The Man Who Laughs is a 1928 American film directed by Paul Leni. The film's main cast includes Mary Philbin and Conrad Veidt, and the production team is run by American production company Universal Pictures. The film covers a variety of elements such as plot, romance, suspense, thriller and horror.
The story of the film takes place in England in the 17th century. The protagonist of the story is a young man named Gwynplaine, whose father is a nobleman. However, due to political intrigue, Gwendolin's father is forced to undergo a brutal makeover, and his mouth is cut into a terrifying smile, making him a monster-like being. This mask makeup became his hallmark, and he was known as the "Smiley Man".
Gwendoling grew up to become a wandering actor, and he performed with a group of acrobats. During a show, Gwendoling meets a blind girl named Dea, who is the only true love in his heart. Diamnoud doesn't care about Gwendolin's appearance, she can only perceive his reality through hearing and touch. A deep relationship gradually developed between the two.
However, Gwendolin's fortunes began to change. He discovers that he has the status of a nobleman, it turns out that his father is a nobleman, and that his mask makeup is only to hide his identity. Gwendoling was forced into political intrigue and power struggles. A courtier named Barkilphedro attempted to use Gwendorins to seize power. In his quest for power and revenge, Baxter threatens to reveal Gwendorin's identity, jeopardizing his and Diamnud's happiness.
Gwendoling faces a huge choice, and he must balance the conflict between his love and aristocratic status. In the end, he chose to protect Diamnud and free her from Baxter's control. However, this decision ultimately led to a tragic ending. In an icy winter, Gwendolyn and Diamnud's ships are caught in a storm, and they unfortunately die together, their love teased by a cruel fate.
The Smiley Man explores the opposition between appearance and heart through Gwendolin's encounter and his love story with Diamnud. The film reveals society's prejudice and discrimination against people with disabilities and those whose appearance does not match their status. Gwendorin's mask makeup and his smile symbolize his inner pain and social rejection.
In contrast, the blind female character of Diamnud, she cannot see Gwendolin's appearance, and can only understand his reality with inner perception. Through the contrast of these two characters, the film calls on the audience to pay attention to the beauty of human nature and the truth of the heart.
In terms of artistic effects and shooting techniques, the smiley man uses well-designed visual presentation and photography techniques. The film uses the characteristics of black and white films, creating a strong atmosphere and horror through the use of chiaroscuro and shadows. In particular, Gwendolin's mask makeup and his smile left a deep impression on the audience. In addition, the film also uses sound effects and soundtracks to enhance the atmosphere, through the rhythm of music and the use of sound effects, so that the audience is more engaged in the storyline.
The emotional expression and characterization of the smiling man are also unique. Through the role of Gwendolin, the film shows a character who is painful in his heart and hideous on the outside, and his smile hides his inner bitterness and sadness. In contrast, the blind female character of Diamnud, she cannot see Gwendolin's appearance, and can only understand his reality with inner perception. Through the contrast between these two characters, the smiley man explores the relationship between appearance and heart and people's prejudices against appearance.
The thematic depth and philosophical thinking of the Smiley Man are reflected in the exploration of human nature and the critique of society's prejudices against people of different identities. Through Gwendolin's encounter and his love story with Diamnoud, the film makes the audience think about the true importance of the relationship between the outside and the inside. It reflects society's prejudice and discrimination against people with disabilities and people whose appearance does not match their identity, and calls on the audience to pay attention to the beauty of human nature and the truth of their hearts.
Finally, the smiley man has a profound impact and inspiration on the audience. It provokes the audience to think about human nature and social prejudices, making people reflect on the true meaning of appearance and identity. Through the development of the plot and the shaping of characters, it evokes the audience's empathy for sympathy, love and acceptance, prompting people to think about and pay attention to marginalized groups in society. With its unique visual effects and profound thematic content, the Smiley Man became a classic of the silent film era, and had a profound impact on the filmmaking and artistic expression of later generations.
Conclusion: The Smiley Man is a classic movie with far-reaching influence. Through the character of Gwendolin, the film shows the opposition between appearance and heart, as well as society's prejudice and discrimination against people of different identities. It calls the viewer to pay attention to the beauty of human nature and the truth of the heart, beyond the appearance of appearances. The film uses carefully designed visual presentation and photography techniques to create a strong atmosphere and a sense of horror. The use of sound effects and soundtrack enhances the atmosphere of the film.
The film evokes the resonance of the audience through emotional expression and character shaping, and triggers thinking about human nature and social prejudice. It has a profound impact and enlightenment on the audience, making people reflect on the true meaning of appearance and identity, and focus on marginalized groups in society. With its unique visual effects and profound thematic content, "The Smiley Man" became a classic of the silent film era, and had a profound impact on later generations of filmmaking and artistic expression.
