Last December,
The Film Handbook has released the top ten of 2020.
As we all know, the top ten of the Film Handbook have always had unique tastes.
This time is no exception.
Hong Changxiu's films alone were shortlisted for two films — "The Woman Who Ran Away" and "Riverside Hotel."
But even more eye-catching are the other two shortlisted films.
One is the Chinese film "Spring River Plumbing".
One, it's a Spanish film, "The Virgin in August."
On the poster, there is a woman in red.
Her eyes were filled with anticipation, and there was a full moon behind her.
From a distance, she looked like a Virgin surrounded by an aura.
What is she expecting? What will she become?
The woman, named Eva, is about to turn 33.
Be an authentic Madridian.
In August, due to the hot weather, Madrid people used to leave the city in the summer.
Most of the tourists who stay in the city are tourists who come to visit.
They get together, hold events, celebrate holidays, drink and talk.
In the summer of that year, Eva decided to stay in Madrid and try her new life as a tourist.
She rented an apartment in the city center and began a aimless summer life.
Buy a bouquet of orange-stemmed flowers and insert them in a vase.
Take a shower and lie in bed in a daze.
Lie in the shade on the grass and read a book.
Staring at the light spots reflected on the phone screen onto the wall is fascinating.
Take the ice cream to the tour bus and visit the museum.
Follow the strange tourists who are interested in her, and follow her far away.
When you meet an acquaintance, have a glass of wine and chat.
Watch street performances in the city at night.
The key didn't open, so I went to a friend's house for one night.
Go drink and chat with a new female neighbor.
Go for a swim in the river with old and new friends and have a picnic by the river.
Ask a healer to treat yourself to relieve menstrual cramps.
Go see your favorite movies.
Go see the band play with your new friends.
At night, wait for meteors to cross the sky and meet strange men.
Walk home with men, have sex, sleep, and wake up.
"August Virgin" tells the story of Eva's life from August 1 to August 15 according to the date.
No dramatic stories, no romantic love.
There is no earth-shattering, no ups and downs, only daily life that fades beyond recognition.
It's like writing a journal every day.
Is this the movie that was shortlisted for the "Film Handbook" annual top ten films?
Of course not.
Meaning is all hidden in everyday life and everyday conversations.
For example, the conversation that happened between Eva and the owner of the apartment.
The owner of the apartment is writing an obituary for American writer Stanley Cavill at the invitation of a magazine.
The owner of the apartment said,
"Cavill paid particular attention to the comedies of the 1930s, not the social films of the Great Depression, but grotesque comedies that looked like escapism, very avant-garde in terms of traditional morality."
Speaking of Cavill, the owner of the apartment mentioned the actresses of the 30s who had starred in films about women's identity.
This dialogue may seem boring, but it points out the main theme of the movie.
It is not difficult to find out that "August Virgin" is a grotesque comedy that escapes reality.
The reason why Eva stayed in Madrid was to find identity, to find her true self.
For example, a conversation that takes place between Eva and her friend Louis.
Louis believes that nothing can be done in the summer, the heat will melt the brain, and many couples break up in the summer.
Eva, on the other hand, thinks that summer is easy, perfect, and suitable for doing things.
Eva said, "I believe summer is better suited to yourself than ever." ”
It's not so much the difference between the two people's views as it is the difference between men and women.
For example, a conversation that takes place between Eva and her friend Sophie.
Eva and Sophie are a pair of friends who have become estranged.
For Sophie, who had not heard from Eva for a long time, suddenly received a text message from Eva in the middle of the night, which made her a little difficult to accept.
Sophie asked for help that they were estranged because they had children.
Eva bluntly said that the two had been estranged before Sophie had a baby.
Through this conversation, we can see that Eva is a person who dares to be true to herself and others, even if some of her own words will make others uncomfortable.
Another example is the conversation that takes place among a group of people by the river.
Sophie believes that leaving helps her to be herself, because leaving means freedom.
Orka has been to many countries, and every time it feels like starting over and reinventing life.
Of the several people, only Eva was the one who had never left Madrid since she was a child.
Does it take more courage to be free in a familiar environment?
How does one become true to oneself in a familiar environment?
This is the problem Eva faces.
Another example is a conversation between three women on the side of the road.
They talk about menstruation taboos, talk about women being made of water, talk about the relationship between menstruation and the moon.
Society requires women to "pretend there is no menstruation, pretend nothing is happening", as if resting during menstruation is a weakness.
As a woman, I am always doing my best to prove that menstruation has not affected me.
In fact, isn't it natural to rest during painful periods?
This dialogue illustrates from the side,
If a woman wants to be her true self, it is not so easy for men.
These dialogues scattered throughout the film connect the expressions of the entire film.
Through these daily conversations, the main thread of the film is revealed.
How does Eva find her true self in a familiar environment?
15 days of daily life, it seems that nothing has changed, but there are always some things that have changed.
For example, Eva is slowly opening herself up, from passive to active.
When chatting with the owner of the apartment, Eva was passive, listening all the time, occasionally saying a sentence or two.
When she first met her new neighbor, Orka, Eva showed a subconscious defense against strangers.
But slowly, Eva began to take the initiative to embrace the world and embrace the unknown.
She took the initiative to contact old and new friends and facilitated a picnic by the river.
At the riverside, Eva, who was delayed because of her swimsuit, was thrown into the water.
After a moment of struggle, she began to stretch her limbs and enjoy the time of floating freely on the river.
It can be said that this is the opportunity for Eva to change from passive to active in the depths of her heart.
Since then, she has begun to actively seek to connect with the world and find her own place.
The process of this change is silent and happens from within.
It does not rely on any external objects, only with Eva herself.
"The August Virgin" is like a light and delicate sketch, full of charming lines and natural flowing emotions.
To ying mei said that this movie is the most suitable for playing glowing yin in the summer afternoon.
It belongs only to summer.
It only belongs to you who do not require a strong narrative, but seek emotions to flow.