Effervescent (2)
On March 16th, Lyman's life faced another test, neither too big nor too small.
There was no extravagance, not even a few media events. Apart from the movie posters scattered among the billboards on the streets and lanes, "Effervescent" hadn't employed any additional means to attract viewers. It relied solely on its name, embracing an attitude of laissez-faire.
At the Chinese Theater.
People streamed in and out of the entrance.
Hollywood films were in a period of continuous growth, with the ceiling for total box office revenue rising. The concentration of independent theaters forming theater chains favored better scheduling. Moreover, American audiences enjoyed going to the movies as a form of leisure.
Today, Chris had arranged to watch a movie with his girlfriend, Sissy.
They were still quite young, only 15 years old, but young couples like them were a common sight on American campuses.
Rather than calling them precocious, it was more accurate to say that this was the prevailing social atmosphere.
As they entered the cinema lobby, they scanned the promotional posters on the bulletin boards.
Chris pointed to the largest poster occupying the cinema wall. "How about we watch "Effervescent"? It seems to be a romantic movie."
"Yeah, I quite like that director."
"Lyman Lattes? I couldn't watch several of his movies; I had to rent DVDs to watch them at home."
"This time should be fine; it says PG-13."
...
Meanwhile, in a Chicago cinema.
Bella had, as usual, rushed to show her support.
Upon entering the theater, she instinctively looked around and noticed that the seating was quite full, with roughly 80% occupied.
Thinking about it, it was quite normal. After all, the director had gained fame, and it was the first weekend after Valentine's Day. Many people hadn't yet emerged from the holiday spirit, and couples still made up the majority of moviegoers.
Before long, the lights in the screening room extinguished one by one, leaving only the large screen at the front illuminated.
Melodic background music played, and a blue butterfly fluttered its wings gracefully.
As the butterfly disappeared into a cluster of light points, the opening animation of Firefly Productions played out.
Unfortunately, the audience in the cinema wasn't particularly interested in this.
Most of the logos that resonated with them were those of established film companies, such as Paramount's classic mountain with the roaring lion animation. The mere appearance of these logos stirred inexplicable nostalgic feelings.
The screen went dark, then lit up again, and the main feature began.
"I've always wanted to make a love story, a simple love story. For example, why this woman chose to be with this man instead of that man, but maybe a few years later, she marries someone entirely different. Love, it seems, never has a clear definition. Between people, everything seems natural and simple, but it's never quite that way."
After the narrator's voiceover, the camera finally focused on a woman's hand holding a camcorder, standing on the second floor of a train station, watching the crowd in the hall below.
The camera slowly panned, capturing couples talking and laughing, continually emerging.
Then, the camera shifted its focus to a perspective primarily centered on Eva.
A gentle piano melody appeared at the right moment. The elegant tune was so captivating that one couldn't help but be drawn in, as if tasting a certain sourness under the heat of love.
Thomas had indeed learned how to make a woman look good in his films. He easily discovered Eva's greatest advantage—her eyes. And through his lens, he magnified this captivating beauty.
With just one appearance, there was already a dominating effect on the audience.
Inside the movie theater, many boys had their eyes fixed on the screen, wondering if they'd lose their love after watching this movie... well, they'd better hope for the best.
Amidst the bright lights and the bustling crowd, Eva sat quietly, like a faithful observer, recording everything before her.
The sharply cut and clear combinations of scenes, constructed one after another, rolled on.
The screen gradually turned yellow, then faded, and subtitles appeared on the big screen: "Director: Lyman Lattes."
"Starring: Eva Green, Sophie Marceau, Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal..."
...
"Meeting someone changes my life. I like him somewhat, and I know he likes me, but in the end, we didn't end up together."
On screen, Eva flipped through letters and photographs, trying to smile but inexplicably shedding tears.
When it came to love, some people always felt lost.
The scene began to transition like a scroll, jumping back in time to a bright and sunny day a decade ago.
Eva had transformed into a younger version of herself, dressed in a youthful manner, standing alone at a crossroads in a small town, worrying about her job.
Her landlord had started pressuring her for rent again, and she retrieved a small box from under her bed, counting the savings inside, which weren't quite enough.
She took out most of the money and negotiated with the landlord for a few more days' grace. The landlord agreed.
But with her limited education, finding a job wasn't easy.
By chance, she went for an interview.
The interview took place in a luxurious mansion owned by a locally famous tycoon.
Their younger son had been in a car accident, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down and unable to take care of his personal life.
For various reasons, the mother wanted to find a caregiver for her son.
During a casual conversation with the mother, the camera moved to another room.
A man lay on the bed, his brow furrowed even in his sleep.
Beside him, there were overturned food plates with broken pieces scattered everywhere.
In just two simple shots, it seemed to have already explained the man's predicament.
Bella smiled lightly, finding the movie increasingly intriguing.
Lyman's use of the main character's perspective and the narration had added a touch of drama to the film. By revealing the outcome first and then retracing the steps, it still managed to create a sense of anticipation.
Especially the transformation in the female lead's temperament, from mature to youthful; under the influence of the camera, both forms of beauty became fascinating and thought-provoking.
"Do you have any nursing experience?"
"I haven't done it before, but I promise I can learn quickly. I'm very capable."
Eva now looked like a country girl with her hair covered by a headscarf.
The wealthy mother had a favorable first impression of her but hadn't decided to keep her yet.
Eva grew anxious, fidgeting with her clothing, fingers nervously kneading the fabric.
"All right, if you have any questions, you can ask Terry."
Terry was the mansion's butler.
In this way, Eva got the job, and she was very grateful, continuously expressing her thanks.
"That was our first meeting... and my impression of him wasn't very good." The narration, delivered in Eva's calm voice, mingled with the gentle piano melody, causing the audience's emotions to ebb and flow with the plot. "He was a bit self-destructive at the time, and I really disliked that kind of person. I learned to be independent and live on my own from a very young age, but he wasn't."