Life is Beautiful (美麗人生)

    This is a truly adult fairly tale; triumphant, poignant, timeless and one which will linger ling in the minds of those who see it. Though this is my second time to see this movie, the plots in it still bring me into tears.

    At first, it seems that this is a comedy when Guido, the main character in the movie, concocts an imaginative and humorous explanation for the happenings around. He isn’t handsome or rich while others are dressed in nice suits and live a luxurious life. Because of his positive attitude toward life, he wins Dora’s heart and bonds tightly with Joshua, he and Dora’s son. Even though Mussolini has just signed a pact with Hitler to implement his Nazi policies with regards to Jews, they own a bookstore and live happily.

    However, one day, the Germans come to take away Guido and his son. Dora, not being Jewish, determines on going along with her family. From then on, the once peaceful family has met the most depressing time during World War ∥.

    Those who believe in Nazism, regard Jews as slaves, and even more, working machines. They demand Jews work in adverse conditions, work over them until they are too weak to work and then, send them the “showers”. As for those who are too old or too young, they are forced to go to the “showers” on the day they arrive. When Guido’s uncle is taking off his clothes, one of the harsh commanders accidentally falls down. The kink-hearted old man sincerely gives a hand to her. Nevertheless, the proud woman glares at him furiously as if he were the most disgusting “thing” in the world. Not aware of the cruel fact, all he thinks of is to help others.

    Dr. Lessing, whom Guido used to pot his wits against in games of riddles, encounters Guido in the concentration camp. Both of them are glad to meet each other. For Guido, this is a good chance to save Dora from the camp while for Dr. Lessing, Guido is the only person who may be clever enough to figure out the riddle. When Guido tries to signal the rescue message to him, all he really cares about is the solution to the riddle. In his mind, Jewish life doesn’t mean anything , even though a ridiculous riddle.

    The life in concentration camps is horrible, ruthless and tiring. In order to keep Joshua safe from harm, Guido keeps a cheery face for Joshua although he is weak and dreadfully tired after working every day. It is because of his love for Joshua that the façade of the game never drops. On the other hand, he keeps finding any opportunity to contact Dora. The one that he gives the priority to is his family. After checking Joshua is safe, he begins to find Dora, ignoring his own safety. At last, on his way to be shot, he takes the last look at the place where Joshua hides and acts exaggeratedly so that Joshua can live.

    It is due of Guido’s sacrifice that Dora and Joshua are still alive and this is the main reason why the life in the movie is beautiful.It is the dangerous notion of blue-eyed, blond Aryan supremacy that causes the irretrievable Holocaust. For those who survive from the holocaust, in some way, living is bitter than death.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly(潛水鐘與蝴蝶)

    On December 8,1995, the well-respected editor of the French fashion magazine Elle, Jean-Dominique Bauby, suffered a stroke and slipped into a coma. Awaking twenty days later, much to his surprise he was almost completely paralyzed, except his left eyelid.

    Nevertheless, his self-aware mental faculties were still intact. How he wished that he could have hug his family again when they visited him on Father’s Day while all he could do was use his left eye to see them more clearly and regret. During the days he lay on the bed in the hospital, lots of normal but extraordinary things came to his mind, as of his mind had been a butterfly which was trapped in his useless body like a diving bell deep in the water. All of these were attributed to the rare condition known as locked-in syndrome.

    Enduring the physical therapy and receiving the mental supports from his family and friends, Bauby still decided to write his memoirs by blinking letter by letter, though. It took Bauby 200,000 blinks to finish the book. In spite of the physical impotence, he struggled until the last minute of his life, which not only moved people to tears but inspired us to believe that everyone can make a stone a flower, as long as we stick to it and find strength in the ashes.

Rain Man (雨人)

When the self-centered, avaricious Charlie Babbitt is informed that his long-estranged father has died, he gets two surprises. First, he inherits his father’s prize roses and a 1949 Buick Roadmaster but not the three million dollars he is longing to get. Second, the three million dollars are inherited by his brother while he doesn’t even know the fact that he has a brother, Raymond Babbitt, an autistic-savant who is good at memorizing chores and add, subtract, multiply and divide without a second’s hesitation.

     Disappointed at not getting one cent of his father’s entire legacy, he takes Raymond hostage in order to obtain the money he deserves.

     During their seven days cross-country odyssey, Charlie is forced to tolerate Raymond’s various autistic idiosyncracie which he insists on adhering to rigid daily routines and rituals. Charlie is almost driven to crazy because of these inflexible schedules including eating pancakes with sticks, having the specific meals on specific days, sleeping on the bed which is near the window at eleven o’clock, not going outside on rainy days and so on. Even more, Raymond almost mutters all the time.

      At first, Charlie is mean to Raymond. However, by living with his autistic brother several days, the ice on his cool heart gradually melts. He learns to be more considerate, more patient and even has the desire to live with Raymond in the future for he has been his dearst brother since they were in their childhood. On the other hand, Raymond learns some skills to live in the real world and tries to walk out of the shadow he is in little by little. He dances with Charlie, plays cards, kissed Susanna, Charlie’s girlfriend and even drives his father’s car on the road. Charlie gives Raymond something he can’t get at Wallbrook, the psychological hospital and Raymond gives Charlie something he can’t get in his busy life. Both of them show their live to each other in their own way.

     There is the picture, the lively picture of the eighteen-year-old Raymond and the two-year-old Charlie. Rain Man and Charlie. Brothers. As a proverb goes, “Blood is thicker than water.” Although Raymond has to return to Wallbrook while Charlie lives in Los Angelus, they have connected to each other-by their sincere hearts. Sometimes, love does change something in our life, even in the most subtle way, it works.

The Truman Show (楚門的世界)

    The movie stirs something inside of me for the reality it reveals to the audience is too incredible to be true.

    First, I would like to talk about the founder of Seahaven Island, Christof, the man who comes up with the idea of Truman Show. So arrogant and selfish is he that he tells Truman, “I understand you more than yourself. I know what is the best to you.” Every moment of Truman’s life is continuously transmitted to the television screen of hungry fans around the world without Truman ever knowing. Christof controls every incident in the fake world which Truman lives in, from the death of Truman’s fake father and the fake marriage; moreover, he tries hard to confine Truman to the limited world he has created. There is no denying that our world is full of lies and betrayal. But to an independent individual, the most important thing and the best lifestyle to him are only known by himself. Nobody has the power to deprive others’ right of experiencing the whole life which they deserve, even though his point of departure is out of good will. Christof is selfish for what he really cares about is whether he can earn money from the show or not. He stops Truman from escaping as hard as he can, ignoring the efforts Truman makes.

    Second, Truman’s determination takes me by surprise. Though he is at the middle age and seems to have the so-called safe life, his passion for the dreams leads him to break the routine. “All of us accept the reality.” What a true but miserable sarcasm! Almost everyone once desires to realize his dream; however, the harsh challenges ahead deter them from pursuing his goals. The world is not all that interesting. The years after graduation harden us into those quite different from the strutting graduate who left campus headed for the new stage of life, ready to offer the world our talents. Hence, the dreams sour because of the difficulties we dare not get through. “You will never get the camera in my head”, Truman announces with confidence. It’s up to us whether to go forward regardless of the obstacles or give up and accept the reality.

    And at last, the attitudes which the Truman Show audience have make me feel angry but a little sad. In fact, all of us live the same life as Truman to some extent. We want to make the biggest change in the limited space. And by watching Truman Show, we may get a bit contentment. The audience hope that Truman can pursue his dream and even burst into tears when they see his success. Nevertheless, why should Truman live the fake life? Why should Truman take the risk of his life only to find the true life they live? I wonder if they feel guilty when they watch the Truman Show.

Amy (艾美的世界)

    The story is about Amy, an eight-year-old child, who is rendered deaf and dumb after witnessing the electric shock death on stage of her rock star father during a rainstorm.

    The movie not only reveals the impact of experiencing the death of family on people who are still alive but also reflects some problems in our society.

    Amy seems to lose the ability to talk and hear. However, she can sing along with songs. The secret is found by Robert, the amateur musician who lives with his irascible sister in the shabby community. After witnessing her father’s death, Amy lives in her own world, the world which she had created since the tragedy begins. She refuses to gear or talk about anything except singing songs. In her hopeless, Amy felt it was she that had killed her father.

      In fact, this kind of thought isn’t strange at all, especially for those who have suffered from similar situations. “If I had done something, he might not have been dead…….” The dead will never be alive again, no matter how sad you are. Time will heal everything, little by little. After all, not everybody is as lucky as Amy in the movie.

   As for the social problems, social welfare communities and peoples’ concept of values seems to leave something to be desired. Indeed, many of us want to help others. By helping those who need help or who want help, our world will be more wonderful. Nevertheless, sometimes our help can be threat in some way. There isn’t absolute right or wrong in our world; your meat can be another’s poison!

Erin Brockovich(永不妥協)

   In the movie, Erin's resolution for justice and her straight style of talking are demonstrated so well that her image stays in my mind for a ling time. As a divorced woman with three children and 16 dollars in her bank account, she has every reason to beg for others’ sympathy and feel discouraged. On the contrary, she struggles to pursue her dream of conducting justice even though she is lacking in professional knowledge. Against all odds, including the residents’ indifference and doubts, Ed’s opposition and even a threatening phone call, she just does the thing that she believes in.

   Though  there is no denying that Erin ’s behavior still leaves a lot to be desired, her resolution did stir something deep inside of me. As a saying goes, “Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right.” Identifying with Erin ’s independence in almost everything, I’ll try to be as resolute as Erin with all my might for not everybody is fortunate enough to have someone come to his or her aid. Moreover, one of the greatest discoveries we make, one of our greatest surprises, is to find we can do what we are afraid we couldn’t do.

A River Runs Through It(大河戀)

Based on the true story of the Maclean family, the movie is full of throny contradictions, depicting the emotions of people unable to express the depth of their feelings.

    Neither Norman nor his father understands the true feelings which lie behind Paul’s mischievous grin and crinkly smile. Therefore, it was not until Paul's death that they realized that all they knew about Paul was that he was a genius in fly fishing.

    Most of us are willing to help our family and friends, however, few people are ready to receive our aids. Norman wants to help Paul, his equally blessed and tortured brother, but in vain. Jessie, Norman ’s lover, wants to help her irresponsible brother, Neil, but it seems that there is nothing she can do.

    “It is those we love and should know who elude us. But we can still love them. We can love completely without complete understanding.” As far as I am concerned, though most of the time our help is not the thing others really need, we can still try to let them know that there is someone who will be with them no matter what happens. It is our love that touches them even though everything seems to be still the same. Men passed away into dust, centuries faded away in shadow, but the river still runs through it day in day out, minute by minute. Like love that will never end.