Director Ang Lee offers audiences an effective insight into Confucianism, the culture explored in the film in which moral codes and respect for the natural order are key values. This film provides a glimpse into a culture that embodies beliefs and values other than our Christian principles. This proves extremely effective as it allows the audience to deepen their knowledge and appreciation of Confucianism and their own culture through the film's metalanguage and cinematic conventions. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon is a 2000s Wuxia film about Li Mu Bai, a great warrior who decides to give his sword, the Green Destiny, to a close friend, Sir Te. When the sword is stolen by Jen, a prominent female character, it is up to him to recover it while also trying to avenge the death of his master, who was killed by Jen's master, the villain Jade Fox. The film explores Jen's journey up until the moment she steals the sword, even after she ventures around China and discovers herself, her beliefs and her values. The beliefs and values that the main characters hold in this film, which adhere to and subvert their cultures, are the idea of repressing internal conflicts, talents and passions to mask a secretive exterior which is especially evident in Jade Fox as she fights the restrictions imposed on women I also want to perform Wudan. Another value exemplified in the film is that social obligations and external constraints can limit an individual's potential, personal freedom and sense of individuality, which is seen in Li Mu Bai along with the belief that loyalty will lead to a life of happiness and fulfillment that in one way or another all the characters in the film are portrayed. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The public can appreciate Confucius' value of "appearance and reality", which is believed to be able to repress inner conflicts and hide talents and passions that are perhaps not accepted in their philosophical religion. In Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon women particularly value their appearance as their religion, Confucianism suggests that women must study and learn how to manage family, respect etiquette and follow relationships within the laws to be willing to do anything to help her husband and family. This value is reflected by the villain Jade Fox. We learn that Fox does not want to embody these characteristics that her culture directs her towards, so she has a relationship with Chiang Nan-he (a master of Wudan combat) in an attempt to learn the secrets of this art. However this was not the case, Jade was exploited and refused teaching simply because of her gender. His response to this was to kill him, prove his worth, and steal the book that outlined the secrets of Wudan. Ang Lee demonstrates this value in his scenes through visuals and dialogue. A significant scene in the film that accurately portrays this value and uses these elements was after Jade Fox had poisoned Li Mu Bai and expressed his opinion regarding his master and their society. She said, "Your master underestimated women! I was good enough to sleep with, but not good enough to teach." Close camera angles were used during this scene to express her emotions and the conflicting opinions she holds about women's roles. This perspective and dialogue effectively encourages the audience to understand Jade's emotional and harmful experiences with her cultural beliefs, then appreciate their own since that is why she mustembrace your own value of appearance and reality. As seen, Fox and his difficulties play a substantial role in this film which proves to be an effective way to express to the audience the appreciation of the freedom of having one's own values over the forced value of one's appearance in the culture of Confucius. The value of appearance and reality was effectively illustrated in this film. The social idea that external obligations and constraints will limit an individual's potential, personal freedom and sense of individuality is a Confucius belief embodied in the film that Western audiences can recognize and appreciate. In the film it is clear that society and external complications limit the characters' freedom of choice, constantly testing their faith and morals. This is particularly represented in the character of Li Mu Bai who throughout the film tries to distance himself from a violent lifestyle by hiding behind his religion. However all this changes after Jen steals the sword and he is forced to retrieve it to ensure it is in safe hands. This drags him back into a vehement lifestyle that limits his personal freedom as it forces him to pursue the life he was hypothetically running from. Ang Lee conveys this value through numerous intense scenes where high camera angles coupled with dramatic music create a compelling and engaging perspective. An example that actively illustrates how Li Mu Bai was constrained in his opinions and feelings due to social obligations was in his final moments with Shu Lien. The high camera angles increase the intensity of the scene when Li Mu Bai states "I have already wasted my whole life. I want to tell you with my last breath that I have always loved you." The camera angle of this scene and the dramatic music in the background helps the audience's response towards the illustrated belief which allows them to appreciate their beliefs and the freedom they have in their culture, proving effective. The audience was given the opportunity to appreciate and expand their knowledge of the culture conveyed in the film thanks to the camera angles and melodramatic music that accurately displayed their belief that external sources can limit personal freedom and sense of individuality. This belief was once again conveyed effectively throughout the film. The film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon accurately portrayed to the audience a significant value explored in their culture that loyalty will lead to a life of happiness and fulfillment. Throughout the film, acts of loyalty and high moral code are shown between the characters. In particular, Jen and Lo of Forbidden Love have strong trust in each other and wish that one day they will be happy together, despite the distance and barrier between them. Confucianism revolves around each individual's involvement in a community or towards others as a means to self-fulfilment. A demonstration of faithfulness that leads to fulfillment is when Lo tells Jen "a faithful heart makes wishes come true." Lo's wish refers to him and Jen being together again, which, when contrasted with Confucius' belief, is happiness after leading a fulfilled existence. Ang demonstrates this fidelity in these scenes through the use of radiant, incandescent lighting. This creates an irresistible desire to live a similar lifestyle and an effective view of their culture, accurately describing this belief that if fulfilled, you will be as happy as these characters. The director effectively portrayed Confucius' belief of faithfulness leading to fulfillment through the lighting choices and Lo and Jen's love story.
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