书友们，听我一言！我刚看完一本让我彻夜难眠的小说，每个情节都紧张刺激，角色一个个鲜活得像是你身边的朋友。它带来的阅读体验绝对不止是打发时间那么简单，而是一场深度的心灵之旅。不看这本书，真的会错过很多精彩！赶快加入我，一起沉浸在这个非凡的世界中吧！
《一瞥一惊鸿：一生必看的58部电影（上）》 作者：《新东方英语》编辑部
此去经年，爱恋无声
爱的相遇、爱的失落、爱的快乐和挣扎，
每时每刻都在我们身边发生。
走的固然走了，来的自然会来，
该发生的总会发生，
就像青春的绽放、夏天的热烈、秋日的成熟、时光的沉淀
……
500 Days of Summer恋夏500日：夏天来了，秋天还远吗？
◎ 文 / 张曦
很多时候，爱情的来去就像四季的流转，该去的留不住，要来的总会来。永远不要妄想对流逝的爱情进行理性的分析，否则只会徒增困惑与怅然。所以，最好一切顺其自然。如果夏天的离开曾让你伤感，那么请相信，秋日的到来不会太远……
《恋夏500日》(500 Days of Summer)是导演Marc Webb的电影处女作。这部电影打破了有情人终成眷属的浪漫喜剧惯例，通过诸多细节道出了男女之间真实而微妙的关系。在影片中，男主角Tom回忆了他与一个美丽女孩Summer从相遇、相识、相知到相离的500天往事。我们跟随着Tom的记忆，和他一起经历了从爱的萌发到爱的失去的历程，见证了他从欢喜到苦闷、从低落到平和、从思考爱的意义到体会爱的真谛的心灵旅程。值得一提的是，影片采用了独特而新颖的拍摄手法，Summer与Tom相遇的500天既不是通过完全的倒叙，也不是通过完全的顺序手法来展开，而是把500天分成不同的阶段，交叉叙事，清晰地刻画了Tom在不同阶段的内心世界。
命中注定我爱你
不经意的爱情总是在某一刻不期而至。也许在旅途中，也许在人海里，某一个眼神，拨动了你的心弦，爱情就降临了。对于Tom来说，在他看到Summer的第一眼时，他就知道，他曾经梦想过的爱情降临了。然而娓娓道来的旁白，却打破了我们预先的期望：“This is a story of boy meets girl. The boy, Tom, grew up believing that he'd never truly be happy until the day he met the one. This belief stemmed from early exposure to sad British pop music and a total misreading of the movie The Graduate. The girl, Summer, Michigan, did not share this belief. Since the disintegration of her parents' marriage she'd only love two things. The first was her long dark hair. The second was how easily she could cut it off and not feel a thing. Tom meets Summer on January 8th. He knows almost immediately she is who he has been searching for. This is a story of boy meets girl, but you should know upfront: this is not a love story.”
这是一个男孩女孩相遇的故事，却不是一个传统意义上的爱情故事。来自新泽西的Tom是个沉溺于英伦情歌与《毕业生》情境的年轻人。Summer是一个来自密歇根的美丽女孩。汤姆从小相信命中注定的爱情，Summer却在父母解体的婚姻中对此充满了疑虑。影片以倒叙开始，首先映入眼帘的是Tom与Summer相遇第290天的情形。镜头中的Tom面容憔悴，表情颓废，摔着盘子，喝着伏特加，因为Summer决绝地跟他提出了分手。
Summer: I think we should stop seeing each other. I mean this thing … What are we doing? I mean, is this normal?
Tom: Norm … I don't know. I don't care. I'm happy. Aren't you happy?
Summer: All we do is argue.
Tom: That is bullshit.
Summer: This can't come as a total surprise to you. We've been like Sid and Nancy
Tom: Summer, Sid stabbed Nancy … seven times with a kitchen knife. I mean we have some disagreements, but I hardly think I'm Sid Vicious.
Summer: No, I'm Sid.
Tom: Oh, so I'm Nancy ...
没有任何理由，Summer就这样离开了Tom，并辞去了工作。Tom难以接受他所信奉的爱情会是这样的结局。他仍然记得与Summer第一天相遇的情景。当一心想当建筑师却成为贺卡祝词写手的Tom，遇到老板活泼美丽、清新脱俗的新助理Summer时，心中顿时闪出火花。
对于Tom来说，在茫茫人海中，这样的相遇只能用一个词来形容：命中注定。Tom很快发现自己与Summer有许多共同点：他们都喜欢The Smiths乐队，都欣赏超现实主义艺术家Rene Magritte的作品……当人生中出现这么多巧合，是不是就意味着遇到了梦想中的真爱？正当Tom对美好爱情充满憧憬之时，在他们相遇的第八天，在公司的一次聚会中，我们却从他们的对话中看到了两种截然不同的爱情观。
Summer: I don't feel comfortable being anyone's girlfriend. I like being on my own. Relationships are messy, and people's feelings get hurt. Who needs it? We are young. We live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Might as well have fun while we can and … save the serious stuff for later.
Tom: Ok. But wait, wait, what happens if you fall in love?
Summer: Well, you don't believe that, do you?
Tom: It's love. It's not Santa Claus.
Summer: What does that word even mean? I've been in relationships and I don't think I've ever seen it and most marriages end in divorces these days like my parents. There is no such thing as love. It's a fantasy.
Tom: Well, I think you are wrong.
Summer: Ok, well, what is it that I'm missing then?
Tom: I think you know it when you feel it.
Summer: I guess we can just agree to disagree.
虽然Summer言语中透出了对爱情的“不屑”，但Tom还是情不自禁地被Summer吸引。经过不断地试探和不懈地追求，第31天，从Summer的一个吻开始，Tom坠入爱河，步入了自己笃信的爱情天地，展望着真爱相守的美满结局。然而Summer始终心存疑虑。在相遇的第34天，当两人快乐地逛宜家家居时，Summer有些忐忑地向Tom道出了她的真心话。
Summer: I just want to tell you that, um, I'm not really looking for anything … serious. Is that OK?
Tom: Yeah.
Summer: Because some people kind of freak out when they hear that.
Tom: No, not me.
Summer: You sure?
Tom: Yeah, like … casual, right? Take it slow.
Summer: Right, no pressure.
Tom虽然心里很失落，表面上还故作轻松。他始终幻想着Summer有一天会打开心扉。
第95天，Tom带Summer去他最爱的广场，和她一起分享他想做建筑设计师的梦想。他们坐在草坪边的长椅上，凝望着远处矗立的几幢古老的大楼，Tom在Summer的手臂上画下了他钟爱的大楼的平面图。这是爱情的美妙时分，灵魂的共通，Tom想。第109天，当Summer邀请Tom去她家时，Tom觉得这是感情的升华。他开始认为，曾经隔在他和Summer之间的那堵墙正在渐渐消失。Summer跟Tom娓娓讲述着她不曾与别人说过的梦境，Tom感觉自己走入了她封闭的内心世界。我们就是彼此共同寻求的灵魂伴侣，Tom想。然而，爱情最终曲终人散。Tom不明白，这一切是梦境还是现实？Summer决绝的背影身后，留下的是Tom的痛苦落寞和百思不得其解。让我们通过许多恋爱和失恋的镜头交错，和Tom一起去寻找答案。
爱恨交加，时空交错
在Tom的回忆中，爱与不爱的镜头交替出现，彼此对照，形成了强烈的视觉效果。在相遇的第282天，爱情陷入低谷的Summer和Tom出现在宜家商场里，简短的一句“All the sinks are broken”后，两人默然无语，悻然离去。镜头切换到第34天，同样的宜家商场，明亮的色彩里，陷入爱情中的Tom和Summer欢欢喜喜地闲逛着，从沙发到厨房再到卧房，这对恋人一路奔跑追逐，直到手挽着手走出宜家，眼前是一片翠绿，远处是无限美好的前景。
与Summer第一次亲密接触后，Tom走在路上，觉得似乎人人脸上都浮现出笑容，喷泉如同烟花般绽放。他和路过他身边的每一个人握手、拥抱，分享心中的美妙。踏入公司的电梯，他脸上的笑容甜蜜灿烂得可将冰霜融化。忽然，镜头切换至第303天，同一个电梯打开后，展露出的是Tom低垂的眼睑，沉重的神情，那是失去Summer的Tom。
在恋爱中的人眼里，恋人的一切都是美妙的。第154天，陷入情网中的Tom说出了所有恋人心中的美。
Tom: I'm in love with Summer. I love her smile, her hair, her knees. I love how she licks her lips before she talks. I love her heart-shaped birthmark on her neck. I like it when she is sleeping. I love the way she makes me feel, like everything is possible, and life is worth it.
而在失恋的人眼里，曾经的恋人的一切都让人伤感和憎恨。相遇的第322天，失去Summer的Tom心中充满了恨。
Tom: I hate Summer. I hate her crooked teeth. I hate the way she smacks her lips. I hate her knooby knees. I hate that cockroach-shaped splotch on her neck. I hate the way she smacks her teeth before she talks. I hate what she sounds when she laughs.
Tom心中的爱情，是电光火石的碰撞，是相守一生的美好，所以Summer的离去让他始终无法释怀。当他的朋友劝他“天涯何处无芳草”时，Tom却说：“This is different. This is Summer. I don't want to get over her. I want to get her back.”
爱情，如四季般流转
第402天, Tom在火车上遇见了同去参加同事婚礼的Summer。两个人在火车上喝咖啡叙旧，快乐的笑容，悠扬的歌声，夕阳的余晖……一切似乎又回到从前，这又点燃了Tom心中微弱的希望火光。Summer邀请Tom参加自己的派对。在归途的列车上，Summer斜靠在Tom肩上睡去，Tom的脸上隐隐有了久违的笑容。第405天，Tom兴冲冲地去参加派对，心中充满着与Summer重回旧日的美好期望。此时，大屏幕中以分镜头形式呈现了一段梦想与现实的“二重唱”——Tom的预期和聚会的现实并现，突出了期望与现实间的巨大落差。在Tom的预期里，他和Summer重温旧日情怀，Summer始终守在身边，深情款款；而现实中，Tom形单影只，斜靠阳台，Summer只把他视作参加派对的普通一员，只顾和别的朋友欢笑言谈，手指上一枚婚戒在夕阳中闪闪发光。
对于Tom来说，接下来的日子是难挨的时光，是信念的崩溃，是对于所笃信的一切的彻底怀疑。每天傍晚，他借酒浇愁；每天早晨，他在闹铃声中茫然醒来。在工作总结会上，Tom借着抨击贺卡的甜蜜祝词说出了内心信仰的崩塌和对爱情的彻底绝望。
Tom: Think about it. Why do people buy cards? It's not because they want to say how they feel. People buy cards because they can't say how they feel or they're afraid to. We provide these service that let them off the hook
此时在Tom的眼里，爱情这个字眼不再具有任何意义。音乐里、电影里、爱情故事里的那些爱情都是谎言。也许，Summer是对的，没有理由去相信爱情。然而，戏剧化的是，在第488天，Tom又去了他最喜欢的广场，在那里他意外地遇到了Summer。从他们的对话中，我们看到了Tom和Summer的爱情观戏剧性的变化：Tom从笃信爱情转为鄙夷爱情，Summer从怀疑爱情转为相信命中注定。Tom无法释怀的许多问题终于有了答案。
Tom: You, um, you're married.
Summer: Yeah, it's crazy, huh?
Tom: You've never wanted to be anybody's girlfriend and now you are somebody's wife.
Summer: It surprised me too.
Tom: I don't think I'll ever understand that. I mean, it doesn't make sense.
Summer: It just happened.
Tom: Right, but that's what I don't understand. What just happened?
Summer: I just woke up one day and I knew.
Tom: Knew what?
Summer: What I was never sure with you.
Tom: You know what sucks? Realizing everything you believe in is complete bullshit. It sucks.
Summer: What do you mean?
Tom: Uh, you know, destiny, and soul mates, and true love, and all that childhood fairy tale nonsense. You were right. I should have listened to you.
Summer: No, Tom. Well, you know, I guess it's because I was sitting in a deli and reading Dorian Gray
Tom: Yeah, and … so?
Summer: So, what if I've gone to the movies? What if I had gone somewhere else for lunch? What if I had got there ten minutes later? It was … it was meant to be. And I just kept thinking: Tom was right. It just wasn't me you were right about.
在Summer看来，这一切就在那一瞬间发生了，确定了，明晰了。Summer当初只是不确定Tom是她心中的“the one”。Tom信奉的爱情是对的，他只是选错了爱的对象。
这是一个关于爱情的美好结论，也是影片本身想传达给我们的信息。Tom不该怀疑爱情，只是在对的时间遇见了错的人。在真诚地祝福Summer幸福后，Tom最终释怀了，不是命中注定的爱情不存在，只是命中注定的人不是Summer。
在第500天，Tom去一家公司接受建筑师职位的面试，遇上同样来参加应聘的一个美丽女孩。当她答应Tom的邀请，说出她的名字是Autumn时，整个世界都明亮了。
影片对两位女孩名字的选择别具匠心，“Summer”过后是“Autumn”，正如夏日的雷雨过后有美丽的秋日。Tom的爱情就该像四季般自然流转，不用刻意寻求。Tom最终认识到，人生不是一定要命中注定，离开和伤害都可以慢慢平复，最终变成成长的记忆。正如旁白所说：“Most days of the year are unremarkable. They begin and they end … with no lasting memories made in between. Most days have no impact … on the course of a life. Tom had finally learned there are no miracles. There're no such things as fate. Nothing is meant to be. He knew, he was sure of it now.”
爱的相遇、爱的失落、爱的快乐和挣扎，每时每刻都在我们身边发生。走的固然走了，来的自然会来，该发生的总会发生，就像青春的绽放、夏天的热烈、秋日的成熟、时光的沉淀……影片《恋夏500日》就像一首烙印着青春的清新小诗，给予我们许多感动。
One Day一天：此去经年，爱恋无声
◎ 文 / 陈文宇
他是玩世不恭的花花公子；她是性格保守的平凡女孩。她在心里默默地爱了他20年，从未改变；而他只是把她当成倾诉的对象，一个情感备胎。当有一天他珍爱的一切都离他而去，只剩下她时，他才惊觉，她才是他的此生挚爱。
由美国甜心Anne Hathaway和英国男星Jim Sturgess联袂主演的电影《一天》(One Day)改编自英国作家David Nicholls的同名畅销小说。故事聚焦于一对在即将毕业时相识的男女——Dexter和Emma。他们被彼此的特质所吸引，约定每年在相遇这天见面，分享彼此的人生经历和感悟。影片呈现了随后20年两人约定见面的那一天所发生的事，为观众讲述了一个平凡而美丽的爱情故事，让人在感同身受之余回味良久。
不同于众多爱情轻喜剧的小打小闹，本片不仅讲述了男女主人公如诗般隽永的爱情历程，更是通过两人的生命旅程展现了友情、家庭和梦想的珍贵。整部影片甜蜜中带着酸楚，散发出浓浓的怀旧气息。
盛夏雨夜，许下约定
1988年7月15日，爱丁堡大学为毕业生的狂热所充盈。大学毕业典礼后，学生们喝酒、欢唱，在街头自由奔跑，挥霍着青春最后的肆无忌惮。Dexter是玩世不恭、家境殷实的花花公子；Emma则是来自普通家庭的平凡女孩，性格保守，书生气的她在一群时尚活泼的女学生中显得格格不入。安静的Emma只是远远地关注着潇洒的Dexter，而Dexter用他特有的花花公子的方式把她揽入怀中，打算与之共度这最后的狂欢与浪漫之夜。和那时所有毕业在即的年轻人一样，他们企图用年轻的身体来发泄心中的空虚，以此掩盖对未来的迷茫。但Emma在男女激情面前的紧张和笨拙，让Dexter的浪漫之夜最终化为泡影。Dexter虽内心有小小的失望，但从Emma身上，他体会到从其他女孩身上没有体会过的感觉。他依旧很绅士地留下来陪她，他们说好只做朋友。那天，恰好是圣斯威逊节(Saint Swithin's Day)，诗中说只要这天下雨，某些物、某些情就会得以长存。他与她就这样相识了，也许是冥冥中早已注定，这场雨将他们的感情永远定格在了1988年7月15日，是开始也是最终的纪念日。
Dexter: Look, that's fine. That's fine. Maybe we could just be friends.
Emma: Okay. Friends.
Dexter: Of course, you know it's Saint Swithin's Day today, don't you?
Emma: What is it?
Dexter: Well, today, Saint Swithin's Day, the 15th of July.
Emma: How do you know that?
Dexter: Well, he was buried in Winchester Cathedral, which is where I went to school … You know, there's a poem. “If on Saint Swithin's Day, it doth rain, something, something, something remain.”
毕业后，他们一直与对方保持着联系，互相倾诉烦恼，坦诚相告私人秘密，激励对方追求梦想。每年的7月15日，他们会相约见面，聊聊近况，叙叙旧情。转眼间两年已过，Emma在伦敦，Dexter在巴黎，在大部分时间里，他们的生命旅程都少有交集。Emma靠在餐厅打工谋生，在追求梦想的道路上迷茫彷徨，虽有热烈的追求者，内心却难有波澜，因为她心里一直偷偷爱着Dexter。Dexter依旧是那个花花公子，在巴黎以教书的名义继续寻花问柳。Emma本以为像Dexter这样的花花公子，不过是把她当做空虚无聊时的玩伴而已。可她渐渐发现，在玩世不恭的伪装下，Dexter有一颗善良质朴的心。她喜欢他的慵懒、风趣和善解人意。而Dexter也发现，在Emma不自信的文静外表下，却有着别的同龄女生所没有的才气和幽默。他说不上她有什么致命的吸引力，可是他总能从她身上感受到温暖，他喜欢和她在一起的感觉。
友人之上，恋人未满
1992年7月15日，他们相识后的第四年，两人第一次结伴旅行。Emma对这次旅行充满期待，并且为这次旅行定下了很多规矩，以期不要打破他们的朋友关系。实际上是她内心恐慌，生怕一旦两人关系再进一步，Dexter会像离开其他女人那样离开她。
盛夏夜晚，巴黎郊外的沙滩边，Emma酒醉微醺时向Dexter表白自己曾经暗恋他。但面对Dexter得意而不以为然的调侃，Emma自欺欺人地表示这种喜欢只是学生时代的青涩情感，现在自己对他早已没有了感觉。
Emma: I can't believe I'm actually here with you.
Dexter: Why?
Emma: When we were at university, before we spoke even, I had a crush on you. Ridiculous, I know. But when we almost did it that night, I couldn't believe it. I wrote poems and everything. What have you got to say to that?
Dexter: Well, I already knew.
Emma: What do you mean, you knew?
Dexter: Well, I sort of guessed. All those epic letters and compilation tapes. So, go on then. What happened?
Emma: Mmm. I got to know you. You cured me of you.
巴黎的夏夜，空气中充满着浪漫的气息。他们看似情人，却始终保持着一定的距离。当微醺的两个人在泳池打闹嬉戏时，Dexter突然停了下来，爱怜地看着Emma。他第一次发现，月光下的Emma是如此妩媚动人。Emma以为Dexter对她动了真情，她承接他爱怜的眼神，听着他温柔的告白……直到他向她坦白，他对她的想念和迷恋与对其他女人一样。Emma失望至极，她以为Dexter和自己的交往方式不同于其他女人，她以为她会使Dexter改变。但她错了，他还是他，那个放浪形骸的花花公子。他根本不懂得真爱，更不会去珍惜，她在他心中只是一个朋友而已。
游戏人生，故人离去
时光荏苒，又是几年时间匆匆而过。Emma找到了一份自己喜欢的工作，在一所中学当老师。Dexter则凭借俊朗的外表和风趣的语言成为红极一时的娱乐节目主持人。
Dexter就像一个长不大的孩子，在现实世界里放肆地挥霍着时间、身体和感情，在被名气环绕的日子里，他在充斥着酒精、毒品和女人的声色场中彻底迷失了自己。他遗忘了Emma和自己的父母。Emma只是他在累了的时候才会想起的倾诉对象。母亲的去世也未能让他真正清醒过来，他依旧游戏人生。
而Emma决定彻底忘记Dexter。她开始接受其他男生的追求，并与男友Ian生活在了一起。一切看上去幸福美满，她告诉自己，这就是生活本来的样子。青春年少时的爱情也许就和那时无畏的梦想一样，根本敌不过时间和现实的考验。她知道Dexter的绝望和堕落，可是她也清楚自己无力改变和拯救他。她对他的爱那么深，可得到的仅仅是他无助时的感情索取。他不可能爱上她，她要彻底放弃他了。
1996年7月15日，在两人约定见面的日子，已然决定要放弃Dexter的Emma还是忍不住去见了他，因为她想念着他。眼前的Dexter看上去光鲜亮丽，可整个人意志消沉，那张曾经熟悉的脸庞此刻却让Emma感到前所未有的陌生。他们谈着彼此近来的生活，谈到Emma做老师时，Dexter不但没有支持她，反而还嘲讽地说没有能力的人才去教书。他这句玩笑话激怒了她，两人之间爆发了认识以来第一次严重的争吵。
Dexter: Still, you know what they say?
Emma: No, what do they say?
Dexter: You know, “Those who can ...”
Emma: No, I'm sorry. I'm not familiar ... Finish the sentence.
Dexter: All right. Well, “Those who can, do, and those who can't, teach.”
Emma: And those who can teach say, “Go fuck yourself!”
Dexter: Emma! Emma, come on. Look, whatever I've done, I'm sorry. You've obviously had a bit too much to drink.
Emma: No, you're drunk! You're drunk! Do you realize that I have literally not seen you sober for three years? Nipping off
Dexter沉浸在名气中忘乎所以，丝毫没有在乎过Emma的感受，甚至都没有听她倾诉烦恼。她彻底心碎了，提出了绝交。
Dexter: Look, I am having fun.that's all. I've been through a lot recently. I might get a bit carried away, but if you wouldn't stop getting at
Emma: Am I? I don't mean to, and I ... I know that you've been through a lot with your mum and all, I know. But there are things that I needed to talk to you about, about how I am stuck in this flat with a man that I am not in love with. And if I can't talk to you, then what is the point of you? Of us?
Dexter: What do you mean, “What's the point?”
Emma: I think we've outgrown each other. No, you have outgrown me. You think I'm uncool and dreary.
Dexter: I don't think you're dreary.
Emma: I think if it's over, then we should just face facts. Say goodbye.
Dexter: It sounds like you're dumping me.
Emma: Yeah, maybe I am. You're not who you used to be.
Dexter: Come on, Emma. Look, I apologize! Please.
他祈求她原谅，但她转身离开。她逐渐走远的身影突然停了下来，又转身向他跑来。她什么也没有说，只是用力地抱着他，泣不成声。他本以为，她依然什么都能原谅他，可是这一次他错了，她还是选择放弃他。
Emma: I love you, Dexter. So much. I just don't like you anymore. I'm sorry.
那么多年过去了，Emma终于向Dexter说出了“我爱你”。这三个字压在她心头太久了，是那么重，可当她终于对他说出来时，却对他彻底绝望了。这三个字此刻是多么无力。他看着眼前的她，就像受到猛击一样，忽然清醒了过来。他此刻才明白，她之所以一直和他保持联系，一直做他的情感备胎，是因为她深爱着他，哪怕他说了伤害她的话，她也依然爱着他。
浪子回头，物是人非
时光匆匆而过，人到中年的Dexter不再适合主持活泼的年轻人节目，电视台不得不解雇他，曾经陪他一起挥霍青春的人们也早已各奔东西。他开始自省，发誓要改变。他决定与正在交往的女友结婚，做一个合格的丈夫，告别过去的荒诞与无知。Emma慢慢消失在他的生命中。
他们争吵后的又一次碰面，是在共同参加大学同学的婚礼时。Emma穿着宝蓝色的中式旗袍穿梭在人群中，是如此的高贵、典雅和脱俗，与过去那个土里土气的她判若两人。而Dexter则隐匿在众多事业成功的同学中，低调地陪伴着未婚妻。现在的他已然是一个优雅的成熟男人，没有了过去的孩子气和玩世不恭。多年前的争吵和恩怨在他们久违的相视一笑中随风飘散。他们在酒店天台再次寻到了过去那份熟悉的友谊。她依然是他的挚友，而他依然是她深爱过的那个男人。他告诉她，他即将奉子成婚，成为丈夫和父亲。她几乎不敢相信，喜极而泣，为他的改变和现在的幸福而高兴，却极力掩饰着心中的悲伤。他们互道想念，许诺再不会从对方的生命中消失。曾经的那份惺惺相惜再次回到了两人之间……
后来，Dexter做了爸爸，为肩负家庭责任不得不到老同学的餐厅打工，曾经桀骜不驯的他终向现实低头。不过，为了美丽的妻子和可爱的小女儿，他觉得一切都是值得的。可生活总不如人愿，当他以为自己终于可以放下浮躁的过去安稳地过日子时，妻子却出轨了。他们的爱情以离婚收场。
失去了工作、母亲、妻子和家庭，最后Dexter似乎只剩下Emma。一切似乎又回到了原点，回到了1988年他们相识的那天。只不过，当年他是春风得意的风流小生，如今却只是一个孤独的失败者。
短暂的幸福，漫长的忧伤
2003年7月15日，又是一个他们见面的日子。此时Emma已经成为小有名气的儿童小说作家，生活过得越来越好；而Dexter的生活则跌入谷底，他成了一个落魄的中年人。
巴黎火车站，人头攒动，Dexter终于在人群中找到了Emma。她剪了俏丽的短发，全身散发着优雅气息，愈加性感迷人。当得知她已有新恋人，Dexter竟非常恼怒，因为他一直认为她只是他的，就像一个私人珍藏品。而他却并不知，这么多年，他一次又一次地伤害了她，而她的人生不能总是受他的影响。此次他来找她，本来是想告诉她，他现在除了她一无所有，他想和她在一起。但一切为时已晚，她已经有了喜欢的人。
Emma带Dexter去听男友的爵士乐演奏会，让他和男友见见面。但演奏厅近在眼前时，Dexter忽然觉得自己是个多余的人，最后托辞更喜欢一个人去看电影，拒绝了Emma的邀请。看着Emma离去的俏丽身影和与新男友的甜蜜拥吻，他后悔不已。这一刻他才惊觉，她早已潜入他的灵魂。和她道别后，他漫无目的地走在夏日的巴黎街头，心中感到前所未有的沮丧。
Emma表面上在认真听演奏会，但想到Dexter孤寂落寞的神情，她的内心久久无法平静。她问自己，到底对他还有没有一点留恋。她无法自欺，她清楚任何人都无法取代他，她依旧深爱着他，只要看他一眼，她就无法自拔。如果她在他最无望的时候抛弃他，那就是对他最残忍的惩罚。她不能放弃他。最后，她还是追了出去，及时赶上Dexter，对他表达了爱意。
Emma: Wait! Dexter! I thought I got rid of you. If you muck me about, Dexter ...
Dexter: Emma, I swear. I swear I won't.
Emma: Lead me on, or let me down, or go behind my back, I will murder you.
Dexter: I won't do that.
Emma: You swear?
Dexter: Yeah, I swear. I swear.
经历了15年的漫长等待，两人的爱情终于修成正果。随后的两年，Emma继续写作，Dexter经营着一家小餐厅，两人在巴黎的生活简单而甜蜜。他们正计划着结婚，她希望能有一个属于他们的孩子。可是，尝试过多次，她却一直未能怀孕。她有些小小的沮丧，他温柔地安慰她，说他们还有很多时间。
2006年，一个平凡的清晨，为排遣因未能如愿怀孕带来的沮丧，他们约好晚上一起去看电影。傍晚，Emma骑上自行车飞快地穿梭在熟悉的街巷中，朝着约定的地点奔去。在她骑过一个街口时，突然从侧面驶来一辆卡车，她重重地摔倒在地，再也没有起来。对于路人来说，她仅仅是一个无关的陌生人；可对于Dexter来说，她是他的整个世界，是他在这世界上最后的灵魂之光。她死了，他的心也跟着一起死了。Dexter再次沉迷于酒精，在夜场的迷离灯光中寻找着和她相似的身影，直至醉酒滋事被人痛打……他的前妻不得不把他送到他父亲家中。看着面容憔悴、形容枯槁的儿子，不善言谈的父亲用他独有的方式安慰着儿子。
Father: I don't want a heart-to-heart. Do you?
Dexter: No, no. I'd rather not.
Father: Except to say, that I think the best thing that you could do would be to try to live your life as if Emma was still here. Don't you?
Dexter: I don't know if I can.
Father: Of course you can. What do you think I've been doing for the past 10 years?
“就当做她还活着”，好好地活下去，就是对逝者最好的怀念。
伊人已逝，爱恋依旧
转眼间，Emma离开人世已三年。Dexter依旧在巴黎经营他的小餐厅，就像Emma还生活在自己身边一样。2009年7月15日，又是一个难熬的日子。这一天，Dexter见到了Emma曾经的男友Ian。Emma与Ian在餐厅打工时相识。Ian曾经深爱着她，可她始终无法真正爱上他。Ian知道她一直爱着另一个男人。Ian虽然曾记恨过她爱着的那个男人，但在她离去后，Ian也终于慢慢释然了。
Ian: I hate today. Fifteenth of July.
Dexter: Saint Swithin's Day. It's a tough one.
Ian: I never noticed it before, but it was always there just waiting, lurking. I used to hate you, too, quite violently, actually, Dexter ... because she lit up with you. Just in a way that she never would with me, and it used to make me so angry because I didn't think that you deserved her. Can I say this?
Dexter: Yeah, go on.
Ian: She made you decent. And then in return, you made her so happy. So happy. And I will always be grateful to you for that.
2011年7月15日，Emma和Dexter相识的第23年，在他们的第23个纪念日，Dexter来到他和Emma曾爬过的一座小山。23年前，他们初识那天，Emma曾带他来过这里。那天，天很高，云很淡，凉风习习，她站在他身边，和他一起眺望着市区的风景。23年后，她的声音依稀还回荡在他耳边……
Emma: I don't want you thinking I'm bothered or anything about last night. I don't want your phone number, or letters, or postcards. I don't want to get married to you. Definitely don't want to have your babies. Whatever happens tomorrow, we've had today. And if we should bump into6) each other sometime in the future, well, that's fine, too. We'll be friends.
23年，她一直在守候，他一直玩世不恭；23年，她用坚贞的爱换来他最终的悔悟；23年，她是他的灵魂伴侣，他是她此生的挚爱；23年，他们相约每年盛夏的那天相见，从友人到知己，从知己到恋人。23年，她等得太久，而他太后知后觉。当她真的离去，他才明白，她是此生深入骨髓的挚爱，从此再难寻觅。
Blue Valentine蓝色情人节：这就是爱情？
◎ 文 / 陈文宇
恋时的激情、相知后的默契、习惯后的厌倦，开心并伤心着，甜蜜并痛苦着，期待并失望着，深爱却背叛着——难道这就是爱情？
影片《蓝色情人节》(Blue Valentine)聚焦于一对美国年轻夫妇，将他们曾经热恋的美好和婚姻生活中的煎熬表达得淋漓尽致。这不仅仅是一部讲述爱情故事的电影，更像是一部描绘人生的影片。导演试图通过影片提出自己的疑问：爱情究竟是怎样变质的？为何曾经的美好会变成不堪的回忆？为何曾经的甜言蜜语会变成恶语相向？当相爱的人终于走入婚姻的殿堂，当他们的爱情经历平淡生活的消磨和时间的考验，一切是否还会如当初那般美好？
平淡无奇的婚姻生活
影片一开始，一个小女孩在花园里焦急地呼唤她的爱犬Megan。小女孩找不到爱犬，跑去屋里将正在熟睡的父亲摇醒。这是一个普通的早晨，迷雾笼罩在房前的花园里，整个城市正在慢慢苏醒，天光漫过窗帘照进Dean和Cindy的家。Dean和Cindy结婚六年，住在一个不算高档的社区，拥有一幢不大不小的房子，养育一个可爱的女儿Frankie。Cindy是一家私人诊所的护士，Dean没有正式的工作，靠朋友介绍打一些零工。没活儿的时候，Dean就在家陪着女儿，是个典型的恋家男人。
女孩摇醒了父亲，父女俩又闹醒了还在熟睡的母亲。对于这普通的三口之家来说，平淡无奇的一天又开始了。Cindy快速准备好早餐，Dean则不顾一旁焦急忙碌的妻子，与女儿开心地玩着游戏。一个是为家庭生活和朝九晚五的工作忙得焦头烂额的年轻妈妈，一个是童心未泯的居家爸爸，看似正常的婚姻生活就像一潭深不可测的湖水，表面平静，实则暗流涌动。
Cindy下班后一直寻找爱犬，却在路边发现了已被车撞死的Megan。Megan的意外离去让悲伤的情绪开始在家里蔓延。为了不让女儿察觉到家里的异样，他们把女儿送到了外公家暂住。
埋葬了Megan，夫妻俩再也难掩自责和悲伤的心情。此时恰逢情人节，Dean不想在压抑的气氛中度过这个节日，于是提议夫妻二人去情人旅馆共度一晚，一来缓解Megan之死带来的悲伤，二来重温两人热恋时的激情。但是，忙于家务的Cindy对这一提议并无多大兴趣。但在Dean的坚持和恳求下，她勉强答应了。
在驱车前往旅馆的路上，Cindy去路边的超市购物，在那里偶遇大学时的恋人Bobby。当年，正是Dean的横刀夺爱导致Cindy与Bobby分手，Bobby曾为此对Dean怀恨在心。如今，六七年过去了，Cindy已为人母，每天过着单调的婚姻生活，突然在这个时候偶遇依然很有魅力的昔日恋人，她多少显得有些尴尬和心神不宁。
Bobby: Oh, my God. Is that Cindy Heller?
Cindy: Bobby Ontario?
Bobby: How are you?
Cindy: I'm good. How are you?
Bobby: I'm ... you know, I'm hanging in there. Wow, it's been a while. How about you?
Cindy: Yeah, here … here. Been here, stayed here, never left here.
Bobby: Here's good. Here's good. Married?
Cindy: Married. Married.
Bobby: That's crazy. Lucky guy. Have you been faithful to him?
Cindy: That's a strange question to ask somebody you haven't seen forever.
Bobby: Yeah, well, you know ... seriously.
Cindy: Yes ... I have. I mean, I have ... I have been ... Why are you looking at me like that?
Bobby: I'm not looking at you like anything.
Cindy: Oh. OK.
在随后的旅途中，Dean发现Cindy的情绪有些异常。在Dean的追问下，Cindy讲述了她偶遇Bobby的经过。Dean为此醋意大发，一路上都在逼问和责怪Cindy，两人之间的对话充满了火药味。也许，对于这对正面临“七年之痒”的夫妇来说，婚姻的真正问题并不在于Cindy昔日恋人的出现，而是两人的内心对生活和爱情产生了怀疑和动摇。朝夕相处了七年后，他们确实需要找点新的“兴奋点”来刺激自己的爱情。
Dean满怀期待的情人旅馆并不如想象中那么浪漫。房间装修得很粗糙，有些设计显得滑稽可笑。深蓝色的灯光充斥在狭小的房间里，像无数颗沉默无声的悲伤眼泪，仿佛预示着这注定不会是一个美好的情人节之夜。进入房间后，不论Dean怎么努力调动气氛，Cindy都无法开心起来。她压抑着不耐烦的情绪，陪着已经完全没有新鲜感的老公，度过这个在她看来毫无意义的滑稽夜晚。Dean为Cindy播放了他们热恋时常听的那首歌，熟悉的旋律再次响起，两个人伴着音乐相拥而舞，却体会不到曾经的温存。歌曲在沉寂中悄然结束。他看着她，她喝醉了。当热恋的激情退去，当一个女人从少女过渡到少妇，她需要的已经不仅仅是花前月下你侬我侬的浪漫，更需要实实在在的物质保障。于是，Cindy终于道出了她一直郁郁寡欢的原因。
Cindy: Why don't you do something?
Dean: What do you mean?
Cindy: Isn't there something you want to do?
Dean: Like what?
Cindy: I don't know. You're so good at so many things. You could do anything you wanted to do. You're good at everything that you do. Isn't there something else you wanna do?
Dean: Than what? Than be your husband? To be Frankie's dad? What do you want me to do? What? In your, like, dream scenario of me, like, doing what I'm good at, what would that be?
Cindy: I don't know. You're so good at so many things. You can do so many things. You have such capacity…. You can sing. You can draw. You can dance.
Dean: Listen, I didn't wanna be somebody's husband. OK? And I didn't wanna be somebody's dad. That wasn't my goal in life. Some guy's it is ... wasn't mine. But somehow, I've ... It was what I wanted. I didn't know that. And it's all I wanna do ... I don't want to do anything else. That's what I want to do. I work so I can do that.
Cindy: I'd like to see you have a job where you didn't have to start drinking at eight o'clock in the morning to go to it.
Dean: No, I have a job that I can drink at eight o'clock in the morning. What a luxury, you know? I get up for work. I have a beer. I go to work. I paint somebody's house. They're excited about it. I come home. I get to be with you. This is the dream.
Cindy: It doesn't ever disappoint you?
Dean: Why? Why would it disappoint me?
Cindy: Because you have all this potential.
Dean: I could still do whatever I could do. So what? Why do you have to make money off your potential?
Cindy: Look, I'm not even saying you have to make money off it. Don't you miss it?
Dean: What does even potential mean? What does that mean, potential? Potential for what? To turn it into what?
Cindy: We rarely sit down and have an adult conversation, because every time we do you take what I say and you turn it around into something I didn't mean. You just ... twist it. Start blabbing, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
Dean: If you're not interested in what I have to say, then maybe I just shouldn't say anything.
Dean只想过一种朴素的生活，有一份简单的工作，随时陪伴在妻女身边。他依然秉持着一颗纯真的童心对抗着现实的世界。也许他还不明白，Cindy早已不再是那个身穿洁白纱裙的女孩，他也不再是那个为了追求心仪女孩而在路边大声唱歌的男孩。他们早已开始了柴米油盐的现实生活。现实生活不再需要他那颗未泯的童心，而是需要他找一份稳定的工作，承担起养家糊口的责任。七年前，Cindy爱上了他的单纯和浪漫。七年后，Cindy不愿看到他依然如此随心所欲，没有上进心。
由于意见无法统一，两个人愈吵愈烈。最终，Cindy把自己锁在了情人旅馆的小卧室里，两个人就这样隔着一道小小的卧室门，度过了这个悲伤的情人节。以前热恋中那些幸福的时刻现在几乎都成了令人痛苦的回忆。Cindy和Dean将何去何从？情人节夜里的这次争吵是新生活的起点，还是他们婚姻生活的终点？
一见钟情的甜蜜恋曲
时间转回至七年前。
七年前，Cindy是个金发碧眼的漂亮姑娘，在大学读医学专业；Dean是个从佛罗里达来纽约闯荡的英俊小伙，在一家搬家公司工作。一次偶然的机会，Cindy和Dean在养老院相遇了。Cindy来养老院看外婆，Dean帮一位老人搬家到养老院。Cindy的外婆就住在Dean服务的老人的卧房对面。就在Cindy打开房门的一瞬间，他们几乎同时看到了对方。午后的阳光映衬着Cindy美丽的容颜，Dean就这样爱上了她自然的金发、羞赧的笑容和浑身散发出的犹如夏花般的活力。第一次见面，Dean给了Cindy一张名片，从此便开始日日期待Cindy的电话。
那时的Cindy已经在大学里有了一位男友，名叫Bobby。他们常在课后的间隙幽会，恣意挥霍着青春的时光，并不在意未来会发生什么。Cindy一度对她与Bobby之间的感情感到迷惑。每每这样的时候，她总会向外婆倾诉。
Cindy: What did it feel like when you fell in love?
Grandma: Oh, dear, I don't think I found it.
Cindy: Even with Grandpa?
Grandma: Maybe a little in the beginning. He didn't really have any regard for me as a person. You've gotta be careful of that. You've gotta be careful that the person that you fall in love ... is worth it to you.
Cindy: I don't ever want to be like my parents. I know that they must have loved each other at one time, right? Did they just get it all out of the way before they had me? How do you trust your feelings when they can just disappear like that?
Grandma: I think the only way you can find out is ... to have the feeling. You're a good person, honey. I think you have the right to say, “Yes, I do trust. I trust myself.”
Cindy在一个典型的美国中产阶级家庭长大。从记事以来，她就经常目睹父母之间的矛盾和争吵。父亲总是不懂得尊重母亲，有什么不满就怒声呵斥母亲。母亲一直默默承受着父亲的暴躁，过着压抑的生活。在Cindy看来，这不应该是爱情本来的样子。如果两个人最初是因为相爱而结婚，那为什么当他们终于如愿以偿走入婚姻殿堂后，却又开始互相伤害呢？是什么导致了感情的变质？这些疑问一直藏在Cindy的心里，她找不到答案。就这样，带着对爱情的恐惧和期待的矛盾心情，Cindy偷偷与Bobby谈着恋爱，虽然她心里清楚，Bobby不是她真正想要的那个人。
Dean的出现改变了这一切。他就像夏日绿地里生机勃勃的小草，清新、简单、可爱。他带着天生的幽默感和未泯的童心走入Cindy的生活。他不像Bobby那般强势和狂热，而是清新和浪漫的化身，总会用些看似不经意的小点子打动Cindy的心。Dean的温柔和贴心让Cindy感受到了她从小就缺失的温情。就这样，两个人开始慢慢走进彼此的心里。他们在街边快乐地奔跑跳跃。他弹起木吉他、唱着小情歌，她跳着随性的踢踏舞。爱情就这样降临了，就好像一朵娇艳欲滴的花，骄傲地生长，不畏惧时间会让其凋零。
但Bobby不愿接受Cindy心中已有他人的事实，依旧对Cindy死缠烂打。Cindy冷漠地回绝Bobby的求情，与Dean陷入了爱河。他们在热恋中沉醉，第一次觉得对方是如此适合自己。不久后，Cindy发现自己怀孕了，但孩子却不是Dean而是Bobby的。懊悔的Cindy一时不知所措，但还是决定向Dean坦白一切，因为他是如此深爱着她。Dean最终选择与Cindy一起面对这个困境。他支持Cindy留下孩子，承诺会给她一个温暖的家。两个人在没有任何亲朋好友的陪伴下，在小镇低调地举行了婚礼。
那段时光，两个人是幸福的。但真实的生活总是不同于美好的童话故事。故事里王子与公主的幸福结局只是现实生活的开场。初入婚姻殿堂的Cindy和Dean全然没有意识到他们会在六年后陷入令人绝望的婚姻危机。
一触即发的情感危机
在情人旅馆里度过了令人沮丧的情人节之夜后，Cindy开车去诊所上班，留下Dean一人在旅馆熟睡。Dean醒来后发现Cindy已独自离开，以为家里发生了什么事，于是焦急地赶往Cindy工作的诊所。到诊所见到Cindy后，他得知家里一切安好。Dean实在不明白，自己如此深爱着妻子和非亲生的女儿，为何Cindy对自己却如此冷漠和不满。他试图和Cindy谈谈，但Cindy无心交谈，劝他赶快回家。Dean无法平复心中积了一个晚上的怨气，执意要与Cindy说个清楚。面对带着一身酒气的Dean，Cindy失去了所有的耐心，终于道出了一直压抑在心底的愤懑。
Cindy: I'm so out of love with you. I've got nothing left for you. Nothing, nothing, nothing! There is nothing here for you!
Dean: Don't say stuff you can't take back.
Cindy: You fucking asked for it. You asked me. You asked me. I talked to you.
Dean: I couldn't drive you crazy unless I love you.
Cindy: I gave you the goddamn answer and you don't like it. I'm more man than you are.
Dean: Don't say that shit about being a man.
就在Dean与Cindy激烈地争吵时，Cindy的上司前来劝阻，试图让Dean离开诊所。Dean心中的怒火彻底爆发，一拳上去把Cindy的上司打倒在地。Cindy拉着丈夫离开诊所，并在路上向他提出了离婚。伤心绝望的Dean一气之下把结婚戒指丢进了停车场的草丛里，却又在上车的瞬间后悔，下车疯狂地找他丢掉的戒指。
Cindy和Dean回到了Cindy父亲的家里。这也许是他们最后一次面对面平静地谈话了。Dean依然深爱着Cindy，深爱着小女儿。他不想离婚，不想放弃他们的婚姻。
Dean: You know, it's not just us. We got a little girl we gotta think about.
Cindy: I know. I am thinking about her. I can't do this anymore.
Dean: Baby, you're just thinking about yourself. What about Frankie? You want her to grow up in a broken home? Is that what you want?
Cindy: I don't want her to grow up in a home where her parents treat each other like this.
Dean: I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Baby, I'm just fighting, you know, fighting for my family. I don't know what to do. I don't know what else to do. Tell me what to do.
Cindy: I don't know what to do.
Dean: Just tell me. I'll do it. I'll do it.
虽然Dean依然爱着Cindy，但Cindy却对这段婚姻失去了希望。不知所措的Dean哭得像一个孩子，他无法接受爱情变质的现实，努力想要挽回。
Dean: Baby, you made a promise to me. You said for better or worse. You said that. You said it. It was a promise.
Cindy: I'm sorry.
Dean: Now, this is my worst. OK? This is my worst.
Cindy: I'm sorry.
Dean: But I'm gonna get better. You just got to give me a chance to get better.
Cindy: I'm sorry.
Dean: I love you so much.
婚礼上的誓言还在耳边回荡，曾经的甜蜜拥吻似乎就发生在昨天，美好的过往不停在眼前浮现，但这一切都无法阻挡爱情的衰老，也无法抚平婚姻的伤痕。两个人在阴暗的厨房里相拥而泣。Dean明白，在Cindy决绝地说出抱歉的那一刻，一切都无可挽回了。
如果早知道会有今天的结局，他还会娶她吗？她还会嫁给她吗？时间无法倒流，曾经的爱情也一去不复返。热恋时的激情、相知后的默契、习惯后的厌倦，开心并伤心着，甜蜜并痛苦着，期待并失望着，深爱却背叛着——难道这就是爱情？
落日下，小镇的街道陷入了昏暗和沉寂。不知是谁点燃了烟花，美丽的烟火迅速绽放在半空中，又迅速地隐匿在落日下。Dean孤身一人离开了Cindy的父亲家，黯然神伤的背影在夕阳下显得尤为落寞。
又一个烟花在天空中爆裂了，那稍纵即逝的烟火犹如他们的爱情。也许爱情真的不能永恒，但至少，它曾像烟花一样绚烂地绽放过。
Bright Star明亮的星：生命如蝶，爱情如诗
◎ 文 / 章苒苒“
期冀你我能化身成蝶，只在缤纷的夏季中存活三日；有你陪伴的三日，胜过50年的寂寥岁月。”
—— John Keats (约翰·济慈) to Fanny Brawne (芬妮·勃劳恩)
John Keats是一个富有传奇色彩的人物：他因书写浪漫诗篇而散发永恒之美，又因英年早逝而愈显弥足珍贵。Oscar Wilde在自己的诗作中嵌入过他的名字，Arthur Rimbaud步过他命运的后尘。年仅25岁的生命能如此光彩炫目、可歌可泣，除了他那些不朽诗作散发的光芒外，自然少不了刻骨铭心的爱情的点缀。
这是个也许不被人所熟知的爱情故事。1818年的夏天，23岁的诗人Keats借住在朋友Charles Brown家，与邻居Fanny Brawne悄悄燃起了爱情的火花，并由此度过了他生命中最幸福也是最后的18个月。这份醇美真挚的爱情短暂得如烟花绽放，璀璨得宛若星辰。澳大利亚女导演Jane Campion接下用影像缅怀Keats的重任，截取了他生命中这段最为璀璨的年华，以祭奠其刻骨铭心的浪漫爱情。影片的名字正是取自Keats写给Fanny的一首情诗的标题——《明亮的星》(Bright Star)。
邂逅
Keats在诗作《明亮的星》中这样描述他与爱人Fanny的缠绵：
Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast
To feel for ever its soft fall and swell
Awake for ever in a sweet unrest
Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath
And so live ever—or else swoon
在如此梦幻的倾诉面前，也许每个人眼前浮现的Fanny都会是一张温柔可人的清丽面庞。然而影片中的Fanny并不是这样的，她最初给人的印象与诗作的描述迥然不同。她桀骜不驯，像刺猬一样不招人喜欢，是那种凭借美貌拒人于千里之外的大小姐。她平素里高高在上，一副不轻易被征服的样子，但过得却是很普通的淑女式生活：定期参加舞会，遵循传统的交际方式。而Keats在当时只是一个出身卑微的穷诗人，诗才横溢却得不到认可。他没有经济来源，借住在朋友Brown家，靠朋友们的接济为生。当Fanny跟随她的家人一起拜访邻居Brown家时，她在那里第一次见到了Keats。此时的Keats正因为他体弱多病的弟弟而暗自神伤，Fanny的到来并未激起他多大的热情。
Fanny: Would you like biscuits?
Keats: You've come to spy.
Fanny: Spy?
Keats: How will you describe me? My character?
Fanny: I am not the least interested in your character.
Keats: My jacket, then? Or my pantaloons
Fanny: You need a new jacket—that's what I would say.
Keats: Is that all?
Fanny: It should be of velvet, blue velvet.
Keats: Tell me, Miss Brawne, how can you be so sure?
Fanny: Well, all I wear, I've sewn and designed myself. I'm often told I am clever to exception about design. I originated the pleats on my dress which are charming ...
Brown: To Keats] Has she annoyed you sufficiently? She has done brilliant well with me. To Fanny] Men's room, out. Poets got to do a bit of writing.
Fanny: My stitching
Keats: Goodbye, minxstress.
Fanny: And I can make money from it.
Keats和Fanny的初次交谈弥漫着一股浓烈的火药味，Keats认为Fanny是一个只注重外表、喜欢打扮的轻浮女子，而Fanny亦对Keats痴迷的诗歌创作没有任何兴趣，甚至有点看不起这位穷诗人。这位很有脾气的大小姐为了进一步证实自己看低Keats是正确的，就让弟弟在书店买了一本Keats的诗集《恩底弥翁》(Endymion)，想看看这位诗人的作品有多晦涩。然而，才读过几行，Fanny便被诗中华丽的辞藻和丰沛的情感所征服了。
几天后，Fanny与Keats在一次舞会上再次相见，Fanny主动与Keats交谈，并赞美了诗集《恩底弥翁》的完美开篇。当Fanny得知Keats一直在独自照顾患肺结核的弟弟后，她精心准备了礼物，去探望Keats的弟弟。她的这一举动让Keats对她的印象也有所改观。渐渐地，随着两人交往的增多，Fanny与Keats渐渐情愫暗生。然而，本该安分守己度过一生的中产阶级女子却爱上一位出身卑微、贫困潦倒的诗人，其结局将注定是惨烈的。无奈Fanny却甘愿沉溺在Keats那精致华丽的诗句里，享受爱情的甘美。
痴迷
痴迷是Keats对待诗歌的一种态度。无论是春季里的花草鸟兽，还是秋季里的丰收景象，甚至是路边随意的风景都能令他才思泉涌，更何况是心中澎湃着的真挚爱情。Keats在寄居朋友家的这段时间写下了奠定他日后在文学界不朽地位的最重要的诗篇。而Fanny对于爱情的痴迷，也丝毫不逊色于Keats对于诗歌的执着。她并不像其他陷入初恋的少女那样羞涩矜持，而是勇敢地表达自己真实的感受。在一个阳光明媚的清晨，Fanny端着咖啡来到了Keats的身边。
Fanny: I was wondering this morning if you're sleeping in my bed.
Keats: Pardon?
Fanny: You see, I believe you are. We rented Mr. Brown's half of the house this summer while you were journeying in Scotland. Which room do you sleep in?
Keats: The one overlooking the back garden.
Fanny: That was my bed. For proof, pull it from the wall and by the pillow, you will find a figure I drew with pin holes.
Keats: Is the figure you?
Fanny: It's a fairy princess.
这是一段散发着玫瑰幽香的对白，某种暧昧的喜悦悄然绽放在两人之间。后来，Fanny藉学诗之名与Keats独处，而这位平素言行不羁的青年也对她道出了自己对于爱情的迷茫。
Keats: I'm not sure I have the right feelings towards women. I'm suspicious of my feelings.
Fanny: Do you not like me?
Keats: I'm attracted to you without knowing why. All women confuse me, even my mother. I yearn to be ruined by shrews
Keats真诚地向Fanny坦白他毫无恋爱经验的秘密，而Fanny爱的恰是他纯净的灵魂。这次坦诚的交流又一次拉近了彼此的距离。可正当Keats与Fanny爱得浓情蜜意之时，两人却不得不面临第一次分离。Keats为了生计不得不和Brown一起远行，赴异地寻求灵感。Fanny原以为自己能撑得过去，却不想在分别之后濒临疯狂。若不是爱人寄来的话语饱含深情，她怕是要死在荒芜的思念里了。Keats在给Fanny的信中这样描述思念的煎熬：“My dearest lady, I am now at a very pleasant cottage window looking onto a beautiful hilly country, with a view of the sea. The morning is very fine. I do not know how elastic my spirit might be, what pleasure I might have in living here if the remembrance of you did not weigh so upon me. Ask yourself, my love, whether you are not very cruel to have so entrammelle
Fanny躺在花丛中读信，晶莹的相思泪在信纸上闪烁，灿若晨星。她和弟弟妹妹们捉来了很多美丽的彩蝶养在睡房内，每日看着它们翩翩飞舞，感受着她与Keats如彩蝶般缤纷的爱情。然而，即便这伴着相思之苦的甜蜜也是短暂的，在很长时间未给Fanny写信后，Keats终于寄来了一封短信。让Fanny万分失落的是，Keats在信中写道，他不能再回到Fanny身边了，因为他依然没有赚到钱，无法给Fanny一个承诺。一心期盼爱人归来的Fanny怎能承受这样的打击？她年轻的生命差点因此而陨落。
Fanny的家人开始为她对Keats的痴狂感到恐慌，他们试图劝她离开Keats，找一位家境殷实的绅士嫁掉。但Fanny早已不可自拔。虽然Keats不曾给她任何承诺，她却执着地认定Keats就是她一生要等待的人。这份痴迷，让饱受思念之苦的Keats再次回到了她身边。
永恒
尽管影片从头到尾均是明媚的色调，古典小提琴悠扬的弦音也回荡始终，但Keats苍白的面颊和他眼中不时掠过的忧愁却为影片平添了一份伤感，预示着结局必定少不了那一声凄婉的泣音。
Keats的好友Brown总是冷眼旁观Fanny与Keats的这段感情，他一直不看好他们，因为他早已在与Keats的交往中窥知他昙花一现的宿命。Brown劝Keats离开Fanny，别将有限的时间浪费在男欢女爱上。
Brown: As one who truly loves you, I must warn you kindly of a trap that you are walking into, John.
Keats:If you are going to speak of Miss Brawne, we have never agreed and cannot agree.
Brown: For one or two of your “slippery blisses,” you'll lose your freedom permanently. You will be slaving at medicine 15 hours a day, and for what? To keep Mrs. Keats in French ribbon. I cherish your talent. I truly do.
Keats:Then allow me my happiness, for I am writing again.
正如Brown所料，不幸终究还是降临到这对恋人身上。在一个阴冷的夜晚，从外归来的Keats面色惨白，开始不断地咯血，原来他也患上了夺走他弟弟生命的顽症——肺结核。从此之后，Keats不得不停止写作，躺在床上安心调养。Brown为了稳定Keats的病情，阻止Fanny来探望和照顾Keats。他们两人只能隔着玻璃，用眼神和写在纸条上的只言片语来传递相思之情。尽管Fanny的家人极力劝她放弃这段注定没有结果的感情，但Fanny还是不顾一切地与Keats订了婚。
转眼冬季就要来临，Keats的朋友们担心他熬不过英国阴冷潮湿的冬天，便决定凑钱送他到气候温暖的意大利疗养。尽管Keats心里明白，此去也许将永无归期，但他为了不辜负朋友们的一片心意，还是决定前往意大利。在Keats与Fanny分开的前一夜，两人难分难舍，一同想象也许永远都无法实现的未来。
Fanny: You know I would do anything.
Keats: I have a conscience. Let's pretend I will return in spring.
Fanny: You will return.
Keats: We will live in the country.
Fanny: Close to Mama.
Keats: And our bedroom will look out onto a little apple orchard and, beyond that, a mountain in a mist.
Fanny: We can make a garden where every sort of wildflower grows.
Keats: And we will go to bed while the sun is still high.
Fanny: And when it becomes dark, the moon will shine through the shutters.
Keats: And I will hold you close and kiss your breasts, your arms, and your waist.
Fanny: Everywhere.
Keats: Touch has a memory.
Fanny: I know it.
这是影片中最亲密的一组镜头，尽管他们的灵魂已契合无比，但Keats却因无法许给Fanny一个未来，未敢越雷池一步。此后，往来于意大利和Fanny家的一封封情书便成了两人之间唯一的精神寄托。
在一个阴沉的冬夜，Brown带着写有噩耗的书信来拜访Fanny一家，他嗓音嘶哑地读了Keats的临终信函。在没有Fanny陪伴的日子，Keats带着一颗孤寂却溢满思念的心离世了。Fanny一直憧憬的幸福大厦轰然倒塌，她蜷缩在楼梯下哭泣，心痛到无法呼吸。失去Keats的日子，Fanny的心成了一潭死水。此后连续多年，她穿着黑衣为Keats守寡，每天都沉浸在对过去的回忆中，常于黄昏时独自徘徊在她与Keats曾去过的丛林，口中喃喃念出爱人为他写下的诗句：
Would I were stedfast as thou art—
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night
And watching, with eternal lids apart
Like nature's patient, sleepless
Eremite
Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast
To feel for ever its soft fall and swell
Awake for ever in a sweet unrest
Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath
And so live ever—or else swoon to death
这其中的不悔与执着，唯有生死相隔的爱人最心知肚明。《明亮的星》不是电影，而是一首书写在胶片上的长诗，古往今来但凡有情人，都应该将它贴入怀中，用来暖心。
Vicky Cristina Barcelona午夜巴塞罗那：爱情迷宫
◎ 文 / 海洋
有人说：“看电影是为了品味生活，而旅行则是为了放飞生活。”如此看来，随着电影去旅行，因为一部电影而爱上一座城，似乎也就顺理成章了。美国电影导演Woody Allen就在影片《午夜巴塞罗那》(Vicky Cristina Barcelona)中带领大家走进了一座绮丽、梦幻的艺术之城。在这座城市中，两位女主角为爱疯狂、为爱迷失、为爱困惑，仿佛步入了一座爱情的迷宫。那么，她们最终能否找到出口，走出迷宫？
《午夜巴塞罗那》是素有鬼才导演之称的Woody Allen第一次在欧洲拍摄的影片，拍摄地巴塞罗那的独特风情和Woody的讲述方式让这部影片充满了浪漫主义色彩与戏剧性。影片的主人公是两位性格迥异的美国姑娘Vicky和Cristina，她们在去巴塞罗那度假时，邂逅了一位富有魅力的西班牙画家Juan和他美丽性感的前妻Maria，并与他们发生了一系列与爱情有关的奇事。
该影片称得上是一部特立独行、发人深省的电影。Woody用巴塞罗那的炽烈表达了情侣之间的隔阂、激情与分离，并启发我们思考内心深处一些无法回答或不敢面对的问题。Vicky和Cristina在巴塞罗那遇到爱情，并迷失其中，最终又告别了这短暂的爱情，带着对生活的一些顿悟和新的疑惑，继续上路。
Vicky：理智与情感
Vicky，硕士研究生，端庄优雅，有着深棕色的披肩长发和高挑瘦削的身材。影片一开始，旁白便如此介绍她：
Vicky had no tolerance for pain and no lust for combat. She was grounded and realistic. Her requirements in a man were seriousness and stability.
这段叙述概括了Vicky的性格：现实、理智、缺乏冒险精神。她凡事寻求稳定，不喜欢走弯路，渴望专一稳定的感情生活。因此，Vicky的未婚夫Doug可谓完全符合她的标准：成熟稳重、为人正派、事业成功、感情专一。然而，看起来如此一帆风顺的生活，却因她和Cristina的一趟巴塞罗那之旅彻底变了样。
到达巴塞罗那后，Vicky和Cristina寄宿在一对老夫妇Judy和Mark家中。Judy带Vicky和Cristina参观画廊，在那里她们第一次见到了西班牙画家Juan。从Judy口中得知Juan和他的前妻彼此深深伤害并离婚的故事后，Vicky对Juan并没有好感。因此，当Juan邀请Vicky和Cristina去西班牙小镇奥维耶多共度周末时，Vicky本能地抵触，认为这是个potentially fatal mistake。但由于Cristina欣然应邀，Vicky也不得不同他们一同前往奥维耶多。
在奥维耶多，Cristina的意外生病给了Vicky与Juan独处的机会。Juan带Vicky游览小镇风光，聆听西班牙吉他演奏。在柔和优美的吉他曲风中，在巴塞罗那多情浪漫的夜色里，在Juan温柔眼神的俘获下，一向理智的Vicky竟情不自禁地与Juan发生了一段情。此后每每想起此事，她都感到不安和困惑。即使在她的未婚夫Doug赶来巴塞罗那与她完婚后，她依然被自己内心的矛盾折磨得郁郁寡欢。Juan给了Vicky不一样的体验，让她发现了原有生活中的缺陷，也让她鬼使神差般地爱上了这个充满激情的艺术家。是对Doug隐瞒自己与Juan的感情，继续过她以前设想的模式化生活？还是因这一时的冲动而放弃自己原以为完美的婚姻？Vicky惧怕去主动选择，她试图理智地分析所有的前因后果，但到底也没分析出个所以然来。
其实在客观上，Vicky一直受到Judy潜移默化的影响。Judy和Mark是Vicky的一房远亲，多年前他们从美国搬到了巴塞罗那。老妇人Judy与Vicky一样，理智、有涵养，认为自己有明确的生活目标。而Mark就好似Doug，举止得体，事业成功。Vicky与Cristina刚到巴塞罗那时，Judy曾这样评价Vicky以后的生活：“She's marrying this wonderful man in the fall and all her conflicts will be resolved when he makes her pregnant.”
这句话的言外之意是说：女人嫁对人最重要，只要有个好老公，有孩子，其他的问题都会迎刃而解。可惜这个论断甚至不能说服Judy自己，因为她也正饱受感情的煎熬。在一次聚会上，Vicky无意间撞见Judy和Mark的生意伙伴Jay Lewis亲热。后来Judy找Vicky倾诉了她的心声。
Judy: I'm not having an affair with Mark's partner.
Vicky: No, I didn't think you were.
Judy: Not that I haven't had fantasies of someone coming along and taking me out of my situation. But the fantasies are not Jay Lewis.
Vicky: Taking you out of your situation ... ?
Judy: I haven't been in love with Mark for years. I love him, but I'm not in love with him.
Vicky: I'm sorry to hear that.
Judy: It's funny. I just made the same speech to my shrink
Vicky: Well, what does your shrink say?
Judy: He says that I'm too frightened to act and that I'm looking for some kind of magical solution, which is unrealistic. And an affair is not the answer. Mark is great. I'm sure any dissatisfaction I have is my own problem. I'm just ... I can't leave him.
“I love him, but I'm not in love with him.”Judy这句话中的第一个love指广义的爱，包括对朋友、亲人的爱，而第二个love特指恋爱。Judy的意思是：她爱Mark如同爱亲人那样，但他们之间已没有恋人的感觉了。Judy的矛盾和挣扎让Vicky看到了现在的自己，她和Judy一样，同样惧怕选择，同样缺乏勇气，同样不敢面对生活中的缺陷。Vicky开始不断拷问自己的内心，开始逐渐面对她对Juan的感情，并对Judy敞开心扉说出了自己的感受，这让Judy感到既震惊又兴奋。
Judy: Why don't you act on it?
Vicky: What? Break up with Doug, who's a really sweet guy, who married me in good faith, for a Bohemian Spanish painter with a passionate tie to an ex-wife who probably doesn't even share my feelings, if he ever did? Oh, God, who am I kidding? I … but the, the dream is exciting.
Judy: If I were you, I wouldn't waste another minute. I'd get on it. You're in love with him. Do something, or the years will pass by and you will be sorry, Vicky.
Vicky: No, no. What are you saying? Look, I can't risk everything. If, if Juan Antonio had never existed, I'd be fine with Doug.
Judy: Just fine? Just fine?
Vicky: Yes, as I planned.
Judy: How, how blunt do you want me to be? When I look at Doug, I see Mark.
此后，Judy试图帮助Vicky与Juan再续前缘。但她的努力差一点帮了倒忙：就在Vicky与Juan在他的画室见面时，Juan的前妻Maria突然带着手枪出现，最终Maria的手枪走火，Vicky的手因此受伤。Vicky与Juan的最后一次见面就以这样荒唐的方式结束。最终，Vicky带着失落、不安和自责回到了Doug身边，她的这次随旅行而来的爱情就这样划上了句号。Judy的最后一次出场是与Mark并肩走在码头，彼此没有任何语言或眼神交流，这让观众仿佛看到了15年以后的Vicky与Doug。
Cristina：迷失与寻找
Cristina，Vicky的闺蜜，自由职业者。影片的旁白这样描述她：
She reluctantly accepted suffering as an inevitable component of deep passion and was resigned to putting her feelings at risk. If you asked what she was gambling her emotions on to win, she would have been unable to say. She knew what she didn't want, however.
Cristina有着一头凌乱的金发、美艳的容貌和姣好的身材。她热情奔放，热爱艺术，讨厌模式化的生活。她内心的困惑常常来自于无法找到一个表达自己情感的出口，在她看来，爱情与艺术一样，难以满足她自我表达的欲望。Cristina对爱情的理解非常模糊，影片开始时，Vicky向Judy和Mark介绍了Cristina曾参与编导和演出过一部爱情短片。
Vicky: Shemade a film.
Judy: How exciting!
Cristina: It's twelve minutes.
Mark: What was it about?
Cristina: It was about ... why love is so hard to define.
Mark: Wow, that's a mighty big subject to handle in twelve minutes.
要为爱情下定义，对于Cristina的12分钟短片而言，是个太大的命题。Vicky所崇尚的四平八稳的爱情恰恰是Cristina最不想要的，用Cristina的话来说，Doug和Mark那样的男人都是“cookie cutter molds”，也就是“这个社会批量生产出来的毫无特点的人”。
Cristina迷恋Juan，正是因为他与这些男人不同。Cristina第一次在画展上远远看到Juan时，他身着红色衬衫，拿着一杯红酒独自站在展厅中央，但看起来一点也不落寞，反而显得光芒四射。Juan与前妻Maria经历过炽烈的爱情和失败的婚姻。对Juan而言，痛苦不仅是爱情的一部分，更是生活的一部分。他不知道如何去爱一个人，但这并没什么可责备的，就像他父亲所说：“After thousands of years of civilization, they still haven't learned to love.”他在邀请Vicky和Cristina共度周末时说：“Life is short. Life is dull. Life is full of pain. This is a chance for something special.”这个论调立刻得到了Cristina的响应。在奥维耶多，Juan带Vicky和Cristina鉴赏雕塑时，曾有过下面一段对话。
Cristina: Are you very religious?
Juan: No. No, I'm not. The trick is to enjoy life, accepting it has no meaning whatsoever.
Cristina: No meaning? You don't even think that authentic love gives life meaning?
Juan: Yes, but love is so transient, isn't it? I was in love with the most incredible woman
Vicky: Yes?
Juan: She put a knife into me.
在Juan看来，爱情是一种转瞬即逝的感觉，必须要把握每一个瞬间去彻底感受它的美妙。当爱情消失时，Juan可以毫不留恋地离开他的伴侣，开始追求下一段爱情。但是曾经海誓山盟的恋人究竟为什么会不再相爱？而不再相爱的两个人是否应该离开彼此？Juan和他的前妻Maria曾经爱得如痴如醉，在别人看来，他们绝对是天造地设的一对，不管是生活习惯还是兴趣爱好都那么合拍，但两个人始终无法生活在一起。Juan曾对Cristina这样描述他和Maria的关系：
Juan: If you had only known her when I first met her. I mean, her beauty took your breath away. She chose me from a hundred men ready to kill for her. We were both sure that our relation was perfect, but there was something missing. You know, love requires such a perfect balance. It's like the human body. It may turn out that you have all the vitamins and minerals, but if there is a single, tiny ingredient missing, like, like ... salt, for example, one dies.
这里用盐做例子很巧妙，盐在古代就是非常珍贵的物品。《圣经》里曾多次提到盐的重要性，耶稣曾对他的门徒说过：“Ye are the salt of the earth.”(你们是这世间高尚的中坚力量。) Juan关于盐的举例恰恰说明了恋人之间有些东西看似可有可无，但却像盐一样不可或缺。Juan与Maria之间缺失的东西不仅结束了他们的婚姻，还让Maria过着支离破碎的生活，她一直在探求她与Juan之间到底缺失什么，却始终无法得到确切的答案。
追求激情的Cristina与Juan一拍即合，并开始同居。然而，正当两人的关系发展稳定时，疯狂的Maria却意外出现。Cristina不但没有因此离开，反而被Maria独特的艺术气质深深吸引。不久以后，Maria也发现，她和Juan之间缺少的“salt”就是Cristina。有了Cristina，三个人的关系突然变得很完美。
Cristina: It's so apparent to me that you and Juan Antonio are still in love.
Maria: Our love will last forever. It's forever, but it just doesn't work. That's why it will always be romantic, because it cannot be complete.
Cristina: Well, maybe it can't be complete because, you know, I'm getting in the way or, I don't know....
Maria: No. Before you, we used to cause each other so much pain, so much suffering. Without you, all this would not be possible. You know why? Because you are the missing ingredient. You are like the tint that, added to a palette, makes the color beautiful.
导演Woody此处的设计带有神学色彩，把基督教“三位一体”的思想引入到爱情中，认为在精神上三个人的关系才是最稳定的，才能达到所谓的“complete”。可惜这种三个人的爱恋关系并没能维持多久，Cristina有一天突然发现这不是她想要的爱情和生活。经过一番顿悟，Cristina决定向Juan和Maria摊牌。
Cristina: I can't live like this forever.
Juan: What do you want?
Cristina: I want something different.
Juan: What?
Cristina: I don't know. Not this.
Juan: There is no answer, Cristina.
Maria: Don't you understand? She's gotten what she wanted. She wants something else. This isn't enough for her. It's like an illness. Nothing will ever be enough for her. This girl will never be satisfied with anything. I knew you would use us. And you used us. I knew it…. Chronic dissatisfaction, that's what you have. Big sickness.
就这样，Cristina被Maria诊断为“慢性不满足症”。Cristina离开后不久，Maria像以前一样与Juan在巷子里激烈地争吵，然后愤然离去。也许从来没有完满的爱情，正如Maria所说，只有残缺的爱情才是浪漫的。他们三人置身于那种在别人看来有些荒唐的关系中，却并不感到奇怪，因为他们都相信自己所选择的。但如果有一天突然发现这一切都不是自己想要的怎么办？Cristina要寻找的答案，恐怕巴塞罗那、Juan或是Maria都无法给她。
A Love Letter to Barcelona 致巴塞罗那的一封情书
巴塞罗那是西班牙除马德里以外最大的城市，是一座热情、开放、充满浓厚艺术气息的浪漫之城。导演Woody说他想把这部电影的拍摄过程当做“写给巴塞罗那的一封情书”。他没有用传统的蒙太奇式的风景联播来展示巴塞罗那风光，但影片的每一个细节都展示了这座城市的与众不同：天马行空的高迪建筑风格、醇香的红酒、午夜的吉他演奏会、风流倜傥的男人、风情万种的女人、带着灼热阳光气息的街道、不知名的乡间小路……
巴塞罗那独特的风情被影片的配乐表达得淋漓尽致。片中大量运用西班牙吉他，制造出一种蠢蠢欲动的撩人意境。从影片开始就不苟言笑的Vicky，只有在仲夏夜的露天走廊聆听西班牙吉他演奏时才露出动人的神情：“Spanish guitar music never failed to move Vicky in some magical way.”西班牙吉他带给Vicky的震撼可能和坠入爱河时的感觉相似，在奥维耶多的夜晚，Vicky正是和Juan一起听过吉他演奏后，才发现自己无法抗拒Juan的魅力。此后每一次想起Juan，醉人的吉他声便会萦绕在她的脑海。
也许除了巴塞罗那，世界上没有其他任何一座城市可以造就如此荒诞的奇遇。这个夏天，Vicky、Cristina和千千万万人一样，为巴塞罗那所着迷，也为她所困惑，迷失于这座巨大的爱情迷宫中，正如影片的西班牙语主题歌Barcelona中所唱：
Barcelona, you are mistaken
You can't keep ignoring
That the world may be some other thing
And fly like a butterfly
Barcelona, it's so hot the heat leaves me cold inside
With this vice of living a lie
How beautiful your ocean would be
If I knew how to swim
The Break-up分手男女：可惜不是你
◎ 文 / 于晓东
勇敢地离开那些自私自利、不懂得真正欣赏你的人，也许你会发现一片更美好的天地。
在2006年的爱情电影中，《分手男女》(The Break-up)无疑是最成功的一部，3810万美元的首映收入使其成为历史上首映收入第三高的爱情喜剧。影片的男女主角分别由好莱坞当红喜剧影星Vince Vaughn和Jennifer Aniston主演。影片中有很多男女主角斗嘴的情节，特别是Vince Vaughn扮演的Gary身为明星导游，靠嘴皮子吃饭，语速很快，用词尖刻，他与Jennifer Aniston饰演的女主角Brooke的犀利对白堪称一部英文“斗嘴圣经”。当然，在颇为搞笑的语言背后，影片也充满了对爱情生活的哲理阐释，让我们在潜移默化中对爱情又多了一份深深的了解。
分手风波
Gary是芝加哥某旅行公司的明星导游，很受游客欢迎。他能说会道，满嘴俏皮话，几秒钟内就可以惹得人哈哈大笑。Brooke则在一家私人艺术画廊工作，颇有艺术修养，比起经常滔滔不绝的Gary，她更为内敛。
事实上，两人闹分手的原因看似平常，不过为了锅碗瓢盆等家务事罢了。为了准备邀请亲戚朋友的晚餐，Brooke一下班就回家忙活着，Gary一回家却玩起了电子游戏，Brooke要他帮忙，他却满嘴油腔滑调，满不在乎。门铃响起，Gary赶紧跑去洗澡躲起来，把所有的工作都丢给了Brooke。席间吃饭，Gary对Brooke一方的亲戚也很不客气，就像是在煎熬中应付差事。等亲戚朋友们一走，他又回到电视前玩起了游戏。Brooke强压怒火，请Gary帮自己洗碗，Gary头也不回地说：“明天再洗。”于是这场分手风波像火山一样开始爆发。
Gary: You know, we can clean the dishes tomorrow.
Brooke: Gary, you know I don't like waking up to a dirty kitchen.
Gary: Who cares?
Brooke: I care! All right? I care! I busted my ass all day cleaning this house and then cooking that meal. And I worked today. It would be nice if you said thank you and helped me with the dishes.
Gary: Fine. I'll help you do the damn dishes.
Brooke: No. See? That's not what I want.
Gary: You just said that you want me to help you do the dishes.
Brooke: I want you to want to do the dishes.
Gary: Why would I want to do dishes?
Brooke: Why? See, that's my whole point.
Gary: Let me see if I'm following this, okay? Are you telling me that you're upset be-cause I don't have a strong desire to clean dishes?
Brooke: No. I'm upset because you don't have a strong desire to offer to do the dishes.
这里两个人的逻辑有点绕，不过也很精彩。眼看自己有点理亏，Gary拿出男人惯用的“工作辛苦”为理由。不过这一招对Brooke并不奏效，因为Brooke也是职业女性，天天辛苦上班，和他一起按揭买房，丝毫没有懈怠。
Gary: I'm busting my ass to be the best tour guide in the damn city, so I can make enough money to support both of us and hopefully you won't have to work one day.
Brooke: I want to work. All I ask, Gary, is that you show a little bit of appreciation.
在这招失败之后，黔驴技穷的Gary大喊受够了，要be left alone，正在气头上的Brooke摔门离去，从此开始了两人的冷战。
假戏真做
争吵过后，Gary和Brooke都各自找到自己的好朋友倾诉。不过从内容上看，他们想到的问题却完全不同。Brooke只是想让Gary更加关心自己的感受，希望自己的态度能让他好好反省。
Brooke: I asked him to do one thing and he didn't do it. Then he complained that he had to do anything.... I just want him to care enough about this relationship to want to work on it ... Okay. Tonight just ... It just got a little out of hand, and hopefully he's just gonna realize that he's got some changes to make and he's gonna ... He's gonna come home and apologize.
而Gary所考虑的却与Brooke完全不同。在Gary看来，Brooke只是拿一些琐碎的事情来烦他：We had a fight over the groceries I brought home. 而对于Brooke分手的气话，他可是认真对待，继而竟然想到他们分手后财产的分割，全然没有努力挽回两人关系的意思。结果可想而知，Brooke回到家，发现Gary已经对两人在房子的活动空间进行了分割：卧室属于Brooke，客厅属于Gary。Gary在客厅私自安放了台球桌，当然客厅的一切也都是乱翻了天。自此两人的战争开始升级——先是Brooke按照Gary的逻辑，请自己的弟弟到自己卧室组织歌唱团，后来又听从自己老板的建议，开始和帅哥约会以刺激Gary，希望他能努力挽回这段感情。不过Gary显然不为所动，他做的一切似乎更要逼迫Brooke搬走。最后，为了报复Brooke和其他男人吃饭，Gary竟然在家里招了几个脱衣舞女，大跳艳舞。Brooke伤心至极，在朋友的调解下，两人开始正式的分手谈判。
Gary: Well, the only logical thing that I can think of is for her to move out of the condo, and then to pay me some sort of a penalty as compensation for the labor that I did all around the condo.
Brooke: What? What? Pay you compensation for your labor? We fixed this place up together. Are you nuts?
Gary: You went around with a sponge, and you went in the bathroom and you dotted footy shit.
Brooke: That was ... That's called aesthetics. It warmed this place up so it didn't look like an army barracks, which it was about to.
Gary: What I did, Brooke, has concrete value to the condo. I added concrete ... Well, let's just go on record. We're dealing with facts here. I did the tiling in the bathroom.
即使分割财产的时候，Gary依然咄咄逼人，讥讽Brooke为房间所做的装饰为footy shit。不过，两人终于在朋友的调解下对房产的分割达成一致，并很快找到买主，半个月内即要搬出去。
想起过去的一切，Brooke很是伤感，为了给两人的关系最后一次挽回的机会，她对Gary说自己很早就订了两张演唱会的票，问Gary有没有时间。Gary说自己会赶过去。结果却是Brooke在热闹的演唱会里独自一人待了整晚，周围都是快乐的人群， Brooke伤心欲绝。回到家，仍在电视前面的Gary听到她隐隐的哭声，这一次，他终于能用心去听Brooke心里的话，不过为时已晚。
Gary: Brooke. You broke up with me. Then you have guys coming over here for dates, and all of a sudden you ask me to go to some concert. I mean, I just figured that, you know.
Brooke: Gary. I just ... I don't know how we got here, our entire relationship. I've gone above and beyond for you, for us. And I mean, I've cooked. I've picked your shit up off the floor. I've laid your clothes out for you like you were a four-year-old. I support you. I supported you, your work. If we ever had dinner or anything, I make the plans. I take care of everything and I just don't feel like you appreciate any of it. I don't feel you appreciate me. And all I want is to ... is for you to just show me that you care.
Gary: Why didn't you just say that to me?
Brooke: Gary, I've tried. I've tried.
Gary: Yeah, but never like that. You might've said some things that you meant to imply that, but I'm not a mind reader.
Brooke: I doubt it would matter. You are who you are. Just leave me alone, okay? Right now. Just shut my door.
你是一件艺术品
有很多影评把这场分手风波归结为女人的感性和男人的理性之间的差异，应该各打50大板了事。实际上，导演在影片中带有明显的倾向性，在两人争吵的字里行间，我们都能感到Brooke为挽回这段感情所做出的努力以及Gary的无所谓。也许导演想表现的并不是女性和男性间不可调和的性格差异，而是女性应该积极争取幸福的爱情生活，而不是在爱情中不断忍让。下面是影片中几段经典的对话：
场景1：影片一开始，Brooke在画廊里帮助一位优雅的男性客户挑选艺术品，在一座名家的雕塑作品前，两人对挑选艺术品有一段对话，颇有深意：
Customer: You know, an art teacher of mine once said, “Never buy a piece of art that you don't have to have.” You know, don't worry about who the artist is or how much it's worth. I mean, you have to live with it every day. You have to walk by it every day. You know, you have to really love it. You have to really appreciate it.
Brooke: It's kind of like picking a mate.
这个开头就出现的片断似乎奠定了整个影片的基调，影片后来，也正是这位帅哥客户买走了Brooke亲手制作的、被Gary奚落是“footy art”的室内装饰品。这一段情节很具象征意义：无论是女性还是男性，我们都应该把自己像艺术品一样对待，寻找真正能欣赏自己的人。而我们在寻找恋爱对象时也应该像寻找一件适合自己的艺术品那样，重要的不是作品是否出自名家之手，也不是艺术品的价值，而是那是一件真正属于你、真正能让你天天面对的艺术品。
场景2：在Brooke向朋友寻求帮助时，她的好友有一段话说得很精彩：“Men are like children. They're gonna test boundaries to see what they can get away with.”纵观Gary的言行，他确实很符合这个描述。什么叫test boundaries？拿分手起因的例子来说，当Gary说等明天再刷碗时，他并非真的想明天才刷碗，因为他知道Brooke会忍受不了先把碗刷了，时间长了，所有的家务自然就归Brooke了。而整个吵架过程就是Gary不断test boundaries的过程。导演也通过Brooke朋友之口对女性的对应措施提出了建议：“One, this type of behavior is not unnoticed. Two, it's not acceptable. And three, you're definitely not gonna tolerate it.”
场景3：当Brooke在房间哭泣时，郁闷的Gary还是不明白所有这一切发生的原因。他又来到酒吧，再次找到自己的好友Johnny倾诉。而Johnny的一段话让他大彻大悟，他终于得知问题的所在——那就是他自己，这让他惊恐不已。
Gary: I mean, what does she expect, for me to want to go with the girl who dumped me?
Johnny: I don't know. She probably just wanted you, you know, to show her the respect of not standing her up or some shit, who knows? ... You know what? It's her fault she got hurt. You shouldn't even feel bad about it. She should have expected it from you. You're a fun guy, okay? Everybody likes you. You're the quickest guy I know. Anytime we go out, I have a blast. All right? But, you know, everybody who knows you knows you're gonna do what you want to do. And if it's not what the other person wants to do, well, that's their problem.
Gary: That's bullshit to say about me.
Johnny: When have we ever done something you didn't want to do? We always do what you want to do and she always did what you want to do. It's who you are. Everybody thinks that you're their friend, okay? But the fact of the matter is that there's not one person that I know that you trust enough to let close enough that they could hurt you. And her big problem is that you really liked her. I mean, she is the one girl you really liked. And no matter what she did and how hard she tried, you were never gonna let your guard down. That poor girl never stood a chance.
Johnny的这段充满反语、讥讽的话语应该说是全片的精华，也点出了这场分手风波的实质原因，问题并不在于男女思维方式的差异，而在于Gary以自我为中心的性格。就像Johnny说的那样，无论对朋友还是爱人，Gary永远只做自己想做的事情，从不为对方做出牺牲，永远都是对方顺着他的意思。这样的人总是将自己处于强势的地位，也从不让自己get hurt。影片中Brooke所做的也许只是想看到Gary为她嫉妒、内心受伤。其实很多时候，相爱的两个人会通过伤害对方来证明对方仍然爱着自己，他们从对方的心痛中感受到对方的爱(很多人在爱情逝去的时候做出伤害自己的行为，也许也是因为那时候伤害自己是伤害对方的唯一手段)。但Gary就像Johnny说的那样永远以自己为中心，从来不let his guard down，当Brooke暗示分手时，他首先想到的是房产的分割。所以Brooke根本伤害不到他，当然也感受不到他的爱，正如Johnny所说，她只是“stand no chance against him”。
最后，导演并没有安排一个破镜重圆、皆大欢喜的好莱坞结局。而相信我们看到这个分手的结局时，也并不会感到可惜，甚至会为Brooke高兴。影片结尾，结束感情的Brooke似乎一切都变得更加一帆风顺，想去欧洲旅行的她得到了老板的全力支持。在某个节日的芝加哥街头，Brooke和Gary在街头偶遇，Brooke一扫影片开头的疲态，显得容光焕发、信心百倍，而失去了Brooke的Gary在“亲自”为节日采购，面对Brooke时仍旧依依不舍。也许这就是导演想传递给我们的信息：勇敢地离开那些自私自利、不懂得真正欣赏你的人，也许你会发现一片更美好的天地。
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