Sijie uses the movies throughout the novel as a symbol to demonstrate the hope that the boys and the Little Seamstress have to escape back to civilization and aspire towards a future past re-education. They act in a hopeful manner when watching these movies, even though they display propaganda and communist themes because it is a glimpse of the civilized future they aim to have. The movies aid Luo in his discovery of his storyteller skills and further influence the boys’ optimistic views of leading a better life with this escape.
“Now and then everything would go dark and her eyes would shine like spots of phosphorus in the gloom. Then suddenly when the scene changed, her face would light up, flush with colour, and blossom with wonder” (81-82).
When the headman sends the boys once again into the city to watch a new movie in order to entertain the village, they decide to bring the Little Seamstress along. Even though they are standing behind the screen and have a diminished viewing experience, she is completely captivated by the images and moving pictures. This shows her newfound hope for a more civilized future where she is able to experience movies and literature with no limit. While she is watching her face would “light up” and “blossom with wonder” as she is beginning to understand this new world and see the future she can have. Overall, the movies are a symbol of hope for her as she thinks about leaving behind her village life and have more intellectual liberty.
“Phoenix mountain was so remote from civilization that most of the inhabitants had never had the opportunity of seeing a film, let alone visit a cinema...One day having found out when the next month’s screening was due at Yong Jing, he decided to send Luo and me to watch it” (18,19).
The headman of the village is so intrigued by the narrator and Luo’s stories the cinema in the city, that when word comes around that movies will be playing near them, the headman jumps on the chance to hear all about them. The boys are excited because it reminds them of their home.They are hopeful that this newfound freedom will eventually lead to their release from the village and re-education.
Luo and the narrator were affected by the movies in the same way the Four-Eye’s books did. Both convey hope for a civilized life for all three teenagers. While being read the books, the Little Seamstress feels intelligent, hoping to be able to read them and understand them herself someday. While reading the books, both teen boys remember what it is like to be civilized and hope to get back to how things once were, just as the movies do.
I enjoyed reading the in-depth analysis of the use of movies in the book.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that you connect these passages and the overall theme of movies to hope and independence. Do you think that independence could represent the coming of age aspect of the book? Why or why not? I think it could because the independence changes them into adults. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteThe information Luo, the narrator, and the Seamstress gain by watching movies definitely develops their intellectual liberty because they experience new worldviews and ideas. Do any details from the movies affect their actions? The North Korean film moved the Seamstress to tears. Could this expression of emotion show how the new ideas she experienced in the movie changed her beliefs?
ReplyDeleteI like how you showed how the movies were viewed by each character and how each individual has a different way of seeing and thinking about the movies. I thought it was interesting how you described what the Little Seamstress thought about movies. Why do you think she wants to have a more civilized future?
ReplyDelete