愛情初級生/Beginners

電影看久了，也清楚自己喜歡的電影類型：主角及週遭的人們有著各自的苦痛與困難，經歷許多摩擦衝突，結局雖然不是萬般圓滿，但總是充滿希望。《戀夏五百日》是這樣的一部電影，去年超愛的《客製化女神》、我平常沒事會翻出來看的《偷穿高跟鞋》、馬克的愛片《情歸紐澤西》都屬於這個類型。今天要來介紹的《愛情初級生》，也是。（咦？中文片名剛好都五個字！）

看這部片子前我快速地掃過IMDB上的簡介，但劇情重點走向及描述方式完全和我想像中不同。也因此減少對劇情的預測，增添更多意外的驚喜。我一向不喜歡透漏劇情，總覺得會減少欣賞電影的神秘感，所以劇情我還是不說了。不過有些橋段我很喜歡，多少會爆點雷，但實在是無法不分享啊。

對比手法的應用
導演在這部片中用了許多對比，例如父親與情人為了情人即將入住而開心共舞對比於兒子邀請女主角住進他家的緊張不安、兒子向狗狗介紹公寓與稍後兒子向女主角介紹公寓、父親與母親之間冷漠的親吻，以及父親與情人間的熱吻；或是父親終於在75歲以真實的身份生活並享受愛情，而38歲的兒子也開始體驗真愛。

喜歡的電影場景
男主角為父親刮鬍子
螢幕整個畫面依序充滿著同志旗幟的顏色
男女主角同手同腳地在公園裡倒退走
男主角摀著女主角的眼，帶她走到天橋上，讓她誤以為在路中央

喜歡的電影對白
"You make me laugh but it's not funny."
我覺得這非常貼切地描寫出戀人間的真實感情。只要有你在身邊、只要看著你，不需要是哈哈大笑的事，忍不住嘴角都會漾起一抹微笑。

"Pop, there is no stage five."
"That's not what it means. It just means that it's been through three other stages."
即使到生命的最後一個階段，仍要用積極正面的態度面對人生！

"Is that a good idea?"
"Just be happy about it."
有的時候只需要為當下的快樂而快樂！

"I don't know what I am doing, but I wanna be here."
相當心有同感的台詞。或許現在的我就是這樣吧：有目標，卻不清楚抵達目的地的方法。

看這部電影，我不斷假想自己是男主角：如果你的父親在你的母親過世後，向你出櫃，並結交了一位年紀和你差不多的小男友，你將怎麼反應？而沒多久，你的父親又被診斷出肺癌末期，又要如何面對？面對熱戀中的父親以及情人，你又要怎麼與他們共處？

這部片開始，給人好寂寞、好哀傷的感受。深為獨生子，男主角的童年記憶，父親永遠缺席，雖然和母親關係密切，但母親並不快樂。但到了電影結尾，男主角問：下一步呢？接著畫面全暗，打上片名《愛情初級生》，直接明白地道出電影主題。而未來，即便是還有許多摩擦衝突要解決，也永遠都有希望。

With years of movie-watching experience, I clearly know the type of stories that I like: leading characters and other supporting roles each have their own difficulties and struggles.  After going through numerous conflicts, the ending, though not happily-ever-after, is hopeful.  500 Days of Summer belongs to the category.  My 2012 favorite Ruby Spark and Mark's all-time favorite Garden State are all this type of movie.  Beginners, that I am going to talk about today, is also one of them.

I read the description of the movie on IMDB before watching it.  The plot and the way the story was told, actually were totally different from what I thought.  Hence, the movie was less predictable and more interesting.  I usually don't like to talk about the plot, 'cause I think it will decrease the pleasure of watching a movie.  Even though I am not going to talk about the story, there are plots that I really like and have to share.

Use of contrast
The director uses many contrast in this film.  For example, Oliver's father danced with his lover celebrating his moving in, in contrast with the tension and unease of Anna moving in Oliver's place. This is further contrasted with Oliver introducing his place to Arthur.  Another example is the cold routine kisses between Father and Mother, and the passionate kisses between Father and his lover.

Scenes that I like
Oliver shaving his father's face
The screen sequentially full of the seven colors of the rainbow flag
Oliver and Anna walking backward in the park
Oliver covering Anna's eyes, walking on the footbridge, pretending they were walking in the middle of the road

Quotes that I love
"You make me laugh but it's not funny."
I think this is what exactly lovers will feel when they are deeply in love - you always make me smile whenever I see you, whenever I am next to you.

"Pop, there is no stage five."
"That's not what it means. It just means that it's been through three other stages."
Always keep a positive attitude even though you are at the last stage of your life!

"Is that a good idea?"
"Just be happy about it."
Sometimes all you have to do is choose to be happy.

"I don't know what I am doing, but I wanna be here."
It is similar to the situation in which I am currently: I have a goal, but I don't know how to reach it.

When watching the film, I couldn't stop imagining if I was Oliver: how will you react if your father came out of the closet after your mother's death, and had a young lover who was about your age?  How will you react if your father was diagnosed as having stage 4 cancer?  How will you respond when facing your father and his lover?

The beginning of this movie delivers a sense of loneliness and sadness.  In Oliver's childhood, his father was always absent and his mother, whom he had a close relationship with, was not happy.  He learned nothing about love from his parents' marriage and was confused by his father's new relationship with a young man.  However, at the end of the movie, we witness Oliver's change and the last line summarizes the theme of the movie.

We all are beginners in love.