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by - ShannonTriumphant
I would NOT call it a man/nature movie That title I would bestow upon "A River Runs Through It", what with all the fishing and gambling and risk-taking. In that film, Paul (the Brad Pitt character) refuses to show much feeling and certainly won't let anyone help him, much less ask for help, as is the case in "Dersu".
Conversely, Dersu AND the Kapitan have very "feminine" qualities, ability to show affection (hugging!), emoting readily and appreciation for nature. This is aptly contrasted by the rugged, untutored "galumphing" of the Kapitan's men! The friendship between Dersu and Kapitan reminds me of Sam and Frodo in "The Lord of the Rings"...to sound what some might consider corny!
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With all due respect, I feel that "Dersu Uzala" is one of the most masculine films I have ever seen!
Men who have strong bonds, trust, and deep respect for each other will often display the kinds of emotion that you have typified as "feminine" (hugging, emoting readily, an appreciation for nature). This form of masculinity is primarily found in group situations where one can allow his "guard" to be down.
What you are contrasting as "masculine" (not showing feeling, not asking for help, untutored galumphing) is but merely another form of display in the same masculine continuum. This would primarily be found in group situations where one needs his "guard" to be up.
You call Paul's refusal to ask for help in "A River Runs Through It" as "masculine." It isn't. But neither is Dersu's ultimately successful struggle to ask for help from the Captain "feminine" (I'm thinking of the touching scene in which Dersu asks for bullets in order to hunt sable). If you will recall, it took extreme effort on Dersu's part to finally ask for help, as would have been the case for Paul if he had even tried. Paul's ultimate inability to ask for help contrasted with Dersu's having to confront a deep sense of shame in order to successfully ask for help are both part of the same masculine continuum (one is not "masculine" and the other "feminine"). Whether or not anyone would ask for help is more a matter of that individual's strengths or weaknesses rather than so-called gender designations.
The display of affection between Dersu and the Captain is the result of the most ultimate masculine bond between two men: deep respect, trust, and friendship. While this level of friendship may seem rare among men (certainly in today's media, that's for sure), it really isn't all that uncommon (or less masculine). It's just not currently fashionable to give it it's due these days...
Men are not women, and women are not men. I feel both sexes are diminished by modern society's quest to determine equality between the two by defining the strengths and weaknesses of each as appropriations from the other. Weak women and strong women are both feminine. Weak men and strong men are both masculine.
I laugh or cry, feel joy or grief, have my guard up or down, enjoy the calming scent of pine or clown around in the forest. Sometimes I ask for help, sometimes I don't. None of this makes me any more feminine or any less masculine.
"Gravity is a harsh mistress." -Tick
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