Fly Away

Director : Alfred Hitchcock

Rating : ***1/2

This was our first film in class. I've never seen Hitchcock's movie, and it was a good chance to view Hitchcock's technique and style. As the first movie in class, it was qutie different from the movies I am used to seeing. Its plot, however, was quite similar to the recent movies.

(interestingly enough, i found this picture^ from another person's blog about N X NW: http://godisnotelsewhere.blogspot.com/2008/08/north-by-northwest-and-what-it-might.html)

Through this film, I realized that the directors add many symbolic(?) things to the movie. For example, when Thronhill and other guys are gathered at a bar, one of the guys is pointing at the mural/picture on the wall which has a guy being catured by two other guys, and Thornhill would be in the same situation in a few minutes. Also when the professor and Thornhill are at the airport, and the professor is telling Thornhill what the viewers already know, the sound of air plane is used to block out the information that we already know.

N X NW had thorough characterizations for each character as well as a metamorphosis for the main characters. Rodger Thornhill, from being a cocky and selfish guy, learns what love is and in trying to achieve his love, also learns to become somewhat altruistic. Eve Candell, from being obedient and doing what others told her to do, finally breaks out of her shell and reaches out for real freedom--running away with Thornhill.

The movie ends with the scene of Thornhill and Eve playfully being together in a room on a train, where they first met. Frankly I had previously thought all the old movies were boring, but this movie broke that prejudiced mind, and I am glad it did.