell to their death in the chaos. On the whole, although they are all labeled as the Coen Brothers, I don't think it has been made into a "Director's Choice Album" like "Children of Jianghu".

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs quotes

  • Trapper (segment "The Mortal Remains"): So... him on the roof, he was wanted?

    Englishman (segment "The Mortal Remains"): Oh, Mr. Thorpe was very much wanted... judging by what the are paying for him!

    [the Englishman and the Irishman chuckle]

    Trapper (segment "The Mortal Remains"): What did he do?

    Englishman (segment "The Mortal Remains"): I don't know. Does it matter?

    [addressing the Lady]

    Englishman (segment "The Mortal Remains"): Just as you said, Madame, there are two kinds of people. In our business they are: dead or alive.

  • Englishman (segment "The Mortal Remains"): I must say... it's always interesting watching them after Clarence has worked his art. Watching them negotiate... the passage.

    Frenchman (segment "The Mortal Remains"): Passage?

    Englishman (segment "The Mortal Remains"): From here to there. To the other side. Watching them try to make sense of it, as they pass to that other place. I do like looking into their eyes as they try to make sense of it.

    [stares at the Frenchman]

    Englishman (segment "The Mortal Remains"): I do.

    [stares at the Lady]

    Englishman (segment "The Mortal Remains"): I do.

    Trapper (segment "The Mortal Remains"): Try to make sense of what?

    Englishman (segment "The Mortal Remains"): [stares at the Trapper] All of it.

    Lady (segment "The Mortal Remains"): And do they ever... succeed?

    Englishman (segment "The Mortal Remains"): [smiles] How would I know? I'm only watching!