Racial discrimination is a deep-rooted conflict between American politics and American society, and there is no possibility of reconciliation, let alone a complete solution, even today. One is like “The Butler in the White House”, which takes the route of reconciliation, trying to make blacks integrate themselves into mainstream values through “successful” role models; the other is like “The Hurricane”, which is a gentle protest, expressing their The other is a gentle protest, like Hurricane, which expresses its discontent with reservations, but also recognizes the mainstream American values.
The movie “Hurricane” is based on a true story, in which the black boxer called “Hurricane”, Ruben Carter, had outstanding achievements in his youth, not only in the boxing ring, but also trying to study culture, join the army and fight in the war, etc., in order to actively integrate into the American mainstream values. Reality is never so forgiving to such a brilliant black man, waiting for him to go to jail again and again, any suspected illegal transgressions can lead to jail, even if there is no fault, but also because someone maliciously create wrongful imprisonment in jail. After being imprisoned, he was caught in a trap from which he could not break free, his appeals were rejected again and again, and the years in prison continued to wear down his spirit and will. The only thing that could support his soul was the autobiography that he had poured his heart and soul into, and it was precisely this autobiography that brought an unexpected turn of events to Ruben’s fate. A chance shopping for old books, another black guy from the black district of Brooklyn, New York, Les selected this book, by chance in the pile of old books selected the autobiography of the black boxer no one asked for, Les read and was deeply moved. Les’s own experience is also very special, originally born in the black neighborhood of the young man can only be like most black people, can not receive much education, at a young age to society, mostly on the path of crime. Les was lucky, he showed the desire for knowledge and the ability to accept three white “environmentalists” from Canada or “social volunteers” and other characters to accept, the three decided to take Les, leaving his family and upbringing, to Canada to receive They decided to take Les away from his family and upbringing to Canada for an education. It was in Canada that Les came across Ruben’s autobiography and introduced it to the three white men who had sponsored him. Moved, Les writes to Ruben in prison, and the letters and direct visits deepen the emotional ties between Les and Ruben and the three volunteers. This shot in the film is very beautiful and very moving, the film is shot in many places are very moving, has a power to move the heart.
When they really go to investigate the case, the four people outside the prison know what they really have to face. The character who made Reuben’s case is visualized in the film as a certain evil white detective with strong racial discrimination, but in reality it is a large and complex system that creates a system, a concept and a strong jealousy. If the young Reuben was not so good, perhaps his life would be much more uneventful and peaceful, but the impressive achievements of the young Reuben decided that he could only be beaten, only to beat such a good black man to meet the needs of the entire racial system. Reuben case investigation is not going well, not only key witnesses do not want to testify in the hall, three white Canadians also encountered death threats. The two lawyers who volunteered to defend Reuben pro bono once told the three of them the harsh truth that Reuben’s case had attracted the attention and solidarity of many celebrities, but none of them were able to persevere, and most of them were just putting on a show. The three ordinary Canadians and the black American boy persevered until the end, until Ruben was finally released, when, at the age of fifty, he had spent as many as thirty years of his life in prison, the longest of which was nineteen years.
The real culprit was always at large, and none of the many people who made the case were punished as they should have been, and after his release, Reuben moved to Canada to escape the possibility of being assassinated. This touching film is a gentle protest, not a real struggle to find the truth. Including Reuben himself, who agrees that resistance is useless: “Hate put me in prison, Love gonna bust me out…” Ruben’s words have clearly shown Ruben’s mentality. The most interesting thing is that the judge who released Rubin said in an interview after the movie was released, “In 2000, after the movie The Hurricane came out starring Denzel Washington about Rubin Carter, Sarokin told the Newark Star-Ledger in an article that appeared on Feb. 10, 2000, that “[a]fter reviewing the record [in 1985], I had my doubts that Carter and [ co-defendant John] Artisan were not in the same boat. If he is guilty, he’s the greatest actor in the world and should If he is guilty, he’s the greatest actor in the world and should win an Academy Award, not Denzel Washington,” Sarokin told the paper. “It’s funny to say, but objectively speaking, Denzel Washington’s acting is really top-notch, and Denzel himself, again, is one of the best in black America.
The film is brilliantly made, a very good film, moderate and tight. The song Bob Dylan wrote for Reuben, which is also known as “Hurricane”, appears three times in the film, and each time it works well to set the mood and drive the plot. The direction and screenplay are excellent, but of course, the film was never made to address racism.