(c)2003 COLUMBIA PICTURES INDUSTRIES, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
"Big Fish" With love in the imagination - a fairy tale in which the artist's "heart" dwells
2020.04.21
Creating a “place to belong” through film: commonality with Guillermo del Toro
At the same time, Edward's way of life itself overlaps with that of the creator. No matter what one's life is like, it is the creator's mission, nature, and karma to provide art and entertainment. It is the creator who mainly directs it toward others, and Edward who directs it toward his family.
Will has a hard time understanding why his father would lie to entertain himself and others. Edward not only tells stories to children, but also to the adults around him. It would be fine within the family, but even though the wedding was a special occasion for his son, his father kept spouting hoaxes. For Will, he's probably tired of hearing this so much that his ears are getting calluses, and he's probably worried that his father will look like a bad person, and he's also probably feeling embarrassed.
"Big Fish" (c)2003 COLUMBIA PICTURES INDUSTRIES, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
``Big Fish'' reflects director Burton's unique perspective on how the ``passion'' that creators share can also be a source of trouble for those within their families. It is because he has the experience of involving himself and others in ``strange acts'' in exchange for talent that he was able to vividly imprint the ``pain'' of those around him. You can feel director Burton's definite evolution in his broadening of his perspective towards others, rather than just self-projection as seen in his previous works.
In fact, his works since ``Big Fish'' give the impression that he has been able to smoothly control his ``individuality'' that had otherwise oozed out (by the way, in the 10 years since this work, Johnny The collaboration with Depp continues). In that sense, this film was probably a turning point for Burton as a director.
Furthermore, this kind of obsession with trying to ``entertain'' can also be felt in the way Burton depicts ``circus,'' one of the motifs in Burton's works. The theme of the circus, which also appears in `` Batman Returns '' (1992) and `` Dumbo ,'' has an important meaning for director Burton, as it is ``a place where those who are oppressed by society are brought into the spotlight.'' The fate that happens to Karl is symbolic). It is also interesting that all three films feature Danny DeVito as the "ringmaster."
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There is the ``reality'' of being rejected, and then there is the ``stage'' where you can become a star. Director Burton's life, which began his career as an animator at Disney but continued to struggle with balancing talent and collective action until finally finding a haven as a ``film director,'' can certainly be described as a circus. And with the circus as a topic, the film itself reflects the film's outlook on life.
Just as Guillermo del Toro, director of The Shape of Water (17), continues to depict "love for the strange" through the medium of film, director Burton also continues to depict "solitude" through his films ( There is a line in ``Big Fish'' that goes, ``Those who are called ``bad guys'' in this world are just lonely and disrespectful.'') However, neither of them will forget the gratitude and love they felt for being saved by ``movies''. This is probably one of the main reasons why their works have a strange, friendly quality that makes them seem ``strange, but endearing.''
Because he knows the taste of loneliness and misfortune, he finds light in his creations. So that I can feel good about being alive. And so that someone in a similar situation can laugh with peace of mind. What they continue to create is a ``place''.