Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Great Grandpa Plays a Part
I found one scene particularly moving in Children of Invention is when Raymond and Tina find their way to their Great Grandfather's home and he tells Raymond that he is a good boy. The interaction between them is very sweet and it almost seems to give Raymond a sense that he is doing good, and he is not failing his sister, or even his mother. The inter generational conversation seems to be symbolic as well. He is saying that while its tough, he is still good. In a way it is reassurance to Raymond from an ancestor that it will be okay. This i think inspires Raymond and also is a pivotal moment for his maturity. It is symbolically passing wisdom down. I think that the grandfather in this moment becomes an agent for Raymond. He is able to help him understand the importance of staying strong and he offers him a sort of comfort and reassurance that Raymond needed. Through this conversation with his Grandpa it allows Raymond to have a mature realization about his life, this is what makes the grandfather and agent to him. Without the conversation with the old man Raymond may never have realized his own maturity as much as he did.
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I also thought this was an important part in the film. I think the dual voice portrayed in the film really comes through in this part and the subsequent part after it. By dual voice I am referring to the two voices presented in the movie. One being the voice as represented through Raymond's eyes: innocent, full of hope for the future with the will to succeed. The second voice being represented as the world seen through Elaine's eyes: a dark place full of desperation, every attempt to succeed more futile than the last. The scene with the Grandpa gives Raymond's voice empowerment and encourages him to keep doing what he is doing. Elders passing down wisdom in the Asian culture is very powerful. The wisdom and encouragement given to Raymond strengthens his voice. The next scenes with Elaine remind the viewer that the dual voice is at both extremes. You can feel the difference between the hope Raymond possesses and the desperation Elaine finds at every turn in her journey. This scene above others gives strength to Raymond's voice, which is important to the development of all the characters in the film.
ReplyDeleteTo continue on the idea of dual voice, I think it is easy to see this happening with the Grandfather himself. He is old and very senile at times (which, thankfully, adds a bit of humor to the movie), but he imparts great words of wisdom as well(as Emily stated). The objectivity and reliability of what the Grandfather says becomes more and more questionable as he seems to barely recognize his grandchildren (calling Raymond his son, not grandson), calling Tina Raymond (and vice-versa), or not knowing which day of the week it is. However, when it comes to the important things, such as remembering good times with his son and being kind to the children prove that there is another side to the Grandfather. So when he says that Raymond is good, it's the better half of his character talking, the reliable one.
ReplyDeleteThis side of the Grandfather can also represent the voice of the narrator. It seems, in that scene where the Grandfather is talking to Raymond in the bedroom, that there are very profound ideas being presented. This isn't on accident. The narrator's opinion about Raymond's character shows that the narrator too thought Raymond was "good." (One could even go as far as to speculate that having the Grandfather say those things in the film gives Chun, represented by Raymond, a bit of a reminder that he really was doing the right thing all those years ago. But this is just speculation, of course.) Dual voice is an excellent technique Chun uses to express his own views in the film.