Text | Xinlan Shuhua
Edit | Xinlan Shuhua
introduction
Director Lars von Trier is known for his unique film style and deep emotional expression, his film works are often full of emotional conflict and emotional authenticity, in his film "Breaking Waves", he further shows his directing style, integrating elements of emotional realism, through vivid emotional narratives and real character relationships, introducing the audience to a challenging and contradictory emotional world.
A true expression of emotion
Emotional realism focuses on the true expression of emotions and the in-depth depiction of the inner world of characters, and Lars von Trier shows this characteristic through his directorial approach in "Breaking Waves", the film's protagonist, Beth, a woman with a pure heart and rich emotions, who is willing to sacrifice for her husband's health.
This inner emotional struggle and choice, as well as the true expression of her emotions, allows the audience to deeply feel her inner world, and the director presents Beth's emotions very delicately and close to reality through close-up shots, real performances and natural dialogues, so that the audience seems to be able to feel her every emotional fluctuation.
Emotional realism emphasizes the connection between emotions and social environment, and Lars von Trier shows this connection through a distinct background and character relationship in the film, set in the Scottish Highlands of the 70s of the 20th century, and the social background and religious atmosphere have a profound impact on the protagonist's emotional choices.
As a devout woman, Beth's emotions are closely linked to religious and social values, and this connection is deeply explored in the film, and the director closely intertwines the protagonist's emotions with the social environment through the depiction of religious rituals, family relationships and social morality, so that the authenticity of emotions and the influence of the social environment can be shown.
Emotional realism emphasizes the diversity and complexity of emotions, which Lars von Trier shows through a multi-layered emotional narrative in the film, and the protagonist Beth's emotions include both love for her husband, devotion to religion, and even desire for her own heart.
Through the diversity of emotions, the director portrayed a character full of inner contradictions and emotional entanglements, allowing the audience to understand her emotional conflicts more deeply, and the diversity of emotions was shown very real in the film, making the emotional world of the characters more three-dimensional and rich.
Emotional realism is concerned with the relationship between emotions and individual life, and Lars von Trier shows this through vivid character relationships in the film, and the emotional connection between the protagonist Beth and her husband Jahn, as well as Beth's relationship with other characters in the community, unfolds in the context of emotional realism.
Through rich character interaction and emotional details, the director presents the importance of emotions to the trajectory of an individual's life, Beth's choices for love and faith, and her emotional entanglement with the people around her, so that the relationship between emotions and life is deeply revealed in the film.
Non-linear narrative and visual style
Non-linear narrative is one of the important means for Lars von Trier to create the emotional inner world of the protagonist, he does not show the story according to the traditional timeline, but presents the past and present of the characters through non-linear narrative methods such as flashbacks and flashbacks, thereby showing the emotional changes and growth of the protagonist's heart.
In the film "Melancholia", he effectively shows the emotional anxiety and inner struggle of the protagonist by alternately presenting the scenes of the two sisters on the occasion of the wedding and the destruction of the planet, this non-linear narrative allows the audience to understand the protagonist's emotional state more deeply, and also increases the audience's thinking and imagination space.
Lars von Trier's unique visual style also plays an important role in shaping the protagonist's emotional inner world, he is good at expressing the emotional state and psychological changes of the characters through the language of the lens, and in the movie "Dancer in the Dark", he uses handheld cameras and trembling pictures to create the inner anxiety and uneasiness of the protagonist.
In the movie "Antichrist", he highlights the protagonist's inner fear and collapse through fine picture composition and bold visual performance, which not only enhances the expression of emotions, but also brings the audience into the emotional inner world of the protagonist, allowing them to feel the emotional experience of the characters more truly.
Lars von Trier also often deepens the emotional inner world of the protagonist through emotional symbols and symbolism, he is good at using elements, actions and scenes to metaphorically the emotional state and psychological changes of the protagonist, in the movie "Breaking Waves", he expresses her deep love and belief through the prayer and self-sacrifice of the protagonist Beth, the use of this emotional symbol makes the emotions of the characters richer and deeper, so that the audience can be closer to the inner world of the protagonist in the process of watching the movie.
Female image representation
Lars von Trier shows a feminist focus through the female figures in the film, in "Breaking Waves", the protagonist Beth is a woman full of emotions and faith, she is willing to give everything for her husband's health, even her own body, this depiction of love and sacrifice presents a complex female figure that transcends the stereotypes of traditional female characters.
Lars von Trier expresses an exploration of women's power and autonomy by showing Beth's struggle under social and religious norms, emphasizing that women have the right to make choices autonomously, both emotionally and physically.
Gender power is also explored in the film, where the protagonist Beth's husband Jahn is injured in an accident, causing her to be willing to sacrifice everything for him, a care and sacrifice that has traditionally been seen as a "female task" from a gender perspective is revisited and presented by Lars von Trier.
There are no fixed boundaries for gender roles in the film, and Beth is full of rebellious and independent forces in the process of paying for her husband, and her choices and actions are not just passive reflections, but show women's strength and persistence.
Lars von Trier also explores the concept of the body through the female image in the film, Beth is willing to give her body for her husband, this body disposal and use is different from the traditional body concept, the director presents Beth's body very real and naked, both as an expression of emotion and a breakthrough in the concept of the body.
This representation of the flesh is not intended to satisfy male desires, but rather to express female power and emotions, and in this way, Lars von Trier challenges traditional notions of the body and explores the issue of women's bodily autonomy in society.
Lars von Trier presents a complex, multi-dimensional female character through the female image in the film, the protagonist Beth is both an emotionally rich wife and a strong individual, her choices and behaviors are not only because she is a woman, but also because she is an individual with independent consciousness and emotional power, this presentation breaks the traditional female stereotype, and presents the female image more real and complex.
Spiritual pursuits and moral challenges
Through the journey of faith of the protagonist Beth, the film explores the role of religion in modern people's lives and the impact of faith on individual emotions and behaviors, Beth is a devout Christian, her faith deeply affects her thoughts and behaviors, and she is willing to sacrifice her body and health for her husband's happiness.
Through Beth's faith and sacrifice, the director shows how faith gives individuals inner strength and courage, making them willing to transcend themselves and make contributions to others, the film also reveals the contradictions and struggles that faith may cause, Beth's faith sacrifice is questioned from a social and medical perspective, and also triggers her husband's confusion and guilt, which makes the audience think about the balance between faith and reality, and the conflict between individual emotions and social ethics.
The director explores the spiritual pursuit of individuals in religious beliefs through Beth's communication with God, Beth often talks to God, she believes that God will save her husband through her, this relationship with God makes her find hope and comfort in faith, and Beth's relationship with God also triggers the audience to think deeply about faith and spiritual experience.
Whether Beth really communicates with God, or whether her faith is a psychological reaction, has become an important issue in the film, and this spiritual experience and the pursuit of mysterious forces make the audience think about the relationship between humans and the universe in the film, and whether faith can meet the spiritual needs of individuals.
Through Beth's sacrifice and the reaction of her family, the film presents the complex relationship between faith and moral challenges, Beth's sacrifice and death have triggered confusion and questioning in family and society, and the audience is forced to think about the boundaries of individual beliefs and the value of sacrifice.
Beth's sacrifice, while demonstrating adherence to faith, also provokes moral controversy over individual free will and health, and this conflict between faith and morality presents the dilemma and struggle of modern people in the face of values and ethics.
kernel
Director Lars von Trier presents his profound views on the spiritual pursuit and moral challenges of modern people through the treatment of religion and belief in "Breaking Waves", and the film triggers the audience's deep thinking about faith, spiritual pursuit and human nature through the protagonist Beth's journey of faith, communication with God, and the presentation of sacrifice and moral conflict.
In this way, the director explores the role of faith in modern people's lives and the impact of faith on individual emotions, behaviors and moral choices, and the film also proposes the complex relationship between faith and reality, individual emotions and social ethics, so that the audience is deeply touched on both emotional and moral levels.
epilogue
Lars von Trier fully embodies the elements of emotional realism in the film "Breaking Waves", creating a challenging and contradictory emotional world through the true expression of emotions, the connection between emotions and the social environment, the diversity and complexity of emotions, and the relationship between emotions and individual lives, his directing style not only shows the characteristics of emotional realism, but also presents a deep and touching emotional journey to the audience.