Explain Mei's search for identity in the movie House of the flying daggers - Essay Example

The Search for True Identity: A Review of Xiao Mei’s Character in The House of Flying DaggersThe movie House of the Flying Daggers opens with Leo and Jin, government sentinels who probes into the real identity of a blind dancer and whom they suspect to be part of the Flying Daggers, Xiao Mei. The female protagonist, played by Zhang Ziyi, is a determined, aggressive character. However, it seems that she is uncertain about her true identity, especially when she accidentally fell in love with Jin and Leo.

When the viewers are initially familiarized with Mei’s character she is shown as a blind woman forced by the Flying Daggers to dance sensuously for the male audiences. As the movie moves on the viewer sees the real breadth, profundity, and strength of the character. Yet, she becomes uncertain about her identity when she fell in love with Jin and Leo: a conflict arises between her duty as a member of the Flying Daggers and her life as a normal person able to passionately love. She then searches for her true identity.

Throughout the stylishly composed fight and action episodes Mei shows her capability and determination to safeguard the Flying Daggers. Mei is defenseless as a prostitute at the onset. But her boldness and audacity emerges when she deflects from her foes in prison. Later on, the story reveals that she is just pretending to be blind. Her true identity conceals miserable passion, rage, pain, and modesty. However, there is practically no progress for the character of Mei, and this absence of description primarily removes any appeal to her search for her lost identity, leaving it drained of the affective appeal it was struggling to attain.

Because the plot progresses so rapidly, the true identity of Mei remains enigmatic throughout the entire movie; her identity merely tags along the plot, with a plethora of implicit and explicit identities. Despite of this, Mei’s identity has still a little profundity. She tries to take vengeance for the death of her father, which persistently contradicts her longing to remove herself from violence and become free. Unfortunately, the character of Mei is weak, and the reason she becomes intimately connected to Leo, aside from their common longing for independence, is ambiguous.

Moreover, the reason she is intimately linked to Jin several years prior is indistinct. These aspects blurred Mei’s search for her true identity. Unfortunately, the weak and paltry progress of the three main characters fails to bear the great power of Mei’s struggle to find her true identity, and the experience appears saturated and overemotional. Nevertheless, Mei, as part of her struggle to find her real identity, cannot force herself to feel affection for Leo. Nevertheless, when Jin became a burden, she is instructed by the head of the Flying Daggers, Nia, to get rid of him permanently.

At this juncture, Mei finally found who she truly is. She frees Jin and they passionately consummate their love for each other. Jin afterwards implores Mei to escape with him, but her obligation to the Flying Daggers and her adoration for Jin tears her apart. She finally makes a decision. Being a true and loyal member of the House of the Flying Daggers, she let Jin go. References Atkinson, M. “House of Flying Daggers,” The Village Voice 49 (2004): 1+