TWO & TWO is a really impressive and cliff-hanging film. With such a short length (8 mins long), the clip is still strong enough to make me stunned. The story took place in a shabby classroom which was filled up with little schoolboys. The school imposed a new regime, and all students must coordinate with it.
"2 + 2 = 5" I suppose even a 6 years old kid won't make such mistake. But the teacher from the film wrote it on the blackboard and insisted the sum is totally correct. Those pupils did make some noise at first, but with the teacher's power, most of them didn't dare to question. The tacher brainwashed them with repeat, students were also asked to jog it down in their notes. Unexpectedly, a little boy stood up and questioned the teacher. He ended up being shoot by invisible guns holding by 3 outstanding students as he at last spoke out the true answer but not just shrank from the teacher's power.
The film is not hard to follow and in good pace. Audience would probably find it easy to catch up as there are only compact dialogues. Most importantly, it enlightens me! Strangling one's desire for knowledge or truth equals to stangling one's life! This short clips definitely reminds me the dark side of thought-controling or even dictatorship that once happened in China. Who dares to make a sound, who suffers! Children are impressionable - if we tell them that black is white at the very beginning, I'm sure they are going to believe firmly without any doubt. Besides, it's really saddening that people daring to speak out are the minority of society. As from the film, there is only one little boy having the courage to tell the true answer. I believe the true colours of people, especially kids are precious and should not be stifled, and education should be preserved in a democratic and enlightened way.
So it's a famous quote from 1984, but this short is much brighter than 1984. At least in the ending,it did remind me of one quote in V for Vendetta, 'ideas are bullet-proof.'
ReplyDeleteI agreed the pace is fast and well constructed. The boy who pointed out 2+2=4 did win. He has changed others' minds by himself which was totally different with the ending of 1984.
i also think of "1984" while watching the short clip :'(
Deleteys that little boy's braveness were not in vain, at least "2+2 = 4" did appear in one's note !!!
btw, Tom U READ A LOT!!!!!
And it's always fun to listen to Radiohead's '2+2=5'
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lstDdzedgcE
Radiohead- -'
DeleteRadiohead was making epic and classic album, Ok Computer, Kids A, The Bends!
DeleteThis is a really good one because it makes me thinks a lot. I think of my grandparents immediately, because even though I noticed that something they told me were wrong, I still have to pretend they are right. It is not because I will got headshot but they will force me to agree with them before let me go. Therefore I think in some way it is similar.
ReplyDeleteMoreover, I think of the education system in Hong Kong. My primary and secondary school's teachers do not prefer students have questions. When they ask "Do any one have question?" they just ask it but won't expect any response. What I was told from a child is teacher is absolute right, what they said and what they acted is no need for me to doubt.
So it is a good chance to remind me again that I have to change my learning style. And I love the last shoot, because everyone can have their own interpretation just from that scene. For me, I want to believe that every students in that classroom, include those three top students also have a clear mind, they just pretend they were brain washed. I thinkI will feel better in this way instead of another tragedy.
well, u view this film in quite a positive perspective ^^ As i've mentioned, people darin to speak out are the minority !!! So, it makes sense that even when they know the truth or they are able to tell black from white, they just pretend they dont as they are toooooooooo weak to voice.
Deleteumm... i also agree that the hk educational system does hv some drawbacks, which hv influnced me :'( sometimes, I'm toooo shy or tooooo scared to make a sound during lessons even though im now educated in a british way !!!