VOA常速英语2016--南北战争电影《一个国家的诞生》简介

南北战争电影《一个国家的诞生》简介

Unlike most films about slavery, which have focused on the perseverance¹ and sacrifice of slaves in the American South during the antebellum era, The Birth of a Nation talks of rebellion and revenge.

与大多数专注表现美国内战前期南方奴隶们坚忍与牺牲特质的电影不同，《一个国家的诞生》（The Birth of a Nation）讲的是抗争与复仇。

The film follows Nat Turner's journey to radicalization and rebellion. A studious boy, Nat was likely taught to read by his white masters, and became a recognized preacher in the slave community. His ability to soothe² and console the enslaved hearts of his brethern was exploited by slaveowners, who saw the word of the Bible as a way to teach slaves passivity and obedience³ to the white master.

电影以主人公纳特追寻激进和抗争为主线。纳特是一个勤奋的男孩儿，因而他的白人奴隶主教他识字，随后，他成为了奴隶社区一名家喻户晓的牧师。而奴隶主们看到的却是他能安抚奴隶们的心，因为在奴隶主们眼中，圣经中的文字只是让奴隶们被动服从的工具。

But during his preaching tours, Turner saw so much abuse against the slaves, he could no longer turn the other cheek. The more pain he witnessed, the more his sermons became combative⁴, defiant⁵, and aggressive. He was punished severely⁶. His wife raped⁷. But Turner did not submit.

但在讲道过程中，纳特见到了太多奴隶们所受的虐待，他无法再坐视不管。他见到的苦痛越多，他的讲道内容就越反动、越挑衅、越激进。他也因此受到了惩罚。他的妻子也遭到了强暴。但他并未因此屈服。

Parker says he got invested in the story not only as a filmmaker and an actor, but also as an activist⁸. “Understanding the importance of Nat Turner and projecting the story in a way that is positive and honest has been on my soul since the moment I said I need to make this film,” he says.

帕克说，他自己不仅是这个电影的制片人和演员，也积极投入到电影中。他这样说道，“自从我说我必须得拍这个电影以来，我就一直都沉浸在以一种积极坦诚的方式来理解主人公纳特以及构思情节的发展”。

The film is powerful in its cinematography, its attempts at historic accuracy, and its compelling story of systemic prejudice and abuse.

《一个国家的诞生》张力十足，历史情节刻画细致，对偏见和虐待的描写入木三分。

 

Unfortunately, the movie, which had an early Oscar buzz, may be doomed⁹ to obscurity because of resurfacing allegations that Parker raped a young woman during his college years. Although he was acquitted¹⁰ in court in 2001, the news is threatening to overshadow his work. Time will tell if The Birth of a Nation will survive its controversial creator, as well as its controversial message that for the oppressed, sometimes the way to redemption is by the sword.

不幸的是，这部奥斯卡夺奖热门影片由于后来传出帕克在大学期间曾强暴过一名年轻女子而归于沉寂。虽然2001年帕克无罪释放，但丑闻依然给这部巨作抹了黑。只有时间能证明这部电影的光环是否能胜过制片人的丑闻，以及是否能有力证明一件事——对被压迫的人们来说，有时候，拿起武器反抗才是救赎的最好方式。

1 perseverance   

n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠

参考例句：

• It may take some perseverance to find the right people.要找到合适的人也许需要有点锲而不舍的精神。
• Perseverance leads to success.有恒心就能胜利。

2 soothe   

v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承

参考例句：

• I've managed to soothe him down a bit.我想方设法使他平静了一点。
• This medicine should soothe your sore throat.这种药会减轻你的喉痛。

3 obedience   

n.服从，顺从

参考例句：

• Society has a right to expect obedience of the law.社会有权要求人人遵守法律。
• Soldiers act in obedience to the orders of their superior officers.士兵们遵照上级军官的命令行动。

4 combative   

adj.好战的；好斗的

参考例句：

• Mr. Obama has recently adopted a more combative tone.奥巴马总统近来采取了一种更有战斗性的语调。
• She believes that women are at least as combative as are.她相信女性至少和男性一样好斗。

5 defiant   

adj.无礼的，挑战的

参考例句：

• With a last defiant gesture,they sang a revolutionary song as they were led away to prison.他们被带走投入监狱时，仍以最后的反抗姿态唱起了一支革命歌曲。
• He assumed a defiant attitude toward his employer.他对雇主采取挑衅的态度。

6 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

7 raped   

v.以暴力夺取，强夺( rape的过去式和过去分词 )；强奸

参考例句：

• A young woman was brutally raped in her own home. 一名年轻女子在自己家中惨遭强暴。 来自辞典例句
• We got stick together, or we will be having our women raped. 我们得团结一致，不然我们的妻女就会遭到蹂躏。 来自辞典例句

8 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

9 doomed   

命定的

参考例句：

• The court doomed the accused to a long term of imprisonment. 法庭判处被告长期监禁。
• A country ruled by an iron hand is doomed to suffer. 被铁腕人物统治的国家定会遭受不幸的。

10 acquitted   

宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现

参考例句：

• The jury acquitted him of murder. 陪审团裁决他谋杀罪不成立。
• Five months ago she was acquitted on a shoplifting charge. 五个月前她被宣判未犯入店行窃罪。