Who Dances without Shackles?

[1017507241]

Xue Siwen

And the Spring Comes is a drama directed by Gu Changwei, starring Jiang Wenli, Zhang Yao, Li Guangjie and Jiao Gang, which was released in 2008. The film tells the story of Wang Tsailing and other young artists struggling in the contradiction between dream and reality in a small county in 1980s. The film is a story of the disillusionment of nobody's dream. On the contrary, the American film Mona Lisa Smile, which created a different image, was directed by Mike Newell and starred by Julia Roberts, Kristen Dunst and Julia Stiles. The film was first released in the United States on December 19, 2003. The film tells the story of America in 1953 when time was changing. Catherine, who graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with open atmosphere, went to Wellesley College to teach art history. However, she boldly challenged the old teaching system with idealism and enthusiasm, Mona Lisa Smile reflecting the theme of new things challenging old traditions. In the process of breaking the so-called tradition, women began to reflect on the status and pursue freedom and personality.

These two films describe two “dancers” performing on their life stages with “shackles" to pursue their dreams. While some people do everything for the so-called dream. They were sad, but finally they came back to life. In both films, the so-called “outcast” is mentioned, that is, different from others, contrary to tradition and secular. The difference is that the “outcast” in And the Spring Comes never find the same person no matter where they are, and will always be “outcast”. Having a proud heart cannot resist loneliness of being an “outcast”. But in Mona Lisa Smile, the hero, who is also regarded as "outcast", is brave to fight against the secular world, not willing to be ordinary and mediocre.

“The spring comes. There is real sign of spring, but the wind changes s suddenly. ...When this wind blows, it makes me want to cry, and I know it is only me causing the emotion.” The monologue at the beginning read by Wang Tsailing, the heroine in And the Spring Comes meets the title point, building up the blue tone running through the movie. It seems that dreams of idealists in the movie are like the gleaming spring, accessible but unattainable. In term of shooting colors in the movie, it employs a shade of colors with gray and blue, which brings viewers the sense of humble and despair. For instance, surrounding description such as storms, cold winds and heavy snow, social background delineation like crowded passengers who could only stand in the corner on the old train, shows us a strong sense of the special period. Moreover, near the end of the movie the classic lines echo the beginning, integrating the movie and sublimating the character’s psychological activities “Every year when spring comes, it doesn't actually mean anything. But I feel like something big is happening and my heart is constantly ready for something.”

On the other side, Mona Lisa Smile chooses to show the audience female elites’ life from upper class at that time, which brings us a style of classical romance, while Mona Lisa Smile begins to show the characteristics of 1953. The setting, props, wallpaper, headdress and so on all reveal a strong nostalgic atmosphere, which also makes the external form of the film inconsistent with the theme. The cold and warm colors are well combined in this film. The selection and interleaving of background music sublimates the effect of the film. Warm colors create a happy atmosphere and give people a warm, excited and happy feeling. The shots in the movie are centered on characters to emphasize the theme. And the clue throughout the movie Mona Lisa Smile not only matches the identity of the heroine as an art professor but also ingeniously interprets the true suffering from traditional American women then.

Both of the films create the vivid female images with unique characteristics. Either Wang Tsailing or Catherine are struggling to challenge with the conventional opinions about “good women” in their society, which turns to a common but eternal social topic in most parts of the world—feminism, the revolution of women. Eighty years ago, a woman who was invited to Cambridge university to deliver a speech was rejected by the library gatekeeper, because only men could be admitted to the library then, later on she wrote as a pioneer of feminism “The one who can make her become herself. It’s better than nothing.” Her name was Virginia Woolf. For quite a long time, women have effectively been denied a philosophical experience of subject-hood that does not center on the self as object. They are supposed to be hide their talents instead of going outside, and raising children, helping their husbands are their inherent duty. These two movies describe two women who are willing to pursue their dreams and make great efforts to it, arousing our consciousness that she shouldn’t be someone’s wife, mother, sister, daughter instead of being someone.

Although these two dream chasers own totally different endings, which means one never gave up the pursuit, and the other one finally gave in to the reality, they’re both faced with prejudice during their personal growth. Whether it’s judged by their class, appearance, or job, social stereotype, it once truly hurt one’s dignity. These biases do exist in our daily life everywhere, which we can’t ignore but only fight against directly.

In spite of defects in our society right now, our awareness of remove them have been raised luckily. So long as the direction is right, we could, I believe, wait for the spring approaching and Mona Lisa smiling.

[1259591469]

Hi, Xue Siwen
We are glad to read your review on the two films.
The film view is compact and thematic. Firstly, you tell the background of the two films. And then you compare the similarities between the two film protagonists who are common people with dreams. They are teachers and dreamers, outcasts and dancers in chains. You also mentioned the layout, props, colors and so on. In the second part of the article, there is the appropriate extension association. In the end of the article, the theme is sublimated and the author's expectations are expressed. All in all, it is a good film review.
Admittedly, we appreciate this review very much. While we still have some expectations. We think it is possible that the language is more brief and to the point so that the article will be better.
Good luck,
He Weiqi&Song Xinran

[1017507241]

Dear He Weiqi & Song Xinran,

Thank you very much for your affirmation of our article, and also for your suggestions for our article. In fact, at the beginning, the number of words in our article is more than now. We have made some deletions and modifications. We do think this film review has too many words. I think this is because we have written many aspects of the content, which may lead to the focus is not prominent, maybe we should focus on a few details.

Yours sincerely,
Li Lin.

[nus241]

Hello Xue Siwen!

This was a very well organized essay that made some important comparisons. You described the two films, and then explored details of the film such as lighting, color and the meaning of the titles. You cited specific examples to support your statements, which made for a very strong paper. For something to address in your next draft, at the end, you mention the prejudices they both faced and how that is still common in our everyday life. When you make this assertion it would be useful to give some examples of how these prejudices appeared in the films, and how they are still common to support this argument. I think you did a good job setting this theme up in the paragraph where you talk about them as "dancers", maybe referencing that closer to the end as well would be useful to tie it all together. Overall, your language, style and grammar was very good and easy to read. I look forward to seeing your next draft!

Best,
Natalie

[1017507241]

Hello Natalie,

Thanks for your reply. I appreciate that you noticing our problem in the article. I will revise the review according to your suggestions later on. We will find more examples to support ou opinions. Moreover, I hope we can contact more with each other to exchange our ideas, to refine our essays, and to achieve higher score for the course. If you have any ideas about our replies or the reviews, welcome to talk with me and my group members. Glad to meet you during the special time.

Good Luck.

Best,
Xue Siwen

[dvw5382]

Hey Xue Siwen,

Your essay structure is easily followable. I love the title! I like that you start with addressing both movies, and in subsequent paragraphs you break up the films before rejoining them at the end of the analysis. You should add more details in the key moments of you argument. One key moment was in the first paragraph when you discuss themes. You say "New things challenging old traditions." And while I don't think you're wrong, I could only see the the theme that I identified in the film: to affect change, you must take responsibility. If this were my paper, I would follow my main argumentative points with concrete details from the movie and not general ones. For example, you say "idealism and enthusiasm" in the first paragraph, but I think a point like that would be better made with a quote or an action from the film.

-Danny

[1017507241]

Hello Danny

Thank you very much for your advice. As for the lack of details in the first paragraph of your introduction, I have considered it carefully. After I wrote it, I read it again. At that time, I thought the first paragraph was a bit lengthy, but if I deleted some content, I could not express what I wanted to express completely, so I didn't add specific examples. After reading your suggestion, I think maybe I should condense the content of the first paragraph, use some general language to describe it, and finally add some details to make the content more complete. How do you think about this idea? Besides, I agree with you very much that you should quote the details in the movie to prove your point of view. I will revise my article according to this.

Best,
Li Lin.

[nus241]

Hi Xue Siwen!

Thank you for your response on my post. I am really looking forward to seeing how you polish your essay. I think it is fantastic to begin with! If you are interested in reviewing the draft together further feel free to send it to my email at nus241@psu.edu. Looking forward to talking with you further!

Best,
Natalie

[dvw5382]

Hey Li Lin!

I like the idea of having more details, especially in the first paragraph. One thing I would warn you about is to make sure that the details you include are pushing your argument further. You didn't do that in your initial draft, but I just wanted to warn you. LOL

[1017507241]

Hi Danny,
This is my revised first paragrapgh:

And the Spring Comes is a drama directed by Gu Changwei. The film tells the story of Wang Cailing and other young artists struggling in the contradiction between dream and reality in a small county in 1980s. The film is a story of the disillusionment of nobody's dream. The five characters try their best to realize their ambitions, but they have to submit to the reality. On the contrary, the American film Mona Lisa Smile, which created a different image, was directed by Mike Neville. The film tells us about Catherine, who graduated from the Open University of Berkeley, went to Wesley women's school to teach art history. In this school, girls learn to marry a good husband. In order to change this deep-rooted old thought, Catherine fights against it in her own way and spreads new and free thought, which reflects the theme of new things challenging old traditions. In the process of breaking the so-called tradition, women begin to reflect on the status quo and pursue freedom and personality.

Look forward to hearing advice from you. Thanks!
Yours,
Li Lin.