Watching the movie Silent Instinct (also known as "instinctive reaction") triggered my thinking about human civilization. On the relationship between man and nature, man and man, and man and himself.
Is the development of human civilization promoting the progress of human nature and making people live a better and freer life, or are they not free and unaware?
I don't know the answer yet, so let's discuss it through this film.
0 1
This film is mainly about the reflection and awakening of human nature by anthropologists and primatologists in the process of studying chimpanzees in the jungle.
At the beginning of the film, the professor was detained and sent to another prison, and one of the scenes that made people feel a little contrasting caught my attention.
The professor got on the escort car, and two police dogs barked at Ethan. Ethan got on the bus without fear. The prison guard closed the door. When I arrived at the destination, I opened the door and saw two police dogs leaning against Ethan. Ethan gently stroked their heads.
This leaves me with a question: How did Ethan, who is called a murderer and looks fierce, get along with two fierce dogs in a short time?
02
It is rumored that Ethan has been mysteriously missing for two years. In these two years, he lived with wild animals and was insane. After being discovered, he was locked up for a year without saying a word.
The Department of Psychiatry of a famous university received a task to give Ethan a psychiatric evaluation, and this case is unprecedented. Carl, a young psychiatrist, deliberately tried to solve the mystery of the professor's mental disorder in exchange for a bright future.
Although he knew that he was inexperienced, he accepted the task confidently, thinking that he could control the development of this case with his extraordinary professional ability, and boasted that he could make the professor speak.
Then the interaction between young psychiatrist Carter and anthropologist Boijsen, who is considered insane, is very interesting.
03
During several interviews with Ethan and Carter, I saw how Carter thought he controlled the rhythm, but in fact he was unconsciously changed. And Ethan is unconsciously changing in it. I also saw how the two gradually became friends from the doctor-patient relationship.
And many interactions have also revealed the secrets in the depths of the jungle, showing us how humans set up their own cages and get rid of them.
Carter tried to get Ethan to speak in the professional way he had learned. Ethan didn't say a word, even when Cart tried to make him talk many times, he angrily picked up a pencil and poked it at Cart.
take a reexamination
Carter took some photos from Ethan's daughter, including photos of gorillas in the forest, photos of Ethan's camp, photos of Ethan's current home and photos of Ethan's daughter. He tried to awaken Ethan's memory and let him speak in this way.
Ethan, on the other hand, has a clear head. How can he not understand Carter's intentions? Ethan got his wish and expressed his willingness to tell Carter the story that happened in the depths of the jungle.
Ethan described to Carter the beauty of the forest in Luanda, Africa, the progress he made in studying chimpanzees there, and how he gradually gained spiritual purification.
"They bring me closer every day, and I am excited and honored by this progress. It's like a long-lost life, and suddenly everything happened. I am no longer an outsider and I am integrated into their life circle for the first time. "
"Deep in the jungle, away from the civilized world. Forget what you have learned all your life, whether it is from school, books or poetry. I found peace, belonging, harmony and even security there. "
Seeing this, I can't help feeling that no matter your identity, status, religious belief and living environment, human feelings and needs are the same. I think this is also the reason why we can connect with each other, cross races and connect with each other. It also gave me a deeper understanding of the premise and assumptions of nonviolent communication.
Ethan then (turn, he said:
"Human cities are far more dangerous than wild jungles. Can you understand? You are all confused. "
Think about the ubiquitous and invisible violence in the world of human civilization. Under the authoritative and invisible hierarchy in everyone's life, it is not dangerous.
I still remember a few weeks ago when I was reading A Farewell to My Wife with members of the community, the book mentioned an imperceptible hidden judgment (judgment is also a kind of "mental violence" because it brings people pain).
The book mentions: "What do you mean by fanatics who persuade people to be kind or convert with sincere words every day?" No also means "you have a problem, I have no problem;" We have the true god, but you don't; We'll go to heaven and you'll go to hell " Look at those terrorists who kill innocent people. Don't they have the same mentality? "You should be responsible for our pain. You are the most important, not us? "
Go back to the violence shown in the movie. In the prison where Ethan is held, the strong will bully the weak, especially one prisoner, the "boss", who always steals diamonds from others in order to get a chance to go out and watch. Prison guards also watched these unfair incidents and violent incidents. He also claimed that he deliberately let them fight in this way, so that prisoners would shift their attention from targeting prison guards to fighting for power and profit among prisoners.
You may think that power struggle is not common, but in fact, we all play the role of controllers unconsciously.
At the end of this interview with Ethan, Carter saw the playing cards in Ethan's pocket, took them out and had the following conversation.
Cart: "What are playing cards for"?
Ethan: Control.
Cart: "Control? "Who controls it?
Ethan: You, carnivore.
Cart: Please explain clearly.
Ethan: "I'm leaving." Ethan went to the door to go out.
Carter said firmly: "The interview is not over yet."
Ethan asked him, "Are you sure?"
Carter still said firmly, "That's right."
Ethan: "Predator."
Hearing this, Carter opened the door for him and said, "You are free."
Ethan sarcastically said, "Really? What about you? Are you free? "
Are you free? This is really soul torture!
What is freedom? Why freedom?
Ethan asked Carter, "Am I interesting?" It is worthwhile to live in this prison gymnasium these days. "Carter said," you have been an animal for two years, which is of course very interesting. "
Carter still didn't treat Ethan equally at this time. He just studied Ethan as a case, or he came for fame and fortune.
And Ethan's answer made me rethink. He said: I am a person who lives among animals, just like people 10 thousand years ago, when people knew how to live. Just before the marauders appeared.
At that time, human beings will know how to live. This means that we don't know how to live now.
Actually, think about it. Most of us are trapped in regret for the past and panic about the unknown, and rarely live in the present. We have been living in fear, constantly chasing status and wealth and deceiving each other. From this perspective, we really don't know how to live.
Of course, it is also gratifying that more and more people are beginning to learn how to return to the present, such as meditation, yoga, meditation and so on.
Ethan continued, "I used to want to control everything as much as you did." Carter stubbornly believes that sometimes control is necessary. At the same time, Ethan drew a square A and handed it to Ethan. This is probably the consequence of reminding control.
At the moment, Carter was still trying to find out what happened to Chuisen in the jungle and why he killed people, so he continued: "Chimpanzees let you spend the night, and you became a part of them ..."
Ethan was enraged before he finished speaking. He grabbed Carter by the collar and shouted, "I didn't become a chimpanzee, don't you understand?" ! "
"They accept a human, they break through the boundaries of species, treat me as a member, and treat humans as their family. This is a miracle. "
"I want to live a quiet and free life like them."
Carter is still obsessed with exploring the reason why Ethan was killed, but Ethan did not answer directly, but said that many murderers in the world arrested a chimpanzee for them while working in the zoo. At that time, he was a murderer. Because he deprived chimpanzees of their wildness and willpower.
Carter interrupted me. That's not what I asked. He said that if Ethan didn't talk, he couldn't help Ethan get out of prison. Ethan told Carter, "I don't need your help. I need you to listen and tell others. " Because what I learned is different from yours. "
In fact, from this conversation again and again, we can see that Ethan is not mentally ill and his mind is very clear.
Here, Ethan also revealed the reason why Carter was chosen for the mental assessment, because he saw the curiosity and the desire for answers in the young man's eyes. Only such a person would be willing to listen to and believe the truth about what happened to Ethan in the depths of the jungle.
On the other hand, Carter is still obsessed with his identity as a psychiatrist. He especially wants to use his major to dig into Ethan's heart and constantly challenge Ethan's unwilling topic, that is, to ask Ethan's daughter and family.
Ethan asked Carter sarcastically, "Are you the host?" ?
Carter replied, "Yes".
This once again angered Ethan, who wanted to break Carter's self-righteous fantasy of control with his own actions.
Ethan took Carter back to the table, sealed his mouth with tape and asked him angrily, "What have you been deprived of?" What have you lost?
Carter was so overwhelmed that he had to write down the answer.
Write it down for the first time, control it.
Ethan laughed at him and thought he could really control it? Say the answer is wrong.
Write it down for the second time, freedom.
I was laughed at again. Wrong answer.
Ethan said, "Do you think you are free? Go to the gym at 2 pm every day and go to work on time every morning. In the middle of the night, you will suddenly get a big surprise and break into a cold sweat. What's bothering you? Is it ambition? I'm no stranger to you. I used to be like you. "
Write down my fantasy for the last time.
The answer is finally right. Ethan let go of Carter and smiled and said to him, you are my student.
At this meeting, Carter was called by the prison guard to look at Ethan's cell, because the prison guard couldn't understand what Ethan was doing and painted all over the wall overnight.
When Carter came, Ethan told him that I painted "The History of Humanity" and told him: "This is Africa 2 million years ago, this is the civilized world 1 10,000 years ago, and this is the predator. These are nomads and farmers. They only hunt enough food and grow enough food. They will quarrel, but they won't fight and destroy others. Based on the world, harmony. They know how to share. "
Hearing this, Carter retorted, is it necessary to destroy the city and return to nature?
Ethan knew Carter was quibbling and his answer was to give up control.
"We must give up one thing, our control. The world does not belong to human beings, and human beings are neither masters nor gods. " Can we give up? Power is so charming. "
Here, Carter's worldview has also been reshaped, or awakened. He then did one thing, that is, changed the game controlled by the prison into the lottery box A, so that everyone had the right to draw lots equally.
At the sixth meeting, Carter took Ethan to the zoo where he used to work and showed him the chimpanzee he had brought back. Although he still wants Ethan to tell the reason for his murder, it is not for his personal future, but he really wants to help the wise old man get out of the prison with bad environment, and hope that he can reunite with his family and regain his freedom.
This time, Ethan also opened his heart and told Carter the warm and painful memories hidden in the deepest part of his heart. Ethan told Carter.
Tell Carter how he approached the chimpanzee family step by step, how they accepted him and how he was trusted by them. Especially at the beginning, a female orangutan protected her cubs from Ethan, but as time went on, the female orangutan was willing to trust Ethan and report her cubs to Ethan. The orangutan also had a beautiful interaction with Ethan and stroked Ethan's nose with his claws.
And Ethan was taken care of by this big family, and he described how wonderful it felt.
Seeing the film here, I was moved to tears by the warm picture described by Ethan. I really hope that time will stop at this moment.
All the good things were broken by shotguns, and many chimpanzees were hunted. Ethan was in great pain when he saw all this, and his instinct to protect his family made him decide to fight back against these hunters. Finally, the leader of the orangutan died at gunpoint to save him. Chimpanzees didn't blame him before he fell down and closed his eyes. Ethan, on the other hand, particularly blamed himself and decided to take the hunter himself, which led to the death of the orangutan.
Seeing this also reminds me of the epidemic that swept across the country. Isn't this the result of people wantonly destroying the harmonious coexistence between man and nature? This is a warning and an opportunity to wake up.
The Celtics finally understood that Ethan was only moved by his instinctive reaction to protect his family. In this interaction, Ethan finally agreed to meet his daughter and told her how much he loved her over the years and how much he always missed her. And the daughter finally understood her father, and the two shook hands and made peace.
Carter also thought he could help Ethan get out of prison, but the story took another turn. Ethan was violently treated by the prison guards when he returned to his cell after seeing his daughter. Other prisoners were also angry at the behavior of the prison guards, so they opened a cell door and violently beat one of them. At this time, Ethan instinctively jumped on the prison guard again and saved his cellmate.
Ethan can't get out of prison because he hurt someone again before attending the hearing.
Carter knew that Ethan's behavior was an instinctive reaction to protect his family, but there was nothing he could do. Ethan stopped talking again.
Kurt came to Ethan with some sadness and expressed his gratitude to Ethan, saying that he had been trying to please others for power and status, and he was not free to live. Ethan taught him how to get rid of control and how to live in this game of power. With that, he left with tears in his eyes.
Ethan later looked back at Carter, who had left, took out a ballpoint pen from Carter, opened the prison window and went to the nature he longed for.
04
The two changed each other, and Carter gave up control and began to learn to live; And Ethan also rekindled his hope for life and was willing to turn around and fight for freedom, because Ethan finally left Carter a letter saying:
Freedom is not a dream, as long as you break through the cage in your heart, freedom is in sight.