1905 movie network feature A man and a dog, a story of a small town, a journey of honor. The film, which has been called the director’s "most special work" and an image-subversive work, won the top prize in the "One Focus" section of the 77th Cannes International Film Festival. Chinese films have once again exploded in Cannes after 18 years.
However, the release of "Dog Formation" in the country is concerned about the mediocre, some viewers said that "I fell asleep" "I don’t understand it at all" "like the leaders who talked a lot at work but didn’t talk about anything ”······
In this episode, we have invited Li Bin, a professor at Beijing Film Academy, to join us in focusing on the controversial film "Dog Formation".
01
Dispute 1:2-hour small town story, don’t understand?
Looking at the movie reviews of "Dog Array", the first point of controversy for the audience about the film is "don’t understand". Unlike traditional commercial films with strong plot, the story line of "Dog Array" is relatively fragmented, interspersed with many character relationships outside the main story, such as Jiro’s classmate, father, and his object of admiration, etc., making the narrative of the film slightly cluttered.
By grasping the main story of the film, it is easier to feel that what the movie "Dog Array" really wants to express is a profound discussion of the proposition of life. Jiro, played by Peng Yuyan, returns to his homeland after being released from prison. In the face of prejudice and prevention, he does not know how to start a new life. In the end, he is forced to choose to join the dog fighting team for a living, but he accidentally saves a stray black dog. In getting along with the black dog, Jiro gains the courage to go on the road again. One person and one dog redeem each other and hug each other’s new life.
Li Bin believes that in addition to the main story of Jiro and the Black Dog, Jiro’s confidant Grapes, enemy Hu Butcher, friend Nie Qianli, neighbor Lao Camel, boss Uncle Yao, and so on, these vivid and vivid beings constitute a very important catalyst for the entire change of Jiro. These characters allow different aspects of Jiro’s personality to be revealed and revealed, embodying an important emotional connection between him and the outside world.
For example, the girl played by Grapes is lively and decisive, and she will bravely ask Jiro if she dares to marry him after recognizing her own intentions. "This is a very vital character, and it also brings hope to Jiro." Li Bin said that Erlang killed Hu Butcher’s nephew by mistake, so Hu Butcher insisted on seeking Jiro’s explanation, and even wanted to burn the rope and harm him when he jumped bungee. But when Hu Butcher encountered danger, Erlang chose to lend a helping hand regardless of previous suspicions. In the end, Hu Butcher sincerely thanked Jiro for saving his life and let go of the grudge; although Uncle Yao, the boss of the rivers and lakes, did not like Jiro’s stubborn character, he still sold the dog to Jiro…
Li Bin said: "A good work communicates with the audience through emotion. This film may not have strong sensationalism, but its emotional expression seems to be slowly surging in the gray base color, moisturizing the audience’s heart and giving everyone a kind of strength to go back on the road."
02
Dispute 2: The male lead only has five lines, is it too deliberate?
After the film was broadcast, many viewers argued over the setting of the male lead, with some praising Peng Yuyan’s role as Erlang as a shining figure after Chen Guilin. Others thought that the 116-minute film’s male lead only said less than five sentences, with too few lines, which affected the perception.
In the face of controversy, Li Bin believes that the setting of the male protagonist speaking less is closely related to the experience of the characters themselves. She said: "Too much language will eliminate the sense of silent power that the protagonist has. After ten years in prison, Jiro has completely disconnected from his hometown and era. He has no concept of the topics discussed by the people around him, so it is difficult to find a suitable opportunity to talk."
In fact, most of the male protagonist’s language expressions in the film are replaced by fighting actions, which makes it easier to bring a sense of silent power and contrast to the audience and enhance the tension of the characters. Too much language will eliminate the silent power of the protagonist.
03
Dispute 3: Are the animal symbols that appear in turn too stacked?
The appearance of tigers, dogs, snakes and many other animals in the film, which some large-read audiences regarded as a kind of accumulation of symbols. To this kind of view, Li Bin explained: "I think animals are very important in this film. Animality is actually the part that the director wants to present in the human life base color that should be publicized."
The animals in the film were in harmony with the humans, and the animals in the zoo were a true portrayal of the trapped people. After Erlang returned to the town, he was a stray man on the edge, and Black Dog was a wanted stray dog. They were not just the companionship of pets, but the mutual redemption of emotions.
Secondly, Li Bin believes that the black dog evokes Jiro’s animality to a certain extent. For example, at the beginning of the film, Jiro beats the dog, and the black dog bites Jiro back, showing that people and animals are equally aggressive; Jiro rushes into Hu Butcher’s house with chains to avenge the old camel. The black dog is worried that Jiro will also break the window and rush in together.
"Animality is actually the most basic force for survival. It represents a return to the basics, and humans sometimes have to bravely break free from shackles in order to survive like animals," Li Bin said.
As a film with a lot of author expression, the innovation of "Dog Formation" is not only the breakthrough setting of the relationship between humans and animals, but also the profound discussion of the proposition of life. The film presents the possibility and emotional face of another story between humans and dogs, allowing the audience to see that under the interweaving of human feelings, everyone has unavoidable love, help, responsibility and cause and effect in their lives. Therefore, it is advisable to bravely break through the shackles of life, respect instincts, and return to the base color of life.
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