Kill Bill Vol, 2
by Will Lindsey
Tarantino films have a substantial use of food in them, which represent some sort of idea or symbolism. One particular scene that involves food that stands out is Uma Thurman's scene in which she has trained rigorously, but is unable to use chopsticks adequately to eat rice. Her martial arts master, teaches her to learn and master the three-inch punch. She practices this for hours upon hours and never actually has success, but her knuckles become blood splashed and extremely sore. The scene that speaks volumes is whenever her master gives her a bowl a rice.
When you think about rice, it's literally the easiest food to eat, with the exception of soup or stew. However, something as simple as wanting to eat rice and not having the ability to do so with chopsticks is, ultimately helpless. She attempts to eat the rice with her hands, but her master dumps the rice on the ground, giving her a new bowl, but only allowing her to use the chopsticks to eat the rice.
What the eating of the rice symbolizes is cultural assimilation and cultural education. Eating rice with your bare hands in an Asian culture would probably be considered disrespectful, and if not that, than definitely animalistic. However, when truly accepting the ways of the land, eating rice like the people of Asian residency, shows a sign of respect and open-mindedness. Using chopsticks at first is a little tricky, but when learning how to use them, it can be a sign of great accomplishment and progress.
This scene, in terms of the movie, fundamentally symbolizes progression. Rice is used to show the intensity of Uma Thurman's character's struggle and vulnerability. Conclusively, she finds a way to progress even in the face of helplessness.
When you think about rice, it's literally the easiest food to eat, with the exception of soup or stew. However, something as simple as wanting to eat rice and not having the ability to do so with chopsticks is, ultimately helpless. She attempts to eat the rice with her hands, but her master dumps the rice on the ground, giving her a new bowl, but only allowing her to use the chopsticks to eat the rice.
What the eating of the rice symbolizes is cultural assimilation and cultural education. Eating rice with your bare hands in an Asian culture would probably be considered disrespectful, and if not that, than definitely animalistic. However, when truly accepting the ways of the land, eating rice like the people of Asian residency, shows a sign of respect and open-mindedness. Using chopsticks at first is a little tricky, but when learning how to use them, it can be a sign of great accomplishment and progress.
This scene, in terms of the movie, fundamentally symbolizes progression. Rice is used to show the intensity of Uma Thurman's character's struggle and vulnerability. Conclusively, she finds a way to progress even in the face of helplessness.