INDEX
Embracing Vintage Beyond Nostalgia
By the way, not limited to movies, it’s often observed that works explicitly intending to evoke a certain decade’s style are praised for their skillful reproduction, yet they can also be narrowly perceived as mere mimicry, neither more nor less. Indeed, while we may admire the meticulous detail of such diorama-like representations, we often find ourselves wondering, ‘So what?’ However, the artistic vision of master filmmaker Alexander Payne transcends such trivial concerns. In this film, he elevates the act of focusing on vintage representations beyond superficial obsession and the closed forms of communication it inevitably generates, moving it into the realm of belief.
The strength of this conviction can be seen in the words and actions of the protagonist, Dr. Hannam. As mentioned above, he is a history teacher specializing in ancient history. He communicates to his students as well as to his colleagues by quoting the words of ancient Greek and Roman philosophers and intellectual giants. At first glance, this may sound like the ramblings of a solitary, hard-nosed teacher who is cut off from the real world. However, it goes without saying that history, or stories of the past, are not merely a way to memorize events that have passed, but are capable of communicating with the lives of people today and the problems that arise in their lives, and sometimes even shedding light on them.
One day during his vacation, Dr. Hannam and Angus stroll through the streets of Boston on what they call a “social studies field trip. Angus is excited to see one of the exhibits at the Archaeological Museum, and the teacher says to him, “If you want to understand the times we live in and who you are, you have to understand the times.
To grasp the current era and understand yourself, beginning with the past is essential. History not only educates us about bygone times but also sheds light on the present.
This may sound like a common sermon, a familiar phrase. But for Angus, who is going through a difficult time in his life, lacking self-confidence and struggling with his relationship with his parents, the power of these words is very strong. Angus, who was listening with a serious expression on his face, said, “It’s very easy to understand.
That’s very clear. Please teach us like that in class without yelling
This proverb from Mr. Hannam is perhaps the most important key to understanding the “vintage” structure of this film. This is not an exaggerated analogy, considering that Alexander Payne himself studied history and literature at Stanford University before deciding to pursue a career in film.
