Shaft questions

Blind Shaft, 2003 dir. Li Yang

  1. What aspect of Chinese society and culture is being examined? What specific social problems are identified in the film that is a social commentary? 在影片中,中国社会和文化的哪个方面被剖析?作为一个社会评论,影片揭露了哪些社会问题?
  2. What is the process through which human life (and labor) is given a monetary value? How much is a person’s life (death) worth? 人命和劳力的价钱是通过什么过程来决定下来的?
  3. Is there a way you are able to relate to Tang Zhaoyang and Song Jinming, partners in crime, or perhaps more to one than the other? Do they have morals of their own? Is there a difference between the two conmen? 你能理解唐朝阳和宋金明的犯罪动机吗?他们俩有没有道德观念?他们俩之间有没有不同?
  4. At the beginning, how does the coalmine owner react to the “accident” in which Tang Zhaoyang’s “cousin” is killed? Disheartened, compassionate, guilt-smitten, callous or indifferent? How is he planning to deal with the loss of human life? 在故事的开始,当两个骗子的“亲属”在井下“遇难”,矿长的第一个反应是什么?悲哀、痛心、懊悔、内疚、还是麻木不仁?
  5. As soon as Tang and Song receive compensation money, they wire a portion of it home to their spouses and children; how do you understand these two family men? 两个骗子一得到赔偿金就把一部分汇给他们家里的亲人;你怎么看待这个情节?
  6. What is Fengming doing when the two conmen find him in the farmer’s market on the day they get paid? Are they happy to find him? What do you think Li Yang wants to express with that detail? 发工资的那天,两个骗子在农贸市场找到凤鸣的时候,他正在做什么?导演李杨通过这个细节想说明什么?
  7. When Tang picks up his “nephew” (Fengming) from the bus station and brings him to Song, Song is upset; What do you think the director wants to achieve by Song’s reaction? 唐朝阳认了凤鸣这个“侄子”后,宋金明表示非常不满;导演想用他的反应说明什么?
  8. What is Li Yang’s purpose to have Song and Tang disagree on how soon to end Fengming’s life? What comes to light in the course of their disputes over a series of issues? 导演李杨为什么让两个骗子对他们侄子在何时“遇难”有很大的分歧?这说明了什么?你对此作何解释?