Robert N EmersonHope in Film
September 7th 2008 23:05
Although movies are there for our entertainment, they can be so much more influential than that because of the messages that surround the plot. One such message is hope, be it as a subplot or the core ideal of a movie, and it is a truly powerful aspect of film.
Be it an action movie or a romance, a drama or a comedy, watching someone come from a loss of hope to embracing it can be a powerful and inspiring thing. Look at Star Wars, Episode IV, A New Hope; within this science fiction story of a young man finding adventure in a galaxy far, far away is the kernel of hope in overcoming a powerful foe. We all know the story of the winsome young, the spunky princess, the gruff smuggler, and their allies fighting galactic fascism, however it is the key aspect of hope that pulls it all together. Hope in the beacons of justice from the past, the Jedi. Hope in the hard gained information toward a tactical edge against an insurmountable device. Hope in friends, new and old. Lastly, more importantly, the hope of their being a future of their liking.
Hope is such a bright, pure concept that some would think it is out of place in the more gritty, dark films of today, but it is there, too. Children of Men is all about hope, a hope so core to our being that it pauses all else around it when briefly glimpsed. Hellboy has hope, too, it is a hope of love, friendship, and peace. In fact, I think that without hope the dark, gritty films would not work, as we would have nothing to compare what is there to what is not; we would not know why it was dark, without the light to see is missing.
It is like Chiaroscuro, which is the contrast between light and dark in art; Hope is the light, despair is the dark, and somewhere in between is the contrast that is life. Many films are emotional chiaroscuros, with the good ones taking to emotional heights and depths over the course of a few hours.
What do you think?
Be it an action movie or a romance, a drama or a comedy, watching someone come from a loss of hope to embracing it can be a powerful and inspiring thing. Look at Star Wars, Episode IV, A New Hope; within this science fiction story of a young man finding adventure in a galaxy far, far away is the kernel of hope in overcoming a powerful foe. We all know the story of the winsome young, the spunky princess, the gruff smuggler, and their allies fighting galactic fascism, however it is the key aspect of hope that pulls it all together. Hope in the beacons of justice from the past, the Jedi. Hope in the hard gained information toward a tactical edge against an insurmountable device. Hope in friends, new and old. Lastly, more importantly, the hope of their being a future of their liking.
Hope is such a bright, pure concept that some would think it is out of place in the more gritty, dark films of today, but it is there, too. Children of Men is all about hope, a hope so core to our being that it pauses all else around it when briefly glimpsed. Hellboy has hope, too, it is a hope of love, friendship, and peace. In fact, I think that without hope the dark, gritty films would not work, as we would have nothing to compare what is there to what is not; we would not know why it was dark, without the light to see is missing.
It is like Chiaroscuro, which is the contrast between light and dark in art; Hope is the light, despair is the dark, and somewhere in between is the contrast that is life. Many films are emotional chiaroscuros, with the good ones taking to emotional heights and depths over the course of a few hours.
What do you think?
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