RUN FOR DREAM AND LOVE

Run for Dream and Love

At the beginning of the movie《Far and Away》,the Chinese title “DaDixiongxin”gives me a deep impression. After watching the movie, I checked it on the internet. Another Chinese title of this film is “YuanLijiayuan”. But I think “DaDixiongxin” is better than “YuanLijiayuan”. Because it contains people’s spirit and courage to immigrate to American for claiming land. Although the road ahead would not always be smooth, they walked on with an audacious faith.

《Far and Away》reflects the history of American Westward Movement. American Westward Movement is the process that territory of the United States expanded from the East Cost to the West. The external expansion and aggression proceeded on for more than one country. It was an important matter in the 19th century in American history. When it was announced that almost two million acres of good land in Oklahoma would be opened in April 1889, thousands of settlers gathered on the border waiting for the exact time to be announced. When it was, they raced into the territory in wagons and on horseback to claim the best land they could find for themselves.

The movie was preformed in 1992. Young Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman were the lead role in this film. When I was watching the movie, I did n’t recognize them. At that time they loved each other. In this film, Tom acted a peasant’s son Joseph, and Nicole acted a landlord’s daughter Shannon. “Land” is the main stream in this movie. At 19th century in American, landlord exploited the serf’s labor force and treated them badly. In this film, Joseph’s father was killed by the landlord. I still remember Joseph’s father words before his death. “Land is the soul of people, if you don’t have land, you will not have the soul.” So, how important the land is to them. After seeing the movie, the words are still lingering in my ears. I asked myself “what is land?” I never asked myself if there will be a land belonging to me. At the mid 19th century of America, land is power, wealth and dream to everyone. Everyone wants to have his own land. This kind of dream moves forward the development of the story.

Because of this dream, the hot-hearted young Irishman, Joseph, decided to take revenge on his landlord regardless of people’s ridiculous. In his attempt to kill his landlord, however, he is discovered by the landlord’s daughter Shannon Christie. For self-defense, Shannon injured Joseph’s leg when he tries to escape. While injured he continued his plan to kill the landlord, but his weapon was too old and blow up in his face. Then he was imprisoned. Joseph tries to escape the house but he is caught by Stephen Chase, the landlord’s arrogant manager. Joseph spit on Stephen’s face. Angry and disgusted, Stephen decided to challenge Joseph at dawn. Meanwhile, Shannon also Stephen’s love interest, was growing dissatisfied with traditional views of her parents’ generation and longed to be modern and free. She made a plan to leave for America to claim land that’s being given away for free. When Joseph resisted Stephen, Shannon was attracted by Joseph’s courage. So she invited Joseph to come with her. But Joseph didn’t agree with her, because he still didn’t want to leave his hometown. One day, in order to escape, Joseph got up into Shannon’s carriage without hesitation. At this time, the story begins