Pessimists are always waiting for it to rain, and I'm soaking wet. - "A Request in the Rain"
When it comes to Indian films, many people will think of films such as "Three Fools in Bollywood", "Wrestling Daddy", "Slum Millionaire" and so on, but few people have seen "Intercession in the Rain". In my opinion, although this film is unpopular, it has the same charm as the above films, and it is a rare masterpiece in India.
Poster of "Requests in the Rain"
Request in the Rain is a 2010 film directed by director Sanjay Leela Buhansari. It's about ethan, a world-famous magician, who was paralyzed for 14 years by a misstep magic show. Over the past decade, under the care of nurse Sofia, he has been in a stable state of health and has inspired countless listeners through radio programs. But as internal organ function weakened, Ethan filed a lawsuit for euthanasia in court to avoid permanent hospitalization and rely on machines to support life. His request shocked the world and was almost unanimously rejected. In the end, the lawsuit failed, and Sophia, in order to fulfill Ethan's will, offered to help him achieve euthanasia.
Most people choose to avoid talking about the word "death." Rather than dying with dignity, people prefer to live strongly through inhuman torture. Therefore, this film is based on the topic of euthanasia, which is doomed to become an unpopular movie.
And the unpopularity does not mean that this movie is a bad film, and what makes it unpopular is one of the reasons why it has become a masterpiece. Below, I will talk in detail about the charm of this movie from four aspects.
<h1 class= "pgc-h-arrow-right" >1, sad and serious core topic, although heavy but not depressing. </h1>
Under the common phenomenon of "death" discoloration, the topic of euthanasia is the theme, which sets the tone of sadness and seriousness in this film.
The film takes Ethan's petition to mention euthanasia as a main line, searching for the rationality of euthanasia in a society of "suicide violations", and unfolds the plot around this main line.
Although the topic of euthanasia is very heavy, through the protagonist's humorous lines and several cheerful songs, dances and soundtracks, as well as the treatment of weakening the solemn atmosphere at the end of the film, the final effect of the film is not depressed. The seemingly contradictory words of death and happiness are also well integrated in this film.
Ethan, for example, is full of humor and humor, "teasing" Sophia from time to time. As he stepped into death, he laughed and said, "Sophia will fulfill her first and last task as my wife, and she will let me see her sexy beautiful legs." ”
For example, at the end of the film, the farewell ceremony is like a carnival party, and the sadness is not deep enough to be resolved by Ethan's humorous words. While weakening the solemn atmosphere, people feel that death and happiness can be connected.
<h1 class = "pgc-h-arrow-right" >2, the magic scenes interspersed in the movie have a double meaning. </h1>
Magic has an indispensable place in the film, it is both the achievement of Ethan before his paralysis, and the professional inheritance can be seen in it. At the same time, the magic scenes in the film also play a role in supplementing and contrasting.
(1) The magic scenes in Ethan's memories and dreams enhance the narrative ability and fill the gaps in the past narrative.
The film begins with Sophia caring for Ethan, who is paralyzed, and the magic scenes interspersed in the film appear in the way Ethan recalls, filling the gap in the past narrative.
For example, through Ethan's recollection of his first magic performance at the age of 6, we can learn that the reason for his exposure to magic was to make his mother happy. For example, by recalling the magic scene that made his whole body unable to move, it can be seen that he was not a natural disaster but a man-made disaster.
(2) Through the contrast between the magic scene and the real scene, Ethan's pain of longing for freedom but being bound is highlighted, and ethan's rationality for requesting euthanasia is enhanced.
A scene in the film that nearly elevates magic to art appears when Ethan is drowsy with Sophia's tranquilizer.
In this magic scene with blue light and shadow as the background, Ethan uses a large transparent bubble as a prop to dance a very artistic light dance.
And the moral of this magic scene is very obvious: imprisoned in a motionless body, Ethan misses the days of free movement in the past. It is also through the contrast between this magic scene and the real scene that Ethan's inner struggle and pain are shown, and it also adds some rationality to Ethan's request for euthanasia.
<h1 class= "pgc-h-arrow-right" >3, the film casts a "divine" feeling that transcends friendship, affection, and love</h1>
At the end of the film, Sophia agrees to marry Ethan as his wife after the divorce. After watching the film, I can't help but wonder if Sophia's feelings for Ethan are love? There is no denying that there is a love between Sophia and Ethan, but I think that Sophia's feelings for Ethan are a "divine" feeling that transcends love.
Sophia took care of Ethan for ten years, abandoning her husband and family, and even decided to help him euthanize him in order to fulfill Ethan's will.
As Diffyani said, "In Ethan's life, more than Ethan's own life, that is Sophia." She went beyond the responsibilities of a nurse, beyond her friends, beyond her lover, and even beyond her wife. ”
When feelings rise to divinity, what is manifested is not a small love, but a great love, a great love that can forgive those who, like Ethan, have asked for euthanasia.
<h1 class = "pgc-h-arrow-right" >4, the film throws up a thought-provoking question: life is sacred and inviolable, do you have the right to control your own life? </h1>
During the interrogation at Ethan's residence, Mr. Inspector asked Ethan's mother, "Do you agree to his euthanasia?" ”
"I gave birth to him, but I believe my son has the right to take his life, after all, whose life is this?" Ethan's mother's words directly throw out the film's most thought-provoking questions.
Life is sacrosanct. Sophia, who cares for Ethan, Diffyani, who helps Ethan fight the case, the doctor who saves Ethan's life, and even the mother who gave birth to Ethan do not decide his life or death for Ethan.
So, does Ethan himself have the right to take charge of his own life? Ethan's mother's answer is yes, but from a societal point of view, euthanasia is denied by most people.
The two debates about euthanasia have not stopped since euthanasia was proposed. From the perspective of ethics, society and life, the negatives put forward a variety of practical obstacles to euthanasia legislation. Affirmers believe that it is better to die with dignity than to suffer from the pain of the patient on the edge of life. The focus of the dispute between the two is actually the right to dispose of life, that is, whether one's right to life can be controlled by oneself.
Life is only once, and it is precious to everyone. Ethan asked for euthanasia, but he was by no means a man who regarded life as a feather. During his 12 years of paralysis, he endured physical and mental suffering at all times. This pain is the torment of the prosecutor's desperate collapse after only 60 seconds of trying.
While the film throws out whether he has the right to control his own life, he also gives a positive reply to face life.
Although life is short, my friend. But if you live with your heart, it's been long enough. So break the rules, forgive quickly, really love, and don't regret what makes you smile.
epilogue:
Although Request in the Rain is an Indian film, Bollywood's most important song and dance features have been greatly weakened. At the same time, the topic of euthanasia is characterized by Westernization.
Although this film is rarely seen, this film is a masterpiece in terms of camera language, scene switching, narrative method and film topic. As for the problems thrown out by the film, it still needs to be constantly explored and explored by human beings in the development of the times.