《饥饿游戏3:嘲笑鸟(上)》

2015-05-30 10:48持梦菲
新东方英语·中学版 2015年5期
关键词:竞技场饥饿民众

持梦菲

2014年11月,《饥饿游戏3:嘲笑鸟(上)》如期上映。作为一年一度的“饥饿盛宴”,这部系列电影无疑已成为女主角Katniss Everdeen与粉丝之间不变的约定。这个来自帕纳姆国第12区的女孩在《饥饿游戏2:星火燎原》结束时引爆了都城凯匹特(Capitol)中饥饿游戏的竞技场,也点燃了饱受奴役的帕纳姆国民众心中的希望之火,但同时却也招来了Snow总统残酷无情的镇压和报复——Katniss的家乡第12区被夷为平地。受伤昏迷的Katniss醒来后发现,和她生死与共的搭档Peeta不知去向,而自己却位于第13区——这个传说中不复存在的区域原来一直都在,只是早已转入地下,并且在酝酿着一场推翻凯匹特统治的革命。第13区的总统Coin认为参加过两届饥饿游戏的Katniss因其非凡的表现在民众心中威望大增,已成为反叛的象征,是团结国内各路反抗力量、取得革命胜利的关键,于是在第二次饥饿游戏中救下了她。Katniss一方面不希望看到战争带来的伤亡,也不愿成为革命的棋子,另一方面又心系Peeta的安危,也不堪忍受Snow总统的残暴统治。在这样的两难境地下,她会做出怎样的抉择?

成为官方符号

一直以来,Katniss都是那样坚强勇敢,可如今的她看上去却那么脆弱、惊慌。第12区化为灰烬的消息令她绝望,Peeta眼下又生死未卜,一切都因她而起,但她却无法挽回,这令她愧疚万分。未等她振作,第13区总统Coin便想见见她。一同来见她的还有饥饿游戏的设计师Plutarch和精通科技的Beetee。原来,是他们暗中策划了反叛,帮助Katniss毁掉了竞技场,并将Katniss救了回来。三人极力劝说Katniss加入“嘲笑鸟”计划,想利用Katniss在民众心中的号召力策动反叛。

Coin: Are you aware of what's happened? When you fired your arrow at the force field (力场,即竞技场), you electrified the nation. There have been riots and uprisings and strikes in 7 districts. We believe that if we keep this energy going we can unify the districts against the Capitol. But if we don't, if we let it dissipate (消失), we could be waiting another 75 years for this opportunity. Everyone in 13 is ready for this.

Katniss: What about Peeta? Is he alive?

Plutarch: I don't know. And I wish that I did. But there's no way for me to contact my operatives (特工人员) inside the Capitol.

Beetee: The Capitol has always suppressed communication between the districts. But I know their system very well. I managed to break through. All we need now is the perfect message.

Plutarch: Katniss, here's what we need to do. We need to show them the Mockingjay (指Katniss) is alive and well and willing to stand up and join this fight. 'Cause we need every district to stand up to this Capitol, the way you did. So we're gonna shoot a series of propaganda clips (宣传片) on the Mockingjay, spread the word. Then we're gonna stoke (煽起) the fire on this rebellion, the fire that the Mockingjay started.

Katniss: [冲着Plutarch喊] You left him there. You left Peeta in that arena (竞技场) to die.

Plutarch: Katniss, there are so many ...

Katniss: Peeta was the one who was supposed to live.

Coin: Miss Everdeen, this revolution is about everyone. It's about all of us. And we need a voice.

Katniss: Then you should've saved Peeta.

Katniss明白了他们救她是为了利用她,而且他们自始至终都置Peeta于不顾,于是愤然拒绝了他们的请求。为扭转Katniss的强硬态度,Plutarch把她送到被轰炸后的第12区。走下飞机的Katniss不敢相信自己的眼睛,眼前的第12区遍地是断壁残垣,四处横陈着遇难者的尸骸,充满了死亡气息。看到这一切,Katniss再次感受到Snow的残暴和恐怖。然而,真正令她改变主意的却是Peeta的处境。返回第13区的Katniss在电视上看到,衣着光鲜的Peeta被Snow操控,成为凯匹特政权的爪牙,也因此成为第13区反叛者眼中的叛徒。出于对Peeta的保护,Katniss在慎重考虑后答应加入Plutarch的“嘲笑鸟”计划,但也开出了条件——营救并赦免Peeta以及被凯匹特政府抓为人质的其他贡品。

Katniss: [对Coin总统和Plutarch说] I've decided I'll be your Mockingjay. But I have some conditions. Peeta and the other Tributes, Johanna Mason and Annie Cresta, will be rescued at the earliest opportunity. If and when Peeta is liberated, he will receive a full and unconditional pardon. No punishment will be inflicted (使遭受). And the same goes for the other Tributes.

其实,Katniss的内心是向往自由的,她对凯匹特的反抗和不满源于内心对暴力政权的反感,但与此同时,她也不想成为任人摆布的棋子。只是此时此刻,她似乎别无选择,如果自己的妥协能够换回Peeta和其他贡品的安全,那就是值得的。

反叛军的目的达到了。Katniss一改往日不肯合作的态度,乖乖地配合着为他们拍宣传片,就像一个提线木偶。然而,被操纵的Katniss失去了以往那种勇者无畏的气势,少了发自内心的真情,背出的台词干巴巴的,丝毫没有号召力。众人对Katniss的表现大失所望。只有Katniss在饥饿游戏中的导师Haymitch一眼看出问题所在——Katniss的魅力从来都不是表演出来的,而是本性使然。在适当的时刻,她就会迸发出富有感染力的真情实感,正如她最初愿意代替妹妹参加饥饿游戏的勇气,对同是贡品的Rue不设防备的怜惜,对Peeta不离不弃的守护。于是,Haymitch大胆提议将Katniss送往前线拍摄,以激发她内心的反叛种子。

战火已经燃起

Katniss与自己青梅竹马的恋人Gale以及上校Boggs等人一起前往惨遭轰炸的第8区,随行的还有负责拍摄革命宣传片的摄制团队。一行人来到第8区的临时医院,这里缺乏医疗资源,甚至没有足够的人手来处理遇难者的遗体,受伤的人们痛苦而无助,但依然坚强不屈。看到Katniss进来探望时,他们纷纷做出了象征反叛的手势。为了从心理上击溃Katniss并使其在民众心中失去威信,Snow下令炸掉临时医院,杀死所有跟Katniss接触过的人。Katniss试图阻止这次轰炸行动,但还是失败了。尽管轰炸机被她和Gale射出去的火箭弹击落,可医院还是变成了火海,那里的伤员无一生还。眼前的惨状令Katniss无比痛心和愤怒,她发出了源自内心的控诉和嘶吼。

Katniss: I want the rebels to know that I'm alive. That I'm in District 8, where the Capitol just bombed a hospital filled with unarmed men, women and children. And there will be no survivors. If you think for one second that the Capitol will ever treat us fairly, you are lying to yourselves. Because we know who they are and what they do. This is what they do! And we must fight back. I have a message for President Snow. You can torture us and bomb us and burn our districts to the ground. But do you see that? Fire is catching. And if we burn, you burn with us!

摄制团队抓住时机,记录下了这个激动人心的时刻。Beetee突破了Snow的信号防护网,将这一视频传往各区,得到了巨大的反响。各区民众群情激愤,纷纷加入反抗队伍。作为反击,Snow播放了Peeta劝说Katniss不要挑起战争的视频。视频中的Peeta看起来很憔悴,Katniss更加确信他是被胁迫才会说出这些言不由衷的话。想到Peeta可能遭遇的酷刑,Katniss十分难过。

双方的舆论攻击你来我往,一方利用Katniss,一方利用Peeta,这对曾经在民众心中爱得轰轰烈烈的恋人似乎成了相互对立的仇人。为了让Peeta看到Katniss和第12区的状况,反叛军摄制组拍摄了第12区被毁之后的惨状,并将Katniss清唱的一首关于以生命换取自由的歌曲用作了这段视频的背景音乐。随着视频的播放,这首歌被人们视为号召起义的歌曲,迅速在各区传唱开来。伴随这首歌的回响,第5区的民众炸掉了都城的水电站,凯匹特瞬间一片黑暗。Snow把Peeta当做击溃Katniss的武器,立即让他出来劝说Katniss停止与叛军合作,不料供电系统的瘫痪减弱了凯匹特的信号网强度,Beetee趁机侵入凯匹特的核心网络。Peeta看到了宣传片中的Katniss和已经被摧毁的家乡,情绪顿时激动起来,担心Katniss安危的他在视频中向反叛军透漏了Snow的空袭计划。

Peeta: Think about it. How will this end? What will be left? No one can survive this. No one is safe now. Not here in the Capitol. Not in any of the districts. They're coming, Katniss. They're gonna kill everyone. And in District 13 you'll be dead by morning.

Haymitch: [从视频中捕捉到了Peeta发出的警告] He's warning us. That was a warning.

Katniss: We have to get him out before they kill him.

Coin: He was in the mansion (指总统宅邸). He could have overheard something.

Plutarch: Possibly.

Coin: It's time for an air raid drill (防空演习).

第13区立即进入防空警戒状态,民众必须紧急转移到地下的防空洞。慌乱中,Katniss发现妹妹Prim不见了,便不顾一切地回去救她,就在防爆闸门即将关闭的那一刻,两人终于跑了回来。原来,Prim是为了找她的猫而没有跟上转移的队伍,对于妹妹的善良,Katniss不忍责备。在一片漆黑的防空洞里,Katniss用手电筒的光束逗猫玩,为大家取乐。此情此景让她突然意识到,Peeta就是被Snow控制的光束,而自己就是那只被光束愚弄的猫。

游戏仍未终结

空袭次日,Katniss就随摄制组来到第13区,准备拍摄向都城宣告第13区安然无恙的宣传片。可刚一到地面,Katniss就崩溃了。残垣断壁上洒满了白色的玫瑰,白玫瑰是Snow最爱的事物之一,也是Snow警告Katniss要她继续和Peeta假扮恋人时送给她的东西。同上次一样,Katniss认为这些玫瑰花是Snow对她的警告,她担心再做“嘲笑鸟”会使Peeta遭遇不测。为了Peeta的安全,她拒绝按照摄制组的要求发表讲话。

就在Katniss一筹莫展时,Haymitch带来了一个好消息:Beetee攻破了凯匹特的信号防御系统。他们利用另一个在民众中声望颇高的贡品Finnick的宣传视频阻断了凯匹特城的信号传输,并利用这短暂的时间派出救援队去营救Peeta以及其他人质。Finnick在镜头前讲述着Snow纸醉金迷的腐败生活和凶残的杀人手段,救援队在同一时间执行任务。然而,凯匹特城的电力和通讯网突然恢复,救援队即将暴露无遗。眼看营救计划就要失败,Katniss挺身而出,要求与Snow对话以转移他的注意力。但没有人知道,她说的这些话都是肺腑之言。

Katniss: I never asked for this. I never asked to be in the Games. I never asked to be the Mockingjay, just wanted to save my sister, and keep Peeta alive. Please, just let him go. And I will stop being the Mockingjay. I will disappear. You will never have to see me ever again.

Snow: Miss Everdeen, you couldn't run from this any more than you could have run from the Games.

Katniss: Please. You've won. You've already beaten me. Release Peeta. And take me instead.

Snow: We're long past the opportunity for noble sacrifice.

Katniss: Then tell me what to do. I've always kept my promises, haven't I?

Snow: You said you didn't want a war. And that's just what's happened. I told you what a fragile thing peace was. And still, like a child, you took pleasure in breaking it. I know what you are. I know you can't see past your narrowest concerns. But please, Miss Everdeen, I doubt you know what honesty is anymore.

Katniss: You've asked me to convince you that I was in love with Peeta. Haven't I at least done that?

Snow: Miss Everdeen, it's the things we love most that destroy us. I want you to remember that I said that. Don't you think I know your friends are in the Tribute Center (贡品中心,即人质所在的地方)?

正如Katniss所预感的那样,原来一切都在Snow的掌控之中,他们在Snow眼中只不过是一群小打小闹的贱民。Peeta无法回来,而自愿参与救援的Gale也将就此殒命,Katniss承受不了同时失去他们两人的痛苦,一时间悲痛欲绝。然而出乎所有人的意料,营救计划居然成功了。Snow就这样放过了他们,虽然不知道他葫芦里卖的是什么药,但救援队和人质总算都平安归来了。Katniss和Peeta饱受煎熬后终于重逢,大家都识趣地离开,让两人独处,不料Peeta竟突然掐住Katniss的脖子要置她于死地。若不是有人发现并及时阻止,Katniss可能已经死了。被救的Katniss躺在病床上听了大家的解释才明白,原来Snow给Peeta进行了记忆移植,将他改造成了一个极度恨她的人。

Plutarch: It's called Hijacking. We don't know how long the Capitol's been doing this to Peeta.

Beetee: It's fear conditioning (条件化恐惧), enhanced with Tracker Jacker venom (毒液). You were stung in your first Games. Remember? The venom puts the subject in a dissociative (分离的) state. And they torture him with shocks and beatings, and strip down (剥夺) his identity. And then all of that suffering and fear is redirected, associated with other memories or a person.

Prim: They can change his memories of Katniss?

Beetee: To make her seem life-threatening.

Haymitch: They turned him into a weapon, Katniss. To kill you.

Snow重塑了Peeta对Katniss的记忆,只为让Peeta杀掉Katniss。Katniss早已不知不觉爱上了Peeta,被心爱之人杀死无疑是最令人心碎的惩罚。这就是Finnick讲述的Snow毒蛇般的统治——破坏人与人之间的信任,毁掉人性中温暖真诚的部分,取而代之的是恐惧和仇恨。饥饿游戏本质上是一场权力的游戏,Snow利用手中毫无约束的权力奴役、剥夺数以万计的民众的生存权,用强权逼迫他们走上竞技场,为他表演一场场向权力献祭的游戏。而Katniss和Peeta的出现将观众的注意力从如何独自求生转向如何合作共赢,如同第一块倒下的多米诺骨牌,开始瓦解Snow的铁血政府。Peeta与Katniss互为软肋,因此Snow将Peeta变成折磨Katniss的武器,想要同时毁掉二人。尽管Katniss并没有被Peeta杀死,但Peeta的病情却不容耽误。他就像一只猛虎,时刻准备向Katniss亮出獠牙。看着往日与自己同生共死的恋人沦落到如此悲惨的境地,Katniss心中充满了愤怒与绝望。

《饥饿游戏3:嘲笑鸟(上)》就这样结束了,第13区的民众能否成功推翻凯匹特政府,建立一个自由平等的国度,Katniss和Peeta将会有怎样的结局,我们也需要等到下一部电影公映后才能知晓。不过,从前面几部的种种蛛丝马迹之中,我们仍然可以进行一些推测。从影片中可以看到,第13区纪律严明,人人都要穿着统一的服装,集体吃饭,集体观影,人们甚至没有养宠物的自由。Coin总统不苟言笑,仿佛一台没有感情的机器,对规定和法规的执行十分严格,就连演讲时的声音都淡而无味;她拯救Katniss也不过是为了利用Katniss的号召力来实现自己的政治企图,所以她当时毫不犹豫地放弃了看似无用的Peeta,只救了Katniss一人。而第13区的许多民众也被仇恨的怒火燃烧了理智,失去了客观的判断力,这一点从他们看到Peeta为凯匹特说话就不假思索地称他为叛徒并扬言要杀死他这一事件中就可以看出端倪。尽管在影片最后,Coin总统在Plutarch的帮助下很快学会如何向民众传达希望和力量,并为第13区民众做出了无比美好的承诺,也正式向凯匹特政府宣战,但她能否抵挡权力的腐蚀重建一个自由、平等、民主的新国家,却很难说得清。至少按照第13区目前的统治情况来看,未来的新国家很有可能也与第13区一样变得单调无味、死气沉沉。

Snow统治下的人们受尽奴役和屈辱,而Coin统治下的人们在严苛的律法下丧失了自我,或许能拯救他们的只有像Katniss这样至真至诚的性情中人。她同情弱者,不畏强权,始终坚持自我,坚守着自己心中对亲人的爱护。正是这样强烈的个性和炽烈的情感激起了人们心中的共鸣,让人们看到了即使受尽屈辱也可以活得如此有勇气和尊严的可能性,也让人们看到了世间并非只有残酷、有人心中依然充满爱与同情的事实,更让人们看到了可以重建一个美好未来的希望。毫无疑问,Katniss从来都不是反叛的象征,而是爱与自由的象征,因为能拯救世界的从来都不是什么国家大义、民族尊严,而是人们心中对爱的坚守以及对自由的渴望。

猜你喜欢
竞技场饥饿民众
兑现“将青瓦台还给民众”的承诺
乌克兰当地民众撤离
向着“零饥饿”的目标
竞技场
竞技场
竞技场
竞技场
回忆饥饿
十八届三中全会民众怎么看?
胡主席一弯腰 感动亿万民众