Chapter Seventy-four Christmas
December 23, just before Christmas in '92, TriStar Pictures' big drama "Scent of a Woman" finally hit theaters. The film tells the story of a prep school student who becomes an assistant to a retired Army colonel who has gone blind. Starring Al Pacino and Chris O'Donnell.
"Scent of a Woman" is one of the best films among those released in 1992, and after its release for a week, it earned $39 million at the box office, surpassing "Jurassic Park", which had held the top spot for four weeks with $31 million. The second and third places were taken by "Jurassic Park" with $31 million and "Aladdin" with $28 million respectively. After getting this information, Song Tang couldn't help but smile slightly. If "Scent of a Woman" had been released two weeks earlier, it might have had some impact on "Jurassic Park". However, after four consecutive weeks at the top of the US box office, "Jurassic Park" was already well-known across the country, and its box office earnings were starting to decline. By releasing "Scent of a Woman" at this time, Universal Pictures avoided competing with "Jurassic Park" and Disney's "Aladdin", but also reduced the obstacles for "Jurassic Park" in competing for US box office revenue.
When "Scent of a Woman" was released, Song Tang went to the cinema to watch the premiere. Martin Brest is indeed an excellent director, and there is nothing to criticize about the arrangement of scenes or the setting of shots. A chance encounter, a "sensual" tango, a thrilling car chase, and a passionate speech completely outline the process of life from "destruction" to "rebirth". The film's plot is roughly that young student Charlie inadvertently witnesses several students preparing to play a prank on the principal, who asks him to reveal the mastermind behind the prank or face punishment. Charlie comes to the home of retired Colonel Frank Slade with worries to do weekend part-time work. Colonel Slade was once a staffer for President Lyndon Baines Johnson and had experienced war and many setbacks. In an accidental explosion, he lost his sight. He spends his days at home doing nothing, losing the courage and confidence to live on. He plans to use up his last energy to enjoy a good life. He takes Charlie out, eats delicious food, drives a sports car, dances tango, stays in a luxury hotel...and then wants to end his own life.
Charlie prevented the middle school student from committing suicide, and from then on, they developed a father-son-like relationship. Stephen also regained the courage and strength to live on. In the final scene of the film, Stephen gave an impassioned speech in the school auditorium, saving Charlie's future and satirizing the hypocrisy of the school. The two were reborn through mutual encouragement.
Long-term blindness has made Shifalan extremely sensitive to auditory and olfactory senses, and he can even identify the other person's height, hair color, and eye color by smelling their perfume. In fact, this all comes from his profound understanding and insight into life.
This film is a remake of the 1975 Italian film, which was adapted from. The title "Scent of a Woman" is extremely apt, and the cast is also a typical combination of old and new partners. Veteran star Al Pacino has starred in famous films such as "The Godfather", and his performance in this film is meticulous and moving, accurately revealing the inner world of a blind veteran.
However, "The Scent of a Woman" was released at this time and indeed chose a good time, because two days later is Christmas. If you follow the Chinese custom, in the 90s, it was basically not celebrated on Christmas, even if Song Tang lived in the post-90s era, in that globalized era, Song Tang did not celebrate Western traditional holidays like Christmas outside of Chinese traditional holidays. But now it's different, although the Song family is still deeply influenced by Chinese traditional culture, and the Spring Festival is always the most important holiday in their hearts, since the old man Song Yuanqiao settled in the United States, half a world away, celebrating Christmas has become the second most important holiday for the Song family outside of the Chinese New Year.
As Christmas approaches, the festive atmosphere in Los Angeles becomes increasingly thick. Traditionally, Christmas Eve is a day for setting up Christmas trees, but with the early start of Christmas celebrations, such as in the United States after Thanksgiving, many Christmas trees are set up weeks before Christmas. Over time, Christmas Eve has come to refer not only to December 24th evening but also to the entire day, specifically December 24th. However, since the festive atmosphere is easier to create at night and large events are concentrated in the evening, it is commonly referred to as Christmas Eve. At this time, millions of Europeans and Americans rush back home to reunite with their families. A must-have celebration on Christmas Eve is a gathering. Most European and American family members gather at home, have a sumptuous dinner together, sit around the fireplace, play music, sing songs, and enjoy each other's company; or hold a unique masquerade ball, celebrating Christmas Eve until dawn, making it a happy, peaceful, and festive Christmas Eve and reunion night.
On the 24th, almost all schools, factories and companies in the United States were closed for the holiday, and the Da Tang Film Company was no exception. Song Tang, who had nothing to do with his free time, could finally stay at home with his family and experience the warmth of kinship. Originally, Song Tang wanted to spend a good Christmas with his several female friends, but unfortunately, Jessica and others had all gone home to be with their families. Fortunately, it was this way, otherwise, Song Tang really didn't know who he should accompany for Christmas. Although nominally Jessica was his girlfriend, Monica and Angelina had also had romantic relationships with him, which brought both joy and trouble to Song Tang.
Helpless, Song Tang decided to take advantage of the Christmas holiday to rest well. What kind of life is the most comfortable? As the saying goes, "counting money until your hands cramp, sleeping until you wake up naturally", Song Tang very much agrees with this point of view. However, although Song Tang's idea was good, reality made him get up early on the 24th. Before he woke up, his mother Liu Ying called him to get up and go shopping for Christmas gifts with her. When Song Tang heard Liu Ying's request, his face turned sour immediately. He knew the pain of accompanying women shopping, having previously heard others say that men's greatest suffering was going shopping with women. Although he didn't believe it at first, after being reborn and accompanying his mother and girlfriend shopping several times, he realized it was true. So when Liu Ying asked him to go shopping with her, Song Tang couldn't help but smile bitterly.
Liu Ying saw her son like this, as the saying goes "no one knows a child better than their mother", Liu Ying couldn't help but know what her son was thinking. Seeing her son's bitter smile, she immediately pulled a long face and then patted Song Tang's head, scolding: "What's wrong, you little stinker, not happy to accompany your mother shopping?"
Seeing his mother's overbearing attitude, Song Tang's face turned even more bitter, but he couldn't refute her, so he could only turn to his father, Song Yaohui, who was sitting next to him reading the newspaper. Song Yaohui saw that his son was looking at him for help and knew exactly what he wanted, so he directly ignored Song Tang's pleading gaze, shrugged his shoulders, and gave him a helpless look.
Song Tang saw this and couldn't help but mutter to himself: "It's really like that, my own son doesn't even lend a hand." However, Song Tang truly didn't think of it, at this time his father Song Yao Hui was also thinking: "Son, it's not that I don't want to help you, if I helped you then your mother would drag me out shopping, for the sake of your father, son, just sacrifice a bit."
Song Tang looked at his unimpressed father, then glanced at his mother who was exuding an air of superiority. Originally, Song Tang had wanted to find an excuse not to go, but when he saw his mother's expectant expression, her haughty demeanor softened his heart. He thought: after all, for the past year, he had been busy with work and traveling, spending very little time at home. Although his mother didn't say anything, she must have been hoping that he would spend more time at home.
"Alright, mom. But not for too long, okay?"
"Don't worry, son. Today we'll just buy some Christmas gifts and it won't take too long." Liu Ying said excitedly as soon as he heard his son agree to accompany him to go shopping.
Song Tang saw his mother's delighted expression and couldn't help but feel happy about the decision he made earlier. However, before going out onto the streets again, Song Tang still had an important matter to attend to - that was to dress up properly before leaving the house. Although Song Tang's reputation wasn't exactly well-known to everyone, he couldn't guarantee that no one would recognize him once he stepped out. He definitely didn't want to spend the whole day under the gaze of others.
