Hong Kong new generation director-scriptwriter, Heiward Mak (麥曦茵) commented on an interview about her film, High Noon (烈日當空), “Youth-hood is universal.” That is no doubt that, we may got approximate experience in our growth, no matter in any countries, such as complicated complex about mother. This time, I would like to share a review of a film, which is a
This film was directed by a young director, Xavier Dolan, who is just twenty years old. “I killed my mother” is his first directed semi- autobiographical film which also wrote and acted by him. This is a story which Dolan wrote in sixteen years old, some parts in this film are adapted by Dolan’s personally experience. That is also talking about a sixteen years old teenager, who has homosexual orientation and a single mother, who spoils on her son. However, quarrel as the way of diary communication among them, instead of normal conversation. Even on one day, mother found his son’s sexual orientation, that made their relationship suddenly became tense.
From the Autheur theory approach to analyze this film, that reflected the current politic, social problems and phenomenon, and the personal experience of the author. In this film, it can be found the psychological frame of reference on Dolan. He would like to through this to express the anger and suffering in his bottom of the heart, in the border between youngster and adult. He has an urge to struggle to free and pursue an individual life. Unfortunately it happened that, her mother seems to be an opponent, she always disarrange what he want to do. However, he also understands a fact, her mother has started from her care for himself, that is the method that his mother loves him.
Besides the personal experience that Dolan want to share in the movie, he has also thrown a social common problem, which he want to discuss with the audience, that is reason why there is a distance between parents and child. The lack of communication between human, it may the major factor that increased the a sense of alienation in relationship nowadays. We may like to stick together with our mother all day, when we were just a child. After we grew, we may think our mother is dislikeful since they ceaselessly bother us with any affairs on our living. However, we may bump into feel touching, when you saw your mother meticulously do something for you, like a slight matter that preparing breakfast to you everyday morning, etc. As the director, also the main character said in the film that, it is love-hate relationship among the family members.
You have adopted a wise approach in introducing a foreign film, that is elaborating the quote from a local director and applying the concepts to film-making. The auteur theory is used appropriately, with emphasis on the background of the director and the characters in his film. You may consider including discussion on the style, setting and narratives too.
ReplyDeleteI agree that lack of communication has become a serious social problem nowadays. You may relate this theme to your personal experience or general situation in Hong Kong, in order to make a stronger link between a foreign film and the local context. The reasons behind this phenomenon (reluctant to communication with each other) also worth our attention and exploration.
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ReplyDeleteYes, Avin, when I first saw the name of the movie, "I Killed My Mother", that is really attractive to me. Since the relationship between the main character and his mother, is quite similar to my mum and me. Maybe that can also be apply to many people in Hong Kong. In the Chinese society, influenced by traditional culture, most of parents and child are bashful to express how they love each other, so they do not willing to go a step further to communicate to each other. As I mentioned before, spoiling or being harsh to their child have replaced the way of caring and communication with their child, that also makes increasing the a sense of alienation in relationship between parents and child.
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