Everyone says that this film reflects the cultural differences between China and China, but I prefer to understand it as a work that inherits the culture, morality and values of China. In the film, Datong went to the United States with his intellectual father who had lived in Beijing for a long time, and prepared to apply for a green card for him. During this period, the scraping incident about the life and sublimation of the "deaf-mute" in the United States finally made the old man leave St. Louis. Some of the details reflected the great differences between the two cultures, but I don't think this is the main line. From the beginning, Jane created an English environment for Dandan, and at the end of the film, she taught Dandan to speak Mandarin with Datong. This kind of psychological change, which has been lurking like a grass snake gray line, can show the main idea of this film.
Let's take a look at some clips from the film first. (The following are not all in support of my views, just my views on some fragments.)
The first part:
Let's take a look at Mr. Xu Datong's acceptance speech: "Eight years ago, I was a new immigrant, standing on the street selling paintings for a living, but I believe that as long as I work hard, one day I will become one of you, a truly successful American." Today, this award proves that America is a place full of opportunities ... I love you, I love America, and this is my American dream ... "This is true, but the hidden crisis under this joy will appear later, but the real Americans are not completely Americanized. This is to first raise the story to a certain height, and then smash it with the development of the event. ...
The second part:
I want to talk about Dennis's education at the Datong dinner. At this point, Datong fully embodies a China father, turned off the video game and patted Dennis on the head. This series of movements is exactly what we often see in the big environment of China. I think it is normal for Americans like Quinlan to feel puzzled, which is taken as evidence of cultural differences.
The third part:
From the appearance of Lao Huo to his end, there are only three things: work, life and death. Playing terracotta warriors and horses at dinner shows that Lao Huo is poor and unstable, and his economic source is to take such a job; The pastime in life is casino gambling, and the rules of gambling are easy to understand, which shows that Lao Huo's life is shallow and not integrated into American society. Earned a meager salary, squandered in casinos, and finally died of a heart attack. The appearance of Lao Huo was also a foreshadowing for Dad's return to China. In dad's heart, he could no longer bear the pain of dying in his hometown.
The fourth part:
Datong's anger at the hearing should surprise many people. How can you be impulsive in front of a judge? But think about it, what will happen to you if a rascal slanders the culture of the motherland in front of you? Angry and annoyed ... this is not a cultural difference, but it seems to have to be said, because this paragraph involves the interpretation of culture.
The fifth part:
The monologue to Lao Huo's tombstone is a summary of cultural differences. Since then, I have never written a fragment of cultural differences, which gives me a deep feeling and echoes the previous articles. "Do you want to put the words to datong escape? ..... Life is like this, anything can happen, and you can't avoid it ... "This is another derivative of China Thought, an old father's education for his son, and another inheritance.
Part VI:
Driving back to the welfare home, the police chased after him on the way, but Datong drove smoothly and enjoyed the moment of father-son reunion "calmly" during the escape. This is a pleasant passage in the film. Did you notice Datong's face after the child fell asleep? Datong's gratified smile turned into a frowning brow. This is the helplessness of Datong, which can only be revealed behind the children.
Part VII:
The rental housing in Datong is a mess. A broken family is not due to the family itself, but to the system. This ridiculous reason is precisely the reason why Datong is helpless, and life has lost its direction. Jane drinks with her and laughs at herself for the same reason. Finally, Datong said sadly, "Don't say that", which is a cry for American life.
A figure who really wants to talk about-a prostitute who came to Janine's door, the only shot that appeared was a stunning look back, and she looked at Janine with contemptuous eyes. This is a tragic character, and it is also a kind of helplessness to walk out of the United States and become a prostitute instead of becoming a successful American as Datong said.
Part VIII:
Obviously, I'm going to write the finale, and finally "Santa Claus" climbed up the hose and staged a thrilling scene ... the three of us crowded together to enjoy the reunion. The director chose Christmas as a holiday, not only to give Xu Datong a disguised image, but also to show that China's reunion culture can also appear in western festivals, which involves cultural commonness and a big world.
Of course, I won't describe Jane's psychology as a hidden line, which I can't describe and can only understand by myself.
I want to write something constructive before I finish this article. Personally, I think some names of this film really want to express the central idea. Look at that.
Scraping refers to scraping the meridian points with scraping instruments, and through benign stimulation, giving full play to the role of ying Wei Qi, making the meridian points congested, improving local microcirculation, eliminating pathogenic factors and dredging collaterals, relaxing muscles and regulating qi, expelling wind and cold, clearing away heat and dampness, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, reducing swelling and relieving pain, thus enhancing the body's own potential disease resistance and immune function, thus achieving the purpose of strengthening the body resistance and eliminating pathogenic factors. Cultural differences are regarded as a kind of stasis in the film, and scraping is needed to connect the two ends of a meridian to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis. It can also be understood that the first generation of culture is closed, and obstacles need to be removed before a cultural heritage can continue.
In addition, The Book of Rites Li Yun's Journey to the Avenue also takes the avenue, and the world is public. Choose talents, make friends and mend fences. Such an old friend is not only a relative, but also an only child, so that the old, the strong, the useful, the young, the strong, the lonely and the sick can all be supported. Men get points and women get rewards. Goods, abandon it to the ground, don't hide it in yourself; Force, evil is not out of the body, not for yourself. Therefore, it is known as "Great Harmony". It is not rich to seek closure, but thieves do not do it, so it is not closed outside. This is why heroes are called "Great Harmony"-"Great Harmony in the World".