Zhang Yimou's Artistic Choices
I think that Zhang Yimou chose to tell this contemporary story through the use of a fairy tale because of how it enhances the story. Fairy tales are very simple stories. That simplicity, though artistically complicated, enhances the storyline for the viewer because they see elements of real life and fantasy in one story. They can see an average story that can happen to anybody, while also seeing how true love like that exhibited in The Road Home is hard to find. In addition, this simplicity allows the viewers to something beyond themselves. This story creates a world that is not accessible to the viewers. They get a chance to see the emotional reality of Zhao Di in two different parts of her life: when she meets the love of her life, and when she has to bury him. Lastly, I think Zhang Yimou decided to tell this story through fairy tales because The Road Home and fairy tales exhibit a rite of passage for young women. Zhao Di falling in love with the teacher, waiting for him, and talking to her mother about it is a rite of passage for her. She has grown up. She has found out what true love feels like. Thus, she was able to marry the teacher, and enter married life, womanhood, and motherhood, evidently.
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Myth in World Film Part 2: Analysis
Behavior, Background Stories, and Love Stories in The Road Home and Disney's Cinderella
It can be argued that the storyline of Zhao Di in The Road Home is similar to Cinderella's storyline in Disney's Cinderella. These two main characters parallel one another in their behavior, their background story, and their love story.
Zhao Di and Cinderella share similar behavior because they are both very meek and quiet. Zhao Di kept to herself a lot throughout the film, barely speaking a word to anyone. Zhao Di could also be characterized as meek because of the way she carries herself. In multiple scenes throughout the film, Zhao Di is looking down. This will be discussed more in the visual style section of this post. In Cinderella, Cinderella also portrays the same kind of behavior. Cinderella is meek in the presence of her stepmother and stepsisters. Cinderella is not allowed to speak to anyone outside of her home, which is why she finds comfort in speaking and singing to animals. Cinderella can also be found with her head facing down in the beginning of her story.
The background stories of Zhao Di and Cinderella are also very similar, in the sense that they both worked inside the home a lot. Zhao Di cooked and took care of her mother at home. She also had to fetch water from the well to contribute to the home. Zhao Di's job was to take care of the home and her mother. Cinderella worked at home, as well. She was forced to cook, clean, and do household chores all day. She did not have much freedom, or a life outside of the home, either.
Lastly, Zhao Di and Cinderella have similar love stories. In The Road Home, Zhao Di admired the teacher from afar, and did not say much to him until the time was right. The teacher definitely had a certain charm about him that Zhao Di was attracted to. The teacher was also attracted to Zhao Di, but that was originally only spoken in exchanged smiles and glances. In Disney's Cinderella, Cinderella admired Prince Charming from afar because that's all she could do. Cinderella did not speak to the prince for a long while after she became acquainted with him. Obviously, Prince Charming was a charming man, just like the teacher in The Road Home. This charm attracted Cinderella. In addition, Prince Charming was attracted to Cinderella, as he wanted to know her name at the end of the ball, and find her after she lost her glass slipper. The love stories of these two characters are similar in another way, as well. This is that the men had to "choose" something that belonged to the women involved. In The Road Home, Zhao Di prepared food everyday for the teacher to eat during lunch. Each day she, along with a group of women, watched the teacher and made sure that he chose her dish. Each woman wanted their dish to be chosen by the teacher. In Cinderella, Prince Charming had to choose the foot that fit in the glass slipper. Many women wanted their foot to be the perfect fit, so that Prince Charming would choose them to be his princess.
Visual Style in The Road Home and Disney's Cinderella
The visual style in The Road Home and Disney's Cinderella is similar in the way that the lead females (Zhao Di and Cinderella) are seen. Both young women look down frequently in their stories. This could be because of they both have certain levels of submission and humility because of the house work that they are expected to do. Again, this highlights the similarities between the two characters' behavior.
It can be argued that the storyline of Zhao Di in The Road Home is similar to Cinderella's storyline in Disney's Cinderella. These two main characters parallel one another in their behavior, their background story, and their love story.
Zhao Di and Cinderella share similar behavior because they are both very meek and quiet. Zhao Di kept to herself a lot throughout the film, barely speaking a word to anyone. Zhao Di could also be characterized as meek because of the way she carries herself. In multiple scenes throughout the film, Zhao Di is looking down. This will be discussed more in the visual style section of this post. In Cinderella, Cinderella also portrays the same kind of behavior. Cinderella is meek in the presence of her stepmother and stepsisters. Cinderella is not allowed to speak to anyone outside of her home, which is why she finds comfort in speaking and singing to animals. Cinderella can also be found with her head facing down in the beginning of her story.
The background stories of Zhao Di and Cinderella are also very similar, in the sense that they both worked inside the home a lot. Zhao Di cooked and took care of her mother at home. She also had to fetch water from the well to contribute to the home. Zhao Di's job was to take care of the home and her mother. Cinderella worked at home, as well. She was forced to cook, clean, and do household chores all day. She did not have much freedom, or a life outside of the home, either.
Lastly, Zhao Di and Cinderella have similar love stories. In The Road Home, Zhao Di admired the teacher from afar, and did not say much to him until the time was right. The teacher definitely had a certain charm about him that Zhao Di was attracted to. The teacher was also attracted to Zhao Di, but that was originally only spoken in exchanged smiles and glances. In Disney's Cinderella, Cinderella admired Prince Charming from afar because that's all she could do. Cinderella did not speak to the prince for a long while after she became acquainted with him. Obviously, Prince Charming was a charming man, just like the teacher in The Road Home. This charm attracted Cinderella. In addition, Prince Charming was attracted to Cinderella, as he wanted to know her name at the end of the ball, and find her after she lost her glass slipper. The love stories of these two characters are similar in another way, as well. This is that the men had to "choose" something that belonged to the women involved. In The Road Home, Zhao Di prepared food everyday for the teacher to eat during lunch. Each day she, along with a group of women, watched the teacher and made sure that he chose her dish. Each woman wanted their dish to be chosen by the teacher. In Cinderella, Prince Charming had to choose the foot that fit in the glass slipper. Many women wanted their foot to be the perfect fit, so that Prince Charming would choose them to be his princess.
These photos showcase the developing love stories between the main characters in The Road Home and Disney's Cinderella.
Visual Style in The Road Home and Disney's Cinderella
The visual style in The Road Home and Disney's Cinderella is similar in the way that the lead females (Zhao Di and Cinderella) are seen. Both young women look down frequently in their stories. This could be because of they both have certain levels of submission and humility because of the house work that they are expected to do. Again, this highlights the similarities between the two characters' behavior.
Zhao Di and Cinderella are both shown looking down while they complete work.
Again, Zhao Di and Cinderella are looking down. But, in these pictures they are looking down while they are serving others.
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Myth in World Fim-Part 1: Research
The Road Home and Disney's Cinderella
The film, The Road Home has many similarities to Disney's Cinderella. These similarities mainly exist between the main characters in the films, Zhao Di and Cinderella. The similarities also exist in their love stories. In the story of Cinderella, Cinderella is a young girl who works as a house maid for her evil stepmother and stepsisters. Because she is the house maid, she is not allowed to go the ball and possibly see Prince Charming. Her animal friends make a dress for her, but her stepsisters destroy it. Cinderella's fairy godmother appears, gives her a beautiful gown, and turns a pumpkin into a carriage, so Cinderella can go to the ball. But, the magical spell wore off at midnight. At the ball, Cinderella danced with the prince. She left the ball at midnight, and lost her glass slipper. Prince Charming searched to find the perfect fit for the shoe, and the shoe fit Cinderella. Prince Charming and Cinderella got married after that, and everyone celebrated.
The film, The Road Home has many similarities to Disney's Cinderella. These similarities mainly exist between the main characters in the films, Zhao Di and Cinderella. The similarities also exist in their love stories. In the story of Cinderella, Cinderella is a young girl who works as a house maid for her evil stepmother and stepsisters. Because she is the house maid, she is not allowed to go the ball and possibly see Prince Charming. Her animal friends make a dress for her, but her stepsisters destroy it. Cinderella's fairy godmother appears, gives her a beautiful gown, and turns a pumpkin into a carriage, so Cinderella can go to the ball. But, the magical spell wore off at midnight. At the ball, Cinderella danced with the prince. She left the ball at midnight, and lost her glass slipper. Prince Charming searched to find the perfect fit for the shoe, and the shoe fit Cinderella. Prince Charming and Cinderella got married after that, and everyone celebrated.
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Music in Film
The above clip is a scene from The Wiz. In this scene, Dorothy has just saved the Scarecrow from the evil crows. They found the yellow brick road and sing their way to The Wiz (note Michael Jackson's awesome dance moves). I thought this music was interesting because it is not only funky (since the movie was made in 1978), but the music contrasts with the lyrics. The song is very upbeat and danceable, but the lyrics are saying, "Ease on down the road". This song isn't an "ease" type of song. The lyrics seem to fit well with music that is more calming and easing. However, I do like that the song is carefree and promising, foreshadowing a positive journey.
Water: A Cultural/Spiritual Approach
The movie Water is heavily influenced by Hindi culture. The romance plot is based upon the Hindi story of Krishna and Radha. The plot of the film also focuses on the widows. The way that the widows are treated and are required to behave is based on the culture of India. Widows can only live together in the Ashrams. Before they go to the Ashrams, they are required to cut their hair off. We see this in the beginning of the movie when Chuyia gets her hair cut after her husband died. The widows are treated poorly and must withstand suffering until their death. The widows must also be self-restrained and chaste. Although this film is fiction, this was the reality for many widows in India at this time, and it is reflected in Water.
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