在2011年12月的第24屆歐洲電影獎上,由丹麥導(dǎo)演拉斯·馮·特里爾(Lars von Trier)執(zhí)導(dǎo)的影片《憂郁癥》(Melancholia)獲得最佳影片、最佳攝影和最佳藝術(shù)指導(dǎo)三項(xiàng)大獎,成為最大贏家。影片片名“melancholia”的原意是“憂郁癥”,在影片中既暗喻女主角Justine不可自拔的憂郁情緒,同時也是一顆行星的名字。這顆比地球大很多倍的行星最終撞向并毀滅了地球。
影片的故事情節(jié)很難用一句話來描述,因?yàn)檎坑捌譃閹缀跬耆煌膬刹糠郑篜art I和Part II。Part I以女主角Justine的名字命名,色調(diào)溫暖,人物眾多,雖然Justine憂郁的情緒貫穿始終,但同時也充滿了喜劇效果。Part II以Justine的姐姐Claire的名字命名,色調(diào)陰冷,人物則僅限于Claire、Justine等幾個人之間。Part I像諷刺的浪漫喜劇,Part II則像一出舞臺劇,而兩者之間的紐帶就是女主角的憂郁情緒和以“Melancholia”命名的那顆帶給地球?yàn)?zāi)難的行星。
影片以一連串油畫般的慢鏡頭拉開序幕,一下子將觀眾帶入到影片特別的語境中,也賦予了影片特別的宿命感。
Part I:憂郁的Justine
Part I一開場,鏡頭從空中俯拍,一輛加長的婚車在一條崎嶇的羊腸路上艱難行駛。婚車?yán)镒木褪桥鹘荍ustine和新郎Michael。深陷憂郁癥困擾的Justine盡量表現(xiàn)得開心,她希望通過一個超級浪漫的婚禮來重新找到快樂。但是開頭的諸多不順?biāo)坪跻呀?jīng)預(yù)示了婚禮的悲劇格調(diào)。
因?yàn)榛檐囀茏?,Justine和Michael步行趕到婚禮現(xiàn)場,其時天色已晚。Justine的姐姐Claire和姐夫John作為婚禮的操辦人正在現(xiàn)場焦急地等待。
Justine: Hi, Claire. So sorry.
Claire: I won’t even bother saying how late you are.… This is very much not my project (指婚禮), ok? I spent the whole week with the dullest man on earth.
John: Not to mention the most expensive wedding planner on the planet.
Claire: [To Justine] Okay, so you want this (指婚禮)?
Justine: Yeah, of course.
Claire: All right, let’s go.
Claire和John實(shí)際上代表了現(xiàn)實(shí)生活中理想的男女形象。Claire溫文爾雅、善解人意,樂于為他人做出犧牲。為了能給Justine辦一個快樂的婚禮,Claire事無巨細(xì)地操持一切。John成功而富有,也相當(dāng)慷慨,雖然理性的他很難理解Justine感性的憂郁,但還是愿意為了給Justine辦一個浪漫的婚禮而花費(fèi)巨資。Claire和John這對忙著為他人做嫁衣的夫妻終于等來了婚禮的主角,然而,就在眾人步入婚禮現(xiàn)場之時,Justine卻突然抬頭望了望夜晚的星空,發(fā)現(xiàn)天上有顆異常閃亮的星星。
Justine: What star is that?
Michael: I don’t know. John, you’re a bit of an expert on stars, aren’t you?
John: Which one are you looking at exactly?
Justine: The red one.
John: I’m amazed you can see that. That’s Antares (心宿二,天蝎座最亮的星,距地球約424光年). It’s the main star in the Scorpio (天蝎座) constellation.
在Part I中,影片多次將鏡頭投向星空,這也為Part II中災(zāi)難的降臨埋下了伏筆;后來的Melancholia行星正是從天蝎座飛來。
在眾人矚目之下,婚禮的主角終于入場,婚禮正式開始。而接下來出場的人物與Claire和John比起來,就是生活中那些不可愛的人。首先致祝福辭的是Justine的老板Jack,在幾句簡短的祝福語后,他便以升職為誘餌,軟硬兼施地催促Justine完成工作任務(wù):想出合適的廣告詞。
Jack: The bride, Justine: gorgeous woman. Where’s my tag line (指產(chǎn)品廣告中的主題句)? You were always great in coming up with a tag line in a hurry.… Advertising, Justine, advertising. Justine, you were way, way, way too good for advertising. You know it. I know it. We all know it. So thank you for staying with it.... Today the company hasn’t lost a copywriter (廣告文字撰稿人). The company has gained a new art director. And that’s you, Justine. Congratulations.
接下來講話的是Justine的父母。Justine的父母雖早已離異,但彼此依然存在難以化解的嫌怨。即使在女兒的婚禮上,兩個人之間也火藥味十足。
Father: My dear girl, you look glowing today. Never seen you look so happy. So what can I say without talking about your mother? My wife of yesteryear. Which is exactly what I don’t wish to do. I don’t think that I would be revealing any secret if I were to say that she can be very domineering (專橫的) at times.
Mother: Domineering? What a load of crap (簡直是胡說八道)! For those who don’t know who I am, I’m Claire and Justine’s mother. Justine, if you have any ambition at all, it certainly doesn’t come from your father’s side of the family. Yes. I don’t believe in marriage. Claire, whom I have always taken for a sensible girl, you’ve arranged a spectacular party. Till death do us part (至死不渝) and forever and ever, Justine and Michael. I just have one thing to say: Enjoy it while it lasts. I myself hate marriages.
父母在致辭中的沖突,特別是對婚姻失望透頂?shù)哪赣HGaby說出的那句“Enjoy it while it lasts”,深深觸動了Justine那根敏感憂郁的神經(jīng)。她掩飾不住消極的情緒,思緒開始游離于婚禮之外。深知內(nèi)情的Claire將Justine帶到客房,努力寬慰她。
Claire: Justine, listen to me. We agreed that you weren’t going to make any scenes (發(fā)脾氣,當(dāng)眾吵鬧) tonight.
Justine: They don’t want any scenes.
Claire: No, we don’t.
Justine: No.
Claire: Look at me when I’m talking to you.
Justine: But I didn’t do anything.
Claire: You know what I mean.
Justine: OK.
Justine振作精神,重新回到婚禮現(xiàn)場。這時,輪到新郎Michael發(fā)言了。Michael雖然有點(diǎn)木訥,發(fā)言時有些支支吾吾,但他的寥寥幾句話中滿含對Justine的愛意。
Michael: Justine, I love you so much and never dreamed that I would have such a gorgeous wife. I believe that I’m the luckiest man on Earth. I love you.
聽到這樣浪漫的話語,Justine盡力表現(xiàn)得陶醉,但內(nèi)心卻已密布憂郁的陰云。在影片開場的慢鏡頭中,就有身穿婚紗的Justine深陷泥沼、被樹根藤蔓纏繞著無法脫身的畫面,而這正是Justine此時的心境。這時,Michael感覺苗頭不對,試圖將Justine從消極的情緒中拉出來。
Justine: I’m sorry.
Michael: No, don’t say that. You should never say you’re sorry. I can see that you’re not feeling well tonight. I haven’t been taking care of you lately. It’s my fault. I wasn’t going to give you this (指蘋果園的照片) until tomorrow. I found our plot of land. They call it Empire apples (蘋果園). They’re bright red and very sweet, but with the perfect tartness (酸). In ten years’ time, when the trees have grown you can sit in the shade, in a chair. If you still have days when you’re feeling a little sad I think that will make you happy again.
Justine: It’s very sweet.
Michael: Yeah? I signed the deed for it yesterday. I didn’t want to tell you. I want you to have it (指蘋果園的照片) with you all the time and hold on to it. So you can look at it once in a while.
Justine: I’ll always keep it with me.
Michael可以說是理想的結(jié)婚對象。他對Justine一片癡心,夠細(xì)心也夠有耐心。為了讓Justine快樂起來,他甚至特意買了一塊蘋果園送給她。但對于憂郁癥發(fā)作的Justine來說,這一切都毫無意義。上一秒她還說要把蘋果園的照片永遠(yuǎn)帶在身邊,下一秒?yún)s又將照片丟在一旁。
在Claire和Michael的勸解都遭遇“滑鐵盧”后,John又開始出馬勸慰Justine??吹紺laire、Michael和John的努力,Justine硬撐著假裝高興。盡管明白一切道理,又有充足的理由快樂,但陷入憂郁情緒的Justine就像掉入了深不見底的泥潭,無法自救,他人也愛莫能助。
關(guān)鍵時刻,Justine去尋求母親Gaby的幫助。但性情古怪的母親自己也有嚴(yán)重的憂郁癥,她無情地將女兒趕出房間。Justine又去找父親傾訴,結(jié)果父親也反應(yīng)冷淡,后來甚至從婚禮現(xiàn)場不辭而別。這時的Justine幾近崩潰,她一個人來到空曠的高爾夫球場,竟然和初次見面的Jack的手下Tim發(fā)生了關(guān)系。之后,再次回到婚禮現(xiàn)場的Justine終于爆發(fā)了,她毫不留情地諷刺和挖苦了老板Jack。當(dāng)Michael意識到與Justine的婚禮已無法繼續(xù),黯然轉(zhuǎn)身離去時,Justine不僅沒有好臉色,也絲毫沒有挽回之意。
Michael: I guess we’ll take off now.
Justine: Yes.
Michael: This could have been a lot different.
Justine: Yes, Michael, that have been. But Michael, what did you expect?
Michael: Yeah. You’re right.
夜色已深,賓客散盡。影片用近一個小時記錄的盛大婚禮就這樣繁華開場,蒼涼落幕。
Part II一開場就顯示出截然不同的風(fēng)格:Part I是溫暖的派對背景,Part II則是冷峻的青灰色。這時的Justine病情似乎加重了很多,Claire和John將她接到自己的莊園里。為了給Justine放松心情,Claire與Justine一同騎馬散心。但騎到一座小橋處,Justine的愛馬怎么也不肯過去,類似的場景后來又出現(xiàn)過多次,似乎整個Part II的情節(jié)發(fā)展都被限制在了這個與世隔絕的莊園里,人物也只涉及Justine、Claire、John以及Claire和John的兒子Leo之間,就像一出舞臺劇。
Justine在Claire和John的莊園休養(yǎng)時,一顆名叫“Melancholia”的行星正在朝地球奔來。平時一向冷靜、睿智的Claire擔(dān)心這顆行星會最終毀滅地球,變得越來越焦慮。在現(xiàn)實(shí)生活中總能take everything under control的John極力掩飾內(nèi)心的不安,試圖安撫妻子。
Claire: I’m afraid of that stupid planet.
John: That stupid planet? That wonderful planet, you mean.
Claire: First it was black; now it’s blue. Blocking Antares, hiding behind the sun.
John: Darling, this is going to be the most amazing experience we will have in our lives. It won’t be here in five days, and it is not going to hit us…. Claire, look at me. Sweetheart, you have to trust a scientist.
Claire: They say that it will hit ...
John: No, they don’t. That’s not true. Not the real scientists. Now, the prophets of doom, they’ll write whatever they can to get attract attention. But the real scientists, all of them agree. Melancholia is just gonna pass right in front of us. And it’s gonna be the most beautiful sight ever. Now, I wish you’d watch it through the telescope with me. Please.
Claire: No, I’d better not.
就在眾人為這顆行星惶惶不安時,本來已經(jīng)憔悴不堪的Justine卻奇跡般地好轉(zhuǎn)起來。她精神越來越好,似乎正盼望著這顆行星的到來。在一個月亮和Melancholia行星同時高懸空中的夜晚,Justine脫衣解衫,臥于溪水邊的平坦巖石上,獨(dú)自一人享受著月光浴。終于,Melancholia在天空中越來越大,它與地球近距離接觸的最后一晚已經(jīng)到來。Claire和Justine兩姐妹第一次談?wù)撈疬@顆行星。
Claire: It’ll pass us by tonight. John is quite calm about it.
Justine: Does that calm you down?
Claire: Yes, of course. Well, John studies things. He always has.
Justine: The earth is evil. We don’t need to grieve for it.
Claire: What?
Justine: Nobody will miss it.
Claire: But where would Leo grow up?
Justine: All I know is ... life on earth is evil.
Claire: There may be life somewhere else.
Justine: No, there isn’t.
Claire: How do you know?
Justine: Because I know things.
Claire: Oh, yes, you always imagine. You did.
Justine: I know we’re alone.… Life exists only on Earth, and not for long.
Justine毫不留情地對Claire說Melancholia行星將無可避免地摧毀地球,言語間的平靜和泰然讓人感覺她似乎一直在期待地球毀滅。正常人害怕生命的終結(jié),而患有憂郁癥的人似乎從不懼怕世界末日。導(dǎo)演特里爾在這里賦予了Justine預(yù)知未來的超能力。導(dǎo)演解釋說這一安排是為了增強(qiáng)生命滅亡確定性的悲劇效果,而且在古代,憂郁癥患者常常被認(rèn)為是通靈者。不過,這樣的處理效果在很大程度上削弱了影片的現(xiàn)實(shí)感,淡化了表現(xiàn)憂郁情緒的現(xiàn)實(shí)。
在這個夜晚,緊張的Claire和John一起通過望遠(yuǎn)鏡關(guān)注Melancholia行星的動向。當(dāng)他們看到Melancholia漸漸飛向地球,最終又和地球擦肩而過時,大大松了一口氣。然而,第二天清晨,Claire醒來后,發(fā)現(xiàn)John正出神地望著天空。然后一轉(zhuǎn)眼的工夫,John忽然消失不見了。Claire拿起測量工具望向Melancholia行星,發(fā)現(xiàn)它再次向地球飛來。驚慌失措的Claire到處尋找John,最終在馬房里找到了已經(jīng)倒下的丈夫。原來,這個看似堅(jiān)強(qiáng)的男人在知道災(zāi)難已不可避免之時,選擇了自殺。瀕臨崩潰的Claire不知何處是避難之所,她帶著兒子Leo開車前往市中心。還是在那座小橋處,電瓶車受Melancholia行星的影響無法繼續(xù)行駛,天也下起了冰雹,狼狽的她只得帶著兒子回來。毫無選擇的Claire只能和Justine商討怎樣面對最后的時刻。
Claire: I want us to be together when it happens, outside on the terrace (陽臺). Help me, Justine. I want to do this the right way.
Justine: Better do it quickly.
Claire: A glass of wine together, maybe?
Justine: You want me to have a glass of wine on your terrace?
Claire: Yes, would you do it, sis?
Justine: How about a song? Beethoven’s Ninth (《第九進(jìn)行曲》) ... something like that? Perhaps we could light some candles. You just want us all to gather on your terrace, sing a song and have a glass of wine ... the three of us.
Claire: Yes, that would make me happy.
Justine: Do you know what I think of your plan?
Claire: No. I only think that he (指Leo) might like it.
Justine: I think it’s a piece of shit.
Claire: Justine, please. I just wanted to be nice.
Justine: Nice? Why don’t we meet in the fucking toilet?
Claire: Then let’s not.
Justine: You’re damn right, let’s not.
Claire: Sometimes I hate you so much, Justine.
這段對話從某種意義上總結(jié)了整部影片的基調(diào),那就是反浪漫主義。在Part I里,整個婚禮都充滿了浪漫的設(shè)計(jì)。祝酒、舞蹈、切蛋糕、表達(dá)愛意、在草坪上放飛孔明燈以及Michael那個關(guān)于蘋果樹的創(chuàng)意,都是為了營造一種極致的浪漫氣氛。而正是這些所謂的浪漫使Justine慢慢疏離于婚禮。對正常人來說,Claire提議三個人在月臺上喝一杯紅酒,一起等待災(zāi)難的降臨,這不失為一種面對死亡的優(yōu)雅,就像泰坦尼克號上那些奏著音樂、隨船沉沒的音樂家們一樣。不過就是這種浪漫的想法使Justine大爆粗口。導(dǎo)演對此的解釋是浪漫主義已經(jīng)被主流電影過多使用,已然變成奶油泡沫了。從某種意義上看,Justine所說的更接近于殘酷的現(xiàn)實(shí),在反對Claire的浪漫主義的同時,Justine必須提出自己的面對方式,而她的方式就是建一個magic cave。
Leo: I’m afraid that the planet will hit us, anyway.
Claire: Don’t be ... please.
Leo: Dad said there is nothing to do, then ... nowhere to hide.
Justine: If your dad said that, then he’s forgotten about something. He’s forgotten about the magic cave.
Leo: The magic cave ...
Justine: Yep.
Leo: Is that something everybody can make?
Justine: Aunt Steelbreaker (無所不能的姨媽,Leo常如此稱呼Justine) can. All right, let’s go find stick, all right? Hold my hand. Close your eyes.
在此前Leo和Justine的幾次對話中,都曾提到語義模糊的cave,至此影片才賦予這個cave以具體的含義。影片最后,Justine、Claire和Leo一起用樹枝搭起了類似帳篷的虛擬cave,三個人像舉行儀式般地牽手坐在cave里。此刻鏡頭拉近,那顆比地球大許多倍的行星撞向地球,整個世界頃刻毀滅。電影就此結(jié)束。
憂郁虛無主義
從影片的結(jié)尾來看,盡管Justine對世界毀滅的前景看得很清楚,人也變得越來越清醒,但她并沒有提出比Claire的浪漫主義和John的實(shí)用主義更好的方式,這讓影片最終陷入一種憂郁虛無主義,讓很多觀眾感覺似乎毫無意義。
整部影片中,那顆巨大的Melancholia行星代表著一種莫大的憂郁情緒,可以吞沒一切。所以從某種意義上來說,這部影片的視角并非只是指向憂郁癥患者的,其實(shí)我們每個人都會有這種憂郁的情緒,那種對所做事情意義何在的懷疑,對于未來的擔(dān)心等等,只是程度不同而已。
如果不用“憂郁”這個已經(jīng)被賦予特別含義的詞匯的話,整部影片探討的主題其實(shí)就是恐懼。在影片最后,當(dāng)整個地球在一瞬間毀滅,觀眾的心也會被緊緊攥住,哪怕只是一瞬間的時間。如果地球毀滅太過遙遠(yuǎn)的話,那么現(xiàn)實(shí)中需要擔(dān)心、恐懼的實(shí)在太多太多:失業(yè)、生病、愛情、婚姻關(guān)系、孩子的成長等等。而《憂郁癥》將這種恐懼表現(xiàn)到了極致,甚至到了令人反感的程度。從這個意義上講,這是一部純粹的藝術(shù)電影。