“A Man’s Pilgrimage”: An Exquisite Pieces That Exceed Expectations

An old man hiked 500 miles to see an old cancer friend whom he hadn’t seen for years, believing it saved her life. The synopsis of “A Man’s Pilgrimage” seems plain at first glance, but you will find that it is quite clever after you have actually watched the movie. (no thunder)

The film’s basic structure is simple: Jim Broadbent’s Harlow encounters people on a three-month hike whose personalities and stories mirror those of Jim’s own.

What is not simple is that it maintains enough complexity in simplicity, and the expected is full of unexpected surprises. Why did Harlow, who had never walked in his life, suddenly decide to walk across the whole of England to see a dying female friend Queenie whom he hadn’t seen for many years? This motive is only revealed very near the end of the film.

The film’s focus is on the character, which is Harlow. All plot designs accurately shape and unfold Harlow’s character and past. You get to know the character, but also know that there are still some mysteries left. And you believe in Harlow from minute one and think he’s worth caring about.

Of course this is thanks to Jim Broadbent’s acting. I decided to watch this movie mainly because of him. I remember that he was only in his early fifties when he played John Bailey in “The Long Road Will End” in 2001, but he will be in his seventies when the character in the play reaches old age. And he’s in his seventies now.

At that time, I thought he acted very well, and he also won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for this movie. Seeing him now in his 70s, watching him act in a movie at this age is another level of enjoyment, touch and feeling. I myself went from my thirties to my fifties.

“A Man’s Pilgrimage” focuses on the protagonist with a simple yet complex plot, which is precise and refined without any excess. Like a sculpture, as the movie progresses, the characters become more and more real, clear and distinct in the audience’s mind. Almost a textbook example.

Penelope Wilton is also excellent as his wife Maureen. What we saw at the beginning was the stereotyped housewife who relies on daily routines, depends on her husband, and is prone to anxiety and panic. Not being yourself, but becoming part of the law.

That’s why when she realized that Harlow really “run away”, she said that she didn’t know how to deal with herself (she said “fit in”, but I forgot how to translate it in the film). On the one hand, she lost everything she relied on daily, and she didn’t know why she existed for a moment. On the other hand, she must finally face what she has been avoiding.

So did Harlow. On the surface, he was going to save Queenie. In fact, this is a journey of saving oneself and reconciling with oneself. On the surface, he walked out and Maureen stayed. In fact, they re-face the past of this family in their own ways, complete those unfinished business, reconcile with themselves and the past, and return to the present.

The stray dogs followed Harlow for a long walk and it was fun. There are several layers of metaphor, which may or may not be related to religion, and may refer to the same thing or different things from Maureen’s transformation at home later in the film. It depends on how you want to interpret it. No matter how you interpret it. This is also the cleverness of this story.

further reading

• “The Defender of the Eight Foot Gate” is a rare masterpiece of Taiwanese dramas in recent years
• “Barbie” is an outstanding toy film adaptation, surpassing even the first “Transformers” movie