A Heaven in a Piano——Interpreting The Legend of the1900 in t

　　Key Words: Existentialism, Jean-Paul Sartre, 1900, music

　　Abstract: Existentialism as a modern Western philosophy and idea in the field of art has had a profound impact on a wide range. When the film combine with existentialism, they have the philosophy function of expressing thought and pain. This paper takes Giuseppe Tornatore’s The Legend of the1900 for example to analyze Jean-Paul Sartre’s existentialist philosophy in the movie. In this way we would be able to make a broader perspective, multi-lateral and multi-level explanation and appreciation of other related films.

　　关键词：存在主义　让·保罗·萨特　1990　

　　论文摘要：存在主义作为一种西方思潮,各个领域产生了广泛深刻的影响。而当电影与存在主义结合后，电影从此拥有了表达思考与痛苦的哲学功能。本文拟结合导演吉赛贝·托纳多雷的代表作《海上钢琴师》，分析让·保罗·萨特的存在主义哲学思维在电影中的诠释。从而使我们能从更广的视角,多侧面、多层次地解释和欣赏本片及相关其他电影。

　　Existential philosophy is a complex system. Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, Schopenhauer, Heidegger can be seen as its pioneers. Despite of profound doctrinal differences, they generally held that the focus of philosophical thought should be to deal with the conditions of existence of the individual person and his or her emotions, actions, responsibilities, and thoughts. France’s greatest philosopher in 20th century Jean-Paul Sartre, is considered as the guiding figure in the field of existentialist philosophy. He put forward three basic principles of existentialist philosophy, that is “existence precedes essence”, “the universe is meaningless and chaotic, life is painful”, “freedom and free choice”.

　　Existentialism became fashionable in the post-World War years as a way to reassert the importance of human individuality and freedom. When the film combine with existentialism, they have the philosophy function of expressing thought and pain. A group of master directors who interpret existentialism by the means of photography appear in both east and west. As one of Europe rhyme Trilogy, the film The Legend 1990 is an excellent work to interpret existential thought. Its theme is choice and rational understandings and deeply feelings behind it. The hero 1900 in the film is a typical existentialist in terms of his life experience and values. His behaviors and characteristic correspond to the three major principles of existentialism. 1900 lives in a ship for his whole life, which is opposed to the prosperous land and correct understanding of things and the values of life. He ultimately chooses death as his destination. This is extremely close to existential thought. In the view of existentialists, people live in a confrontation with themselves and disappointing world. People’s identity in the world is uncertain. Though people have freedom of choice, they are full of chaotic feeling without specific aim when faced the future life. 1900 seems to be very clear that the true end of life is death. Death is the final destination of life and has very important significance for his existence.

　　1. About “Existence Precedes Essence”

　　“Existence precedes essence” is a well-known point of view of Sartre, which on behalf of the existence theory of “metaphysical”. Sartre’s “Existence precedes essence” means that, first of all human beings exist, appear, come on stage and then give their own definition. “Man, except image created by himself, is nothing.”

　　The film The Legend 1990 just through the hero—a born pianoist’s “exist”, “appear”, “come on stage” to talk about his legendary life. 1900 is born on the sea, grows up on the sea and finally dies on the sea. He is a man without parents and nationality. He is a man full of mystery from his birth. He never touches the piano before but can play beautiful music the first time he touches it; he doesn’t go to the land for his whole life , however can imagine the exact landscape of it; he can read the mind of people and play music according to his mind. All of these are mysterious, which match the first principle of existentialism---“Existence precedes Essence”. Existentialism holds the view that the real thing is what lies in one’s heart. 1900’s born gift exists in his heart and is unique and mysterious. He despises rules which are recognised by the whole world. He emphasizes more on his own existence than the external recognition of him. He can defeat the founder of the Jazz easily and looks down on the Jazz; he refuses to make a fortune with his music but is content with simple poor life.

　　2. About “The Universe is Meaningless and Chaotic, Life is Painful”

　　In the existentialist view, people living in a disappointing world that confronts with themselves, and people’s status in the world is uncertain. People with absolute freedom are also lonely with boredom and nothing to rely on. People who, though have the freedom of choice, but the future life he faced is chaotic without target. He just goes into the future blindly, and what he only knows the true end of life is death. Death as the final destination in life is of great importance to the existence of individuals. Therefore, those who are pessimists are existentialist. In their eyes, life is a tragedy.

　　The life of 1900 is an inevitable tragedy. “All that world is weighing down on me, you don’t even know where it comes to anend, and aren’t you ever just scared of breaking apart at the thought of it? The enormity of living it? I could never get off this ship. At best, I can step off my life.”

　　How similar 1900’s values of life and existential philosophy to the existentialist view “The world is absurd, life is painful”. The Legend 1990 just explains this philosophy view in another language. 1900 is lonely and the only thing that can company him is music. He can not imagine what life will become if he goes ashore and he does not know the significance of his life. So he chooses to stay in the ship and perishes alongside the floating city on the sea.

　　3. About the “Freedom and Free Choice”

　　“Free choice” is the essence of existentialism. “Free people, freedom is the existence of people, who prior to the existence of human nature”. The core of existentialism is free, that is, people freely choose their own actions. It holds that each people in this world have their own freedom. When faced with various environments, people can make a “free choice” of what action to take, and how to take it.

　　1900 chooses death rather than the land because for him his own world is the only place to feel free and easy. This is his worship of inner freedom. Yes, he is once moved by the pretty lady and attracted by the worldly happiness described by his friend. He hesitates when he is standing on the boarding ladder, but ultimately he stops his steps.

　　“All that city. You just couldn't see the end to it. The end? Please? You please just show me where it ends? In all that sprawling city there was everything except an end. There was no end. What I did not see was where the whole thing came to an end. The end of the world... How do you choose just one? One woman, one house, one piece of land to call your own, one landscape to look at, one way to die……”

　　This is not a shrink, but a deep understanding. What he faces is the endless temptation and endless choices. 1900 abandons the entire world to choose the music. For him, it is a comfort, but also content; is stubborn, but also happiness to choose music as his lifetime company. Only in the music can he feel free.

　　To see the world in a ship; To see the heaven in a piano. 1900, a perfect existentialist; The Legend of the1900, a legend of existentialism.

　　Bibliography:

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