The film "Underground" is a reflection of social reality. It is also a satirical look at the so-called people in power or those who discriminate against human rights. The film's overall look is like a game of killing between cats and mice, but it actually exposes a story of illegal workers being discriminated against and killed by white people. It also reflects the darkness of human nature, the stress, oppression, discrimination, and status of people living at the bottom of society. Through the film, we can see the hidden evil that hides under the mask of kindness. The rich thrive by oppressing the people at the bottom of society.
The film, which dates back to 2018, was directed by Max Pachman, the screen play was written by Mark Mavrothalasitis / Max Pachman, and it starred Lynn Collins, Rigo Sanchez, and Jose Aguirre.
The film tells the story of many foreign immigrants who line up in front of a metal ware store to earn a meagre living wage just by working for someone they never meet.
Some workers without proper visas are taken to work at Liz Rhodes’ home. They are two brothers and two others who hope to make a living (because they have no official visa and identity and because they came to the country illegally, so they have to work illegally). What happens next is unexpected. At first they aren’t treated badly as they help their employer, Liz Rhodes, to renovate her house.
However, as time passes by, they gradually find that the employer no longer treats them the same, and the courtyard of the home has changed. The enclosed courtyard walls are electrically wired and the gate is operated by remote control. Only the employer can enter and exit the gate. Although they’re aware of the problem and try to get the remote control to get out the gate, it is too late for one of the workers to try to steal the keys. He is shot dead by his employer. The two brothers and the other man have to be obedient. The employer threatens them with guns, forces them to learn English, make them wipe the bloodstains of the dead person from the floor, and bury them under the ground. Eventually, the remaining three men escape and are caught, and the film ends with the rest of the men fighting the employer. The employer is killed. One of the remaining men works hard to earn enough money to help his wife and children sneak in the country and live with him.
Of course, the film has a lot of other storylines, but it ultimately highlights this question—where is the hope for those who live at the bottom of society? Even if persons are in a country illegally, should their human rights be flouted? Should they work without pay and should they be abused till they lose their lives? For the vulnerable who are oppressed by society, when they live in their own place and are never able to feed themselves they may go to work elsewhere to make a temporary living. If possible, their family situation will gradually get better.
The story in the film may not have happened in China, but it occurs a lot abroad. For making a living, many people have left their homes and smuggled into other countries, but these people are targeted by outlaws so much that they are maimed and ill-treated.
The immediate response I had to the film was that life was not easy. When I live in a comfortable environment, I shouldn't ignore those who are suffering from life stress and pain including those who are being treated unfairly. As a Christian, we can't just look after ourselves being so cold. Everyone has the right to live and we cannot discriminate against them to show off our own sense of superiority because we have been redeemed and should help those who are hopeless to find hope and to find redemption.
Why is there racial discrimination? It is because of pride, selfish desire, and the sense of superiority. Many people have the mentality of wanting to gain without pain. The charity may mask voices of intimidation, for instance, the employer in the film wants to control and manipulate others. More importantly, he uses the kindness of the people at the bottom of society to serve himself. Meanwhile, he commits murder and believes that the law has no power over him because he believes that these people are illegals.
As Christians, we may also face a similar dilemma. What are our choices when faced with the bullying of vulnerable groups, or when it comes to an unfair environment to the others? Do you let your selfish desires swell or stick to the bottom line of faith and social morality? When we choose pity and love, God will do the same to us, as it is said: "I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. Surely the righteous will praise your name, and the upright will live in your presence." (Psalm 140:12-13)
- Translated by Charlie Li
观《地下》有感：基督徒当内心清洁，坚守信仰的底线 这部影片是一部反映社会现实光景的影片（注：本影片有部分杀戮内容，不适宜儿童观看），同时也在讽刺那些所谓的当权者，亦或者说歧视人权者。影片的整体观感像是关于猫捉老鼠的杀戮游戏，实际所输出的是非法劳工被白人歧视虐待、杀害的故事。影片也反应人性的黑暗，生活在社会底层人群的压力、压迫、以及被歧视、被降低身份的问题，透过影片我们可以思考善意面容下的人们，却潜藏着这邪恶的内心，富足人的生活原来是借着压迫社会底层的人群而繁荣起来的。 这部影片大约诞生于2018年，名称为地下/地底颤，也被称为无证打工离弃失踪悬案，导演是Max Pachman，编剧Mark Mavrothalasitis / Max Pachman，由琳恩•柯林斯 / 里戈•桑切斯 / Josue Aguirre等主演。 影片讲述，有许多外国移民都会来到一家五金店前排队，只为了替一些未曾谋面的人工作，赚取微薄的生活费。有些没有工作签证的人被诱拐到莉丝罗德斯家中工作，其中就有两个兄弟和另外另外两个谋生的人（因为没有正式签证和身份，又因为偷渡过来的，所以只能干私活）被诱拐到了莉丝罗德斯的家中，接下来发生的事是他们所意想不到的，刚开始他们并没有被虐待只是帮助雇主莉丝罗德斯装饰房子。 但随着他们时间的流逝，他们逐渐地发现雇主对他们不再像往常一样以及雇主的家里的院子不同寻常，四围的院子都有通电的铁丝网，而且大门是需要遥控器才准许出入，只有雇主才可以进出大门。虽然已经意识到危机，想要拿到进出大门的遥控器逃离这里，但为时已晚，其中有一个谋生的工人试图偷取钥匙，但被雇主发现用枪射杀而死，另外两个兄弟和另一个谋生的人只能乖乖听话，雇主拿枪威胁戏耍他们，让他们学英语，擦拭地板上的死人的血渍，把他们关在底下等。最终剩下的三个人屡次逃脱又被抓回来，影片的结尾部分，剩下的一个人把雇主反杀，并且透过努力赚取了足够的钱托人帮助自己的妻子和孩子偷渡来和自己一起生活，影片结束。 当然影片还有很多的故事线，但最终都强调了一个问题，那些人权、生活在社会底层的人的阳光在哪里？纵然偷渡是不合法的，就应该被蔑视人权，而且做工没有工价还滥用私刑残害生命吗？对于那些被社会压迫的弱势群体，他们生活在自己的地方始终无法养活自己，或许去到别的地方工作可以维持暂时的生计，如果可能家庭也会逐渐的好起来。 这部影片所反映的事情或许没有发生在我们的身边，但这些事在国外比比皆是，因为生计的问题，许多人背井离乡偷渡到他国谋生计，但他们这些群体被不法分子盯上，以至于残害他们，苦待他们。 透过这部影片给我的第一感触就是，生活不易。当我在合宜的环境生活时，我不应该忽略那些正遭遇生活压力和痛苦的人，甚至那些被不公平对待的人，作为基督徒更不能只专顾自己，冷淡冷漠。每个人都有生存的权利，我们不可以用异样的眼光来看待，更不能把自己的优越感炫耀给别人看，因为我们已经被救赎，也应该去帮助那些没有指望的人找到盼望，找到救赎。 为什么会有种族歧视？就是人内心的骄傲、自私欲望和优越感在作祟。很多人都有想要不劳而获的心态，慈善的面容底下是狰狞和恐吓，例如影片里的雇主，他就有一种权利的欲望还有掌控的欲望，更为重要的是他利用了这些社会底层人群善良的心为自己服务，于此同时又私意谋杀，认为法律控告不了自己，因为他认为这些社会底层的偷渡者本身就是违法的存在。 总而言之，对于基督徒而言，我们或许也会面对一些选择和挣扎，在面对被欺压的弱势群体时，在遇到有环境待人不义时，我们的选择会是什么？是任凭自己自私的欲望膨胀还是坚守信仰和社会道德的底线？当我们去怜悯人、去爱人的是时候，神也会这样对待我们，就如经上所记：“我知道耶和华必为困苦人伸冤，必为穷乏人辨屈，义人必要称赞你的名，正直人必住在你面前。（诗140:12-13）”
The film "Underground" is a reflection of social reality. It is also a satirical look at the so-called people in power or those who discriminate against human rights. The film's overall look is like a game of killing between cats and mice, but it actually exposes a story of illegal workers being discriminated against and killed by white people. It also reflects the darkness of human nature, the stress, oppression, discrimination, and status of people living at the bottom of society. Through the film, we can see the hidden evil that hides under the mask of kindness. The rich thrive by oppressing the people at the bottom of society.
The film, which dates back to 2018, was directed by Max Pachman, the screen play was written by Mark Mavrothalasitis / Max Pachman, and it starred Lynn Collins, Rigo Sanchez, and Jose Aguirre.
The film tells the story of many foreign immigrants who line up in front of a metal ware store to earn a meagre living wage just by working for someone they never meet.
Some workers without proper visas are taken to work at Liz Rhodes’ home. They are two brothers and two others who hope to make a living (because they have no official visa and identity and because they came to the country illegally, so they have to work illegally). What happens next is unexpected. At first they aren’t treated badly as they help their employer, Liz Rhodes, to renovate her house.
However, as time passes by, they gradually find that the employer no longer treats them the same, and the courtyard of the home has changed. The enclosed courtyard walls are electrically wired and the gate is operated by remote control. Only the employer can enter and exit the gate. Although they’re aware of the problem and try to get the remote control to get out the gate, it is too late for one of the workers to try to steal the keys. He is shot dead by his employer. The two brothers and the other man have to be obedient. The employer threatens them with guns, forces them to learn English, make them wipe the bloodstains of the dead person from the floor, and bury them under the ground. Eventually, the remaining three men escape and are caught, and the film ends with the rest of the men fighting the employer. The employer is killed. One of the remaining men works hard to earn enough money to help his wife and children sneak in the country and live with him.
Of course, the film has a lot of other storylines, but it ultimately highlights this question—where is the hope for those who live at the bottom of society? Even if persons are in a country illegally, should their human rights be flouted? Should they work without pay and should they be abused till they lose their lives? For the vulnerable who are oppressed by society, when they live in their own place and are never able to feed themselves they may go to work elsewhere to make a temporary living. If possible, their family situation will gradually get better.
The story in the film may not have happened in China, but it occurs a lot abroad. For making a living, many people have left their homes and smuggled into other countries, but these people are targeted by outlaws so much that they are maimed and ill-treated.
The immediate response I had to the film was that life was not easy. When I live in a comfortable environment, I shouldn't ignore those who are suffering from life stress and pain including those who are being treated unfairly. As a Christian, we can't just look after ourselves being so cold. Everyone has the right to live and we cannot discriminate against them to show off our own sense of superiority because we have been redeemed and should help those who are hopeless to find hope and to find redemption.
Why is there racial discrimination? It is because of pride, selfish desire, and the sense of superiority. Many people have the mentality of wanting to gain without pain. The charity may mask voices of intimidation, for instance, the employer in the film wants to control and manipulate others. More importantly, he uses the kindness of the people at the bottom of society to serve himself. Meanwhile, he commits murder and believes that the law has no power over him because he believes that these people are illegals.
As Christians, we may also face a similar dilemma. What are our choices when faced with the bullying of vulnerable groups, or when it comes to an unfair environment to the others? Do you let your selfish desires swell or stick to the bottom line of faith and social morality? When we choose pity and love, God will do the same to us, as it is said: "I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. Surely the righteous will praise your name, and the upright will live in your presence." (Psalm 140:12-13)
- Translated by Charlie Li
Reflection on Film 'Underground': Christians Should be Clean Inside, Stay Faithful to God
