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中文: Paper 4 Film Analysis > Quotes For Themes > Flashcards

Quotes For Themes Flashcards

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1
Q

Tietou as a victim (Para 1: he loses everyone)

A

“Daddy’s bad I’m going to kill him”
“And so Daddy left, Little Uncle left too, they both went to places far away. I only learned this many years later.”
“I want a happy old man”
“I want another big horse”
“I have to do labour in the countryside.”
“It’s just that Tietou misses his mother”
Crow song

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2
Q

Tietou as a victim (Para 2: he suffers at the hands of the Party)

A

Crow song
“His father may be in a labour reform, but he’s not a criminal” - Granny
“Daddy was dead. He died instantly. He didn’t even have time to cry out”
“Mum said she was doing it for me”
“If there is no food, what would you eat?” - Shujuan
“The magistrate is furious.”
“Why don’t you go to class anymore”

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3
Q

Tietou as a victim (Para 3: loss of innocence)

A

“Today we struggled with our principal”
“I spat at her as well”
“Down with Luwei”
The kite vs end

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4
Q

Shujuan as a victim (Para 1: she loses everyone close to her)

A

“We’ll miss him a lot”
“I have to do labour in the countryside”
Argument with Tietou
(When Shaolong dies)
Reading letter

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5
Q

Shujuan as a victim (Para 2: she can’t live the life she wants)

A

Red Qipao
can’t be a teacher
“You haven’t had much chance to be happy” - Granny
“Mum what makes you happy?”/“Being with you” - (Camera panning out, crow song
“Mum said she was doing it for me” - (Camera: car moving away = symbol of moving away from previous life)

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6
Q

Shujuan as a victim (Para 3: she struggles to raise a child)

A

“When can I ever stop worrying about you?”
“Such a difficult kid”
“We struggled with our principal today!”

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7
Q

Shaolong as a victim (Para 1: his relationship with Tietou)

A

“Daddy’s bad, I’m going to kill him.” - camera angle: over-head shot makes Shaolong seem vulnerable
Contrast with him flying the blue kite with Tietou

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8
Q

Shaolong as a victim (Para 2: sent to labour camp, betrayed by friend & dies)

A

“What’s all this about the rectification campaign?”
The Library scene
Horse head
Shaolong’s grace, camera pans out

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9
Q

Guodong as a victim (Para 1: betrays his friend)

A
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10
Q

Guodong as a victim (Para 2: psychological manipulation)

A

“I feel that I owe you and Tietou so much” - lighting is warmer

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11
Q

Lao Wu as a victim (Para 1: loses the stability of his job)

A

“There are a lot of posters already in my workplace criticising me…”

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12
Q

Lao Wu as a victim (Para 2: loses the safety of his home and is a direct victim of the Red Guards)

A

“What can I do? They’ll soon come to the house. And it’ll mean trouble for the both of you.”

“I didn’t think things would happen so quickly”

“Old comrade? He’s an old counter-revolutionary” - Red Guards

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13
Q

Lao Wu and Tietou’s relationship (Para 1: Tietou doesn’t like Lao Wu

A
  • Shujuan standing between Lao Wu and Tietou
  • “The maid is calling us for dinner”
  • “What’s with you, young man? You don’t like me do you?”
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14
Q

Lao Wu and Tietou’s relationship (Para 2: plays a practical role)

A
  • “This money is for you and Tietou. It’s not much, but it should get you through any hard times.”
  • Tietou is wearing smarter clothes
  • “He takes me to the zoo, and eat peppery lamb’s stomach too”
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15
Q

Mrs Lan as a victim (Para 1: A target of the Party due to social status)

A
  • “Did you say I saw home?”
  • “We confiscated them as a lesson to everyone”
  • Red jewellery to blue workers
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16
Q

Shusheng as a victim (Para 1: he loses his eyesight)

A
  • “It’s just that my field of vision is smaller than other people’s.”
  • “Your mental state is important”
  • Backlighting
  • Taking family photo
  • “They don’t value us as they should”
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17
Q

Zhuying as a victim (Para 1: she loses her job and can’t pursue her interests)

A
  • “I can’t see how dancing serves any political purposes”
  • “It’s a political duty”
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18
Q

Zhuying as a victim (Para 2: she is sent to prison)

A
  • “Zhuying has frequently stirred up sentiments against the Party”
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19
Q

Zhuying and Shusheng relationship

A
  • “I’ve heard you’ve got a boyfriend”
  • “Politics must come first”
  • “Shusheng we mustn’t see each other anymore, it would be bad for your future.”
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20
Q

Shuyan as a victim (Para 1: he can’t be can artist)

A

Shuyan was an art student and so was considered an intellectual.
His artwork is a symbolism and is evidence of him being an intellectual. This foreshadows him being later sent to a labour reform camp.
It shows how literature/freedom to learn and express will be banned (western culture).
Shujuan says Shuyan has always been fearless but he looks a little fearful when he sees that Tietou had torn the picture that he made.

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21
Q

Shuyan as a victim (Para 2: he’s rejected by society)

A

“Such extreme reacting rightist element deserve merciless criticism”

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22
Q

Shuyan as a victim (Para 3: relationship with older sister is bad)

A
  • “Young people ought to concentrate on study and thought reform”– Big Sister to Shuyan
  • “Ma, don’t be upset. It’s good for Shuyan” - Sister
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23
Q

Shuyan as a victim (Para 4: can’t marry his girlfriend)

A

“Yes the other had a bad background”

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24
Q

Older generation (e.g Local granny & the mum) as a victim (Para 1: they lose their family members)

A
  • “Little Uncle left too. They both went to places far away”
  • “Little Uncle left too. They both went to places far away”
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25
Q

Older generation (e.g Local granny & the mum) as a victim (Para 2: they feel isolated and don’t understand what’s going on)

A
  • “Who is this Stalin person?” - Local Granny
  • “I’m illiterate. What do I have to do with meetings?” - Local Granny
  • “Ma, you mustn’t talk like that outside the family.” - Shujuan
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26
Q

Differences in generation (Para 1: keep to old traditions & values not affected by politics)

A
  • The Granny prays for Tietou
    “Forget it I’m not getting into an argument” - Mother “There’s more leftovers”
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27
Q

Differences in generation (Para 2: their values not affected by politics)

A
  • “Ma, don’t be upset. It’s good for Shuyan” - Sister
    • “Nonsense! He’s just a kid who thinks too big” - Mother Granny
  • “His father may be in a labour reform, but he’s not a criminal” - Granny
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28
Q

Older sis (Para 1: Indoctrinated by the Party)

A
  • “You are the youth of New China. You must carry on the glorious revolutionary tradition and make a contribution to the motherland” - older sis
  • “Everything looks so delicious now! Manual labour has that effect.” - Older sister
  • “It’s a feat unparalleled in history. You must have heard at least!”
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29
Q

Older sis (Para 2: Her Party beliefs impacts her relationships)

A
  • “Young people ought to concentrate on study and thought reform”- Older Sis to Shuyan
  • “There you go again. You’re still not over Shaolong.” - Older sister
30
Q

Community chief (Para 1: the voice of the Party and has the Party ideal characteristics)

A
  • “We confiscated them as a lesson to everyone”
  • “We mustn’t let communal kitchens be a drag on the Great Leap Forward”
31
Q

Tietou and Shujuan- mother & son (Para 1: Strong despite politics)

A
  • Shujuan and Tietou argue about the letter
  • “I’m not too happy myself. You silly boy, you know you’re everything to me” -Shujuan
  • “Mum said she was doing it for me” - Tietou
  • “Mum, what makes you happy?../…Being with you.”
32
Q

Tietou and Shujuan- mother & son (Para 2: Changing due to politics)

A
  • He is rather disrespectful with his mother. He has started to swear (copying the adult’s action) to express his emotion
  • Cinematography: cold & blue compared to how the room used to be warm
  • “When can I ever stop worrying about you?” - Shujuan
  • “Just have a fit one-day and die” - Shujuan
    “We struggled with our principal today.”
33
Q

Tietou and Shujuan- mother & son (Para 3: a more pivotal relationship than father relationship)

A
  • Shaolong outside
  • Shaolong and Tietou relationship = much more violent than the relationship
  • Shujuan and Tietou relationship = very comforting and warm.
34
Q

Tietou and the 3 fathers (Para 1: Shaolong, Rectification movement)

A
  • “Assistant secretary general of the state council offered a unique suggestion for the Rectification movement..Later he received an anonymous threatening letter. He likened Party members to man-eating tigers.”
35
Q

Neighbourhood and community (Para 1: strong)

A
  • Cinematography: The establishing shot is a pan down, bustling
  • the granny is praying for Tietou showing the strength of the community and the relationship between the neighbourhood.
36
Q

Neighbourhood and community (Para 2: impacted by politics)

A
  • Shujuan is lining up for food
  • “Now it’s a storeroom for confiscated goods.”
  • Politics infiltrating the courtyard
    It’s a new year and there’s dumplings
37
Q

Political brutality

A
  • “Let me go! Animals.” - Shujuan
  • “Assistant secretary general of the state council offered unique suggestion for the Rectification movement” “Later he received an anonymous threatening letter” “He likened Party members to man-eating tigers”
38
Q

Impact of politics on ordinary life (Para 1: normalised violence)

A
  • “Don’t get too upset. This is political movement. All the cadres are under attack”
39
Q

Impact of politics on ordinary life (Para 2: relationships)

A
40
Q

Impact of politics on ordinary life (Para 3: can’t live the life they want)

A
  • “After collectivisation we’d be workers, not entrepreneurs.”
  • “They’ve been carrying out revolution most of their lives”
  • “You haven’t had much chance to be happy” - Grandma
  • Red Qipao
  • “So even in these times people are still getting married?” - Lao Wu
41
Q

Party power (Para 1:

A
  • “Could Liu Yun Wei be the only Rightist in this whole library?”
  • “Take up gongs and drums, and don’t down your weapons until every last sparrow has dropped from the sky” - Community chief
  • “Some things are so unpredictable. Look at this. It’s so strange.” - Shujuan
  • “The more I do, the less I understand” - Shujuan
42
Q

The role of Propaganda (Para 1: shows the brainwashing and indoctrination)

A
  • “Everything looks so delicious now! Manual labour has that effect. What’s happening now is moving?”
  • The propaganda song during the wedding and family meal.
  • There is a play
  • “The magistrate is furious.” - chanting children
  • The Little Red Book
    “The more I do, the less understand” - Shujuan
43
Q

The role of Propaganda (Para 2: shows the little freedom they have (invasion of private lives)

A
  • Portrait of Mao during the wedding
  • Abundant propaganda pictures in Shujuan’s bedroom
  • “First, pay your respects to Chairman Mao.” - Liu Yunwei
44
Q

The role of Propaganda (Para 3: a Physical representation of the government and CCP)

A
  • Red Banner and noise
45
Q

Food and meals (Para 1: Food represents comfort and is in private)

A
  • Hotpot resents reunion/abundance of food (warm and comforting).
  • Family renuion
46
Q

Food and meals (Para 2: Lack of food)

A
  • Local Granny is fighting about 50 cents
  • Mrs Lan’s dumplings
  • Lack of food = no freedom
  • Shujuan queuing for food
  • “We got through the three bad years when there wasn’t enough to eat” - Tietou
47
Q

Food and meals (Para 3: Politics has infiltrated food and is public

A
  • Food becomes sparse
  • Communal kitchens
  • It’s a new year and there’s dumplings
48
Q

Fear/despair/anxiety

A
  • Guodong giving criticism in Shaolong’s name
  • “They’ll soon come to the house, it’ll mean trouble for the both of you.”
  • “We mustn’t see it each other anymore, it would be bad for your future.”
  • Lee Yong gang shoots himself
49
Q

Patriotism

A
  • Older sister- she feels positively about the Great Leap Forward
  • Community chief
50
Q

Love/connection/hope for the younger generation

A
  • Shujuan and Tietou
  • Community- sense of belonging and community
  • Hope for the young generation
51
Q

Anger/violence

A
  • Older sister slaps Shuyan
  • Shaolong hits Tietou
  • Red Guards
  • “We struggled with our principal today”
  • “Down with Lu Wei”
  • “Daddy’s bad. I’m going to kill him.”
52
Q

Confusion

A
  • “The more I do, the less I understand”
  • “Who is this Stalin person?”
  • “What is happening to everyone?”
  • “Some things are so unpredictable. Look at this. It’s so strange.”
53
Q

Symbolism (the blue kite)

A
  • In the beginning, the child singing song = innocent
  • The blue kite is stuck in a tree
  • He goes out with the kite with the intention to fly it but is instead embraced by Shaolong (father)
  • “The kite is stuck up high in the tree…do you think we can get it down” - Niu Niu
  • “No I can make another one for you” - Tietou
  • At the end
54
Q

Symbolism (The red veil)

A
  • Red Qipao
  • “In the past, brides would”
55
Q

Location (train station)

A
  • At the train station
  • The Snowy setting with train
56
Q

Location (school)

A
  • ”Wipe out corruption, wipe out waste, for bureaucratism total distaste!”
  • “The Magistrate is furious…”
  • “You know, the one with the long nose and big ears…” - Tietou’s friend
57
Q

Location (Courtyard)

A
  • In the beginning
  • Shujuan queuing for food
  • The courtyard is unclean with rubbish on the floor after Guodong died
  • Shujuan has moved in with Grandma
  • “Now it’s a storeroom for confiscated good”
58
Q

Location (Communal kitchen)

A
  • Communal kitchen
  • People queuing for food
59
Q

Location (library)

A
  • “I honestly never imagined that Liu Yin Wei was in fact inciting us to attack the Party” - Huo Dong
  • Tietou rips the poster
60
Q

Movements (Rectification Movement & Hundred Flowers Campaign)

A
  • “Later he received an anonymous threatening letter.”
  • “I feel I owe you and Tietou so much.”
  • Scene where Shuyan gets arrested
  • Setting: art room
61
Q

Movements (Collectivisation/Sparrowcide)

A
  • Communal kitchens
  • Food is scarce
  • Sparrowcide
62
Q

Movements (Great Leap Forward)

A
  • ‘I have to do labour in the countryside’ ‘if there was no food what would you eat?’.
  • Communal kitchens
  • “everything looks so delicious, manual labour has that effect” - big sis.
63
Q

Movements (Cultural Revolution)

A
  • The cultural revolution impacts the family “Down with Lu Wei”.
  • ’there are lots of posters already in my workplace criticising me’.
64
Q

Light and dark

A
  • Airplane scene where Shusheng is blinded by the light
  • Shusheng at the doctors
  • “Such extreme reacting rightist element deserve merciless criticism”
  • Shuyan in the art room
  • Shujuan reading the letter from Shusheng
65
Q

Red vs blue

A
  • Shaolong leaves at the train station
  • Blue workers (Mrs Lan) vs the others
  • Red guards
  • Tietou living with Lao wu
66
Q

Political views: Older sister vs Shuyan (opposing views)

A
  • “Everyone has to do it sooner or later. What she did was right” – Older sister
  • “It’s fine to be progressive but not at your child’ expense”- Shuyuan
  • “It’s a feat unparalleled in history. You must have heard at least!”
67
Q

Difference in statuses and society

A
  • Mrs Lan vs working class characters
  • Lao wu is an upper class member of society/official
  • Shu sheng is member of the party
  • Mrs Lan is a landlord - quite high status
  • Older sister wears glasses - symbolic of the intellectuals
  • Clothes are different - Tietou wears scruffy clothes but after they move in with Lao wu he wears very smart clothes
  • Uniform is normalised, more status
  • Mrs Lan’s clothes change, starts of wearing blue, becomes more modest
  • Shujuan didn’t want to wear the red dress at the start of film as it was too extravagant
68
Q

Treatment of women and men (To what extent is The Blue kite a story of failed patriarchy?)

A
  • Mother vs fathers
  • Government treat men differently
  • Women
  • “The slave is calling us”- relies on Lao Wu
69
Q

Private vs public

A
  • Shujuan and Tietou singing
  • Private: comforting, abundance of food
  • Public: less food (communal kitchens), loud, can’t express political views
70
Q

To what extent is The Blue Kite ultimately a negative film?

A

中文: Paper 4 Film Analysis (3 decks)

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