This animation tells that the elves in the water have lost long-term contact with humans, and the humans who have lost the guidance of the elves are suffering from the war. Now some elves are looking for humans again, even at the expense of themselves. The animation pictures are naive and simple, as if they are just a simple story for children, but it incorporates the mystery of epics, myths, fairy tales, and allegories, revealing the atmosphere of a variety of classic themes, including betrayal, revelation, redemption and sacrifice . This dual temperament makes people seem to be listening to the important historical story of the fusion of the colors of the reality and fantasy of human life.
This story actually has two meanings.
The banshee gives people enlightenment and guides human beings while also fulfilling their own mission. The people affected by her also recognize their own inner expectations, each find their own proper position to perfect themselves, stimulate their own potential, become the person who is destined to protect the banshee, and play their role.
The writer Vick, inspired by the banshee, feels inspired like a needle. He is no longer troubled by self-doubt, and wrote a book that will have a huge impact on the future.
The family of the apartment caretaker in Cleveland suffered an accident. His wife and children lost their lives. Cleveland suffered a heavy blow from this incident. He changed his way of life and no longer believed in his own abilities. The impact of the banshee is two-way, and finally the healer healed the scars in the depths of his soul while healed the banshee.
Another meaning is the director's projection of his own creative process and psychology.
In the process of creation, “he must interpret, heal, and guard his'story' at all costs, he must kill the self-critical subconscious mind (critics), and defend his creativity. Disturbed by all external factors (creatures). The water monster, as a story, is fragile. Only by desperate protection can she go home and the story can be completed.” (see tailup's comment)
People have experienced some injuries in the past, and the way to heal them is to face up to these things, retell them through words, and create new stories. This will also heal the wounds that things have caused themselves. Or similar views have been expressed in Big Fish. This seems to be the function of summarizing creation and storytelling, and has the nature of meta-fiction.
Originally, the script of this movie came from the story the director told his child before going to bed. A plot in the play also revealed such information. When the Korean mother did not want to continue telling the story, the lady would only continue telling the story if Cleveland acted like a child listening to the story. This is also the question that everyone who tells a story to a child has. Can the child recognize the deep meaning of the story? Can you understand this story if you don't understand it? When they grow up, they may better understand the meaning of the story.
However, on the one hand, it is a bedtime story for children, and on the other hand, it has a rich cultural meaning. The film extracts some primitive and abstract images and motifs that run through many classic stories. For example, the elves who guard humans, the betrayal and alienation of the elves by humans. The sacrifice made by the elves to guide mankind. Pass the test to become the queen of the elves. To soothe the human soul through the salvation of the elves.
Jung believes that the original image, that is, the prototype is an image that appears either as an elf, a man, or as a recurring image. Once creative fantasy is freely expressed, it often reveals mythical images. These images are the result of formulating the countless typical experiences of our ancestors. It seems that they are the accumulation of countless similar experiences in the mind.
The image of water in the film symbolizes the mystery of creation, birth-death-resurrection, purification and redemption, reproduction and growth.
The film also contains prototype motifs and hero prototypes summarized by Wilfred L. Guerin and others. The images of archetype women include (1) Great Mother, Kind Mother, Mother Earth: related to birth, warmth, protection, fertility, growth, and abundance; it also symbolizes unconsciousness. (2) Horror mother (witch, sorceress, banshee): related to terror, danger and death. (3) Lover (princess or "pretty woman"): a manifestation of inspiration and spiritual satisfaction.
In fact, it is more appropriate to call it an elf in the movie than a banshee. So it may not mean the second point.
In addition, the people around the banshee are a mixture of chasing and comprehending the heroic archetype. He must complete very difficult tasks, fight monsters, solve inexplicable mysteries, and overcome insurmountable obstacles in order to protect the princess. And withstood the test, from ignorance and immature to comprehension of one's own responsibility.
Director Chamaran is not bound by past works and comments, and embodies complete freedom. As he did in the film, he killed the critics.
The commentator can understand the meaning, rhythm, and role of the characters usually appearing in the story. But it is considered to be a rigid routine arrangement. So I just look forward to similar stories and satisfy the image I imagined in my mind. It's like watching Sixth Sense feel good, and I have been expecting the director to make similar stories. In fact, every film of the director borrowed the shell of the story to make a deep interpretation of the meaning, and to ensure that each story is fresh, creative, and others have not spoken from this perspective. If this story breaks away from the inherent model and gives new development space and meaning, the rigid critics will not be able to understand it at all, and give wrong guidance and understanding. Here is also a little bit of ridicule from the director to critics and audiences.
Such a lazy audience only hopes to watch a horror or suspense film and be led by the plot, rather than actively and keenly communicating with the director's intentions. Such an audience may find the film boring, not knowing what is being said, and the screen is gloomy, and will be disappointed.
In a plot in the film, the critic asked Cleveland, why are the cliché male and female protagonists kissing in the rain at the end of the film?
Cleveland replied, because it embodies the salvation and cleansing of the soul.
In fact, the motifs of redemption, sacrifice, enlightenment, protection, and healing contained everywhere make the film quite warm all the time, and grasp the nerves. Because this is the light of hope that people get when they face a spiritual crisis. Let me cry from time to time while watching the movie.
If you understand this film, you will feel dumbfounded at the criticisms. The technique and rhythm of expression have the same level as his previous works, but this special meaning is completely different from his previous works. It's ridiculous to say that Xia Ma Lan Jiang Lang is exhausted and can't surpass himself.
But why is this film not suitable for public acceptance? It is always a mystery to guess the actual level of the film from the likes and dislikes of others. If it is not sensitive enough, it may be regarded as an insult. But it is difficult for me to find other explanations.
However, I admit that this film is totally unsuitable for full promotion as a commercial blockbuster. It should be screened on a small scale in the art theater just like the Sixth Sense back then. Even the director himself felt that the promotion strategy was not suitable. The score on IMDB is 6.3, but the proportion of 10 points out of 10 accounts for 23.8%, which is higher than other scores. The ratio of 8-10 points is 50.6%, indicating that there are still quite a few people like this film, and there is a tendency of two-level differentiation in comments.
The performance of this film is actually not the point. Of course, Bryce Dallas Howard is fully competent to show the uncivilized innocence, fragility, and trance of the banshee, like a little stupid and inexperienced child. Or a bit like the image of the prophet in the minority report.
The music also perfectly expresses the theme, conveying an atmosphere of panic and tension, and an atmosphere of warm hope.
Finally I want to thank tailup. Thank you, tailup. You are the interpreter too. At the moment I see that you are the only one who has made such an in-depth understanding and explanation.
Did I say too much about this film so good that it will disappoint the audience's expectations? It's just that if everyone missed this film because of comments, if you are someone who loves to interpret the deep meaning of the film, you must give this film a chance.
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