居家防疫一日推一部電影的悶熱七月天，就來複習這一部，有水，有童話，有奇幻，也有愛情，為了打破隔閡與跨越藩籬而存在 —— 第 90 屆奧斯卡最佳影片得主，Guillermo del Toro 的《#水底情深》。
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
耗盡上帝所有層次的湛藍，抽離人間陰鬱垂死的渺小，深不可測的水底萬物為此而靜止，透明的泡沫柔和沐浴在這道光芒週遭，輕舞旋轉再散開冒向上方的水平面，靜靜閃耀著永恆的光芒，一旁寒冷的黑暗不動聲色，隔絕了整個塵世的紛擾庸俗，這是愛情最純淨而懾人的樣貌，兩個孤獨破碎的靈魂毫無掩飾的深深一吻，為彼此而生，為彼此而死，猶如水般柔軟填補千瘡百孔的軀殼，為彼此而完整。
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
一場啞巴與魚人的戀曲，一段平凡與不凡的交會，從開始到結束的一切氛圍、畫面、時空、故事到音樂都巧奪天工，在《羊男的迷宮》後 Guillermo del Toro 再度透過電影此項魔法呈現自身內在美好而善良的世界，美麗極致，浪漫極致，愛情撼動靈魂深處的模樣連鴆毒也一飲而盡，真正的愛情無論身為怪物、野獸、凡人、殘疾，都是褪去偽裝後彼此眼裡那一抹最美而永遠停駐的景色。
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
在冷戰時期的美國，一處高度隱密、戒備森嚴的政府實驗室裡，總是形單影隻的女清潔工 Elisa 因啞巴缺陷，以為自己一生注定被沉默和孤寂籠罩，與不得志的同性戀畫家 Giles 一同租在電影院上方的舊房裡，兩個被世界冷落的寂寞生命互相陪伴、加油打氣。每天都重複著一樣的作息，正常人的生理慾望，導演亦沒有忽視。一天清掃環境時，意外發現一處列為機密控管的實驗室，藏著被大型水槽囚禁的神秘兩棲生物，有近似人類的外型，卻佈滿鱗片也有魚鰓，據說亞馬遜當地的土著將魚人視為神一般供奉。
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
雙眼落在這個奇特的生物身上，孤獨的 Elisa 似乎感受到一種前所未有的衝動，因為一個無法言語，一個並非人類，能發出的聲響只有可憐的殘缺之聲，某種程度而言，他們猶如被世界驅離的同類。在冷漠疏離的環境，她帶著純淨的眼神，溫暖的童心，裝在成年女人的身體裡，水煮蛋代表了食慾也藏著情慾，從擺放一顆漸漸到一字排開，魚人學會比劃蛋的手語，在音樂悠揚的薰陶下也建立起不需隻字片語的溝通橋樑，究竟，人與人的互動除去言語之後還剩下什麼？
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
人類生而具備溝通的能力，後來成了巧言令色舌燦蓮花，無法傳遞真情、難以表達本意，然而，這兩人之間卻是無聲勝有聲，舉手投足散發信任與關愛，每個眼神暗藏著情感之流動，他們寂靜的國度裡沒有任何人能擅闖，不得其門而入，只要彼此相擁，死也不足為懼。
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
When he looks at me, the way he looks at me. He does not know what I lack or how I am incomplete. He sees me for what I am, as I am.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Guillermo del Toro 浪漫到無可救藥的故事，總會折射歷史狀態和社會弊病，《羊男的迷宮》以奇幻故事包裝了西班牙內戰的殘酷史實，《水底情深》裡也隨處可見美蘇對峙時期的性別歧視、沙文主義、菁英文化、階級分明和種族霸凌的醜陋樣貌。
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Michael Shannon 的上校讓整部電影的轉折更具層次感，他象徵著權力、暴力、控制慾和另一種男性主宰的渴望，先是在廁所裡毫不避諱的於女性面前小解，以羞辱下位者的姿態宣示權威，接著走到哪都把玩著那支電擊棒，以管教之名不斷凌虐人魚發洩怒氣，自恃於實驗室裡如神的存在，盲從買下業務口中代表成功人士的凱迪拉克，還是足以匹配他獨特品味的限量色，以男性雄風和權力地位凌駕眾人之上讓他洋洋得意。但偏偏，自始至終不屑一顧的女性清潔員工竟在他眼皮底下讓自己顏面盡失，將軍翻臉不認人的責罵更狠狠挫了他的銳氣，為了彌補過失最終殺紅了眼，鮮明劃分出整個故事裡的善與惡、是與非、黑與白，宛如多數童話中不可或缺的道德對立，在泯滅人性的遭遇裡看見人性緩緩綻放。
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
整部電影私心認為最出色之處在於導演處理情慾的手法，名符其實的「魚水之歡」。
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
水、愛和情慾的意象都是流動的，從晨光自慰到水煮蛋的暗示，上校一語雙關的威脅恫嚇，會被以黑色童話視之也是因為情慾與生活的難以分割，純真的心靈並非除去性慾，而是以再自然不過的角度看待慾望。所謂相由心生，朋友、同志畫家、心地善良的啞女，親眼見證也體現了愛情的本質，若被成見歧視與仇恨矇蔽了雙眼，便無法理解更遑論接納如此清晰而美麗的模糊感受，只有用自己的心才能看清事物，真正重要的東西是眼睛看不到的。就因真相往往不夠完美，而人們需要的更多，在撼動天地的淒美愛情面前，導演將所有的道德議題、合理爭論都任憑浪潮奔流入海，泛起老派而真摯的陣陣漣漪，撫慰了現代人渴求溝通的冰冷心溝。
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
「我相信生命，我相信愛情，我更相信電影。」
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I believe in life. I believe in love and I believe in cinema.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
投入電影二、三十年至今，Guillermo del Toro 深刻體悟到一時的順遂不是永遠的順遂，往往下一秒就從高處墜落谷底，經歷潮起潮落，他依然堅持初衷，投注六年的時光籌備拍攝，勇於挑戰各種世代與族群的限制，畢竟，好萊塢始終不是一個樂意給予拉丁美洲人種和奇幻電影機會的友善之地。
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
《水底情深》讓人情不自禁愛上的一點，在於導演親手扭轉了怪物電影的框架，也親手改變了愛情童話的陳規，現實世界裡公主和王子，走到後來只有一個千瘡百孔滿是殘缺的孤獨靈魂。但，純粹的愛情是看見彼此真實的面貌，沒有一個人需要為了追求不屬於自己的事物而隱藏自我，唯一在電影裡蛻變的，就是愛上彼此再平凡不過的一面，一無所懼，為心底最美的情感放手一博。
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
上善若水，愛，是「水」情感化後的樣貌，有時桀傲不馴有時以柔克剛，一個無孔不入一個無處不在，導演將自己堅信不移的人生價值幻化成令人著迷且懾服的電影美學和藝術語言，溫暖如水包覆觀眾，浪漫如水凝聚人心，純粹如水滲透表象，綺麗如水深沉致命，奇異如水拓展想像，悠揚如水餘波盪漾，細膩如水綿延無盡，寬闊如水觸碰藩籬，悠久如水亙古流長。
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
「水的形狀隨著容器而變，如此溫柔，同時具有地球上最強大的力量，穿透硬石腐蝕鋼鐵，無孔不入。我想這就是愛，我們能與年長十五、二十歲的人談一場忘年之戀，也可與同性別、不同宗教、不同政治立場的人墜入情網，宛若水的形態和模樣，愛足以包容一切差異，打破所有藩籬，跨越千里鴻溝。」

【一筆一畫的秘密】THE SECRET IN YOUR NAME
(English writing below)

師父曾說，如果自己運氣不好時，可以多寫自己的名字來補運，但只限吉祥的名字。😁

「李季謙」這名字是我師父取的。我的原名，主頑固，與六親和他人的關係不好。名字裡有帝王之格，很年輕就會做領導性的工作，但帝王帶兵打江山時，必定會有血光之災，會受傷流血，因此原名有開刀住院格，而且到老都是如此。

當時我和師父沒見過面，是我第一次打電話給師父時，他在電話中爲我分析名字。他說的都對。確實在我十二和十三歲時，我的眼睛就已開刀過兩次，還留下疤痕，也因長期腸胃不好曾住院。無論是家裡或外面，人緣都不好。我讀書時，就已被老師認定有領導能力。出來工作時，事業運賺錢能力也扶搖直上。可以說，無論我在哪裡就職，要突顯自己的才幹，得到官位或加薪，從來不是問題。但，一切的好，都必須付出代價。

我原本是單姓單名，父親取的。父親、爺爺、大伯和我妹一樣是單姓單名，很是獨特，令許多人誤以爲我不是新加坡人。因爲名字別緻，又有延續李家傳承的感覺，我告訴師父我不想改名。

師父便笑說是我固執作怪，不要改名的原因不實際。真正要延續家族傳承，讓祖先臉上有光，不是保留個名字就算，而是自己本事做出來的事情。如果自己的名字讓自己一直出事，何來的成就可言，又豈是祖先想看到的？祖先沒讀什麼書，如果懂姓名學，他們怎可能不要我有個好名字助運呢？

我特別喜歡我名字裡的「謙」字。師父說將來我會有大成就（他沒說是哪方面），這字會提醒我不要太驕傲。因爲人紅是非必定多，這「謙」字的甜度，比我原名更討喜，能減少許多別人對我的誤會。

師父取名，甚是用心，有遠見。因為我尚未拜師，根本沒想到自己會做今天這樣的工作。

我的身分證仍然保留原名，算是對祖先的一個交代。但在外和家人之間，都是稱呼我的新名。我覺得就猶如有些人爲自己取洋名一樣，祇是漢字的靈動力遠遠超過英文字母，能夠給予我的加持是非一般的。如果你現在稱呼我的原名，我還會倍感陌生呢！

我改名已13年，確實一年比一年好。

學姓名學，必需先學八字學。因爲名字是後天，八字是先天。名字是用五格來斷吉凶。每個字有自己的五行和音律。讀不懂客人的八字，無法深入知道她他名字的缺憾在哪裡，更沒辦法以一個良名去彌補她他八字的不足。可惜我在姓名學方法沒有天賦。學了許久，能很好的解析一個名字，卻無法爲客人取良名。所以需要改名的客人，我都介紹他們去找師父。

但，人是多疑的，有些祇是空有發財夢，卻並非幹大事的料。

客人中，有些拖了許久，才聯絡師父。如果是爲自己，就算了。但有些是爸爸媽媽級的人物，爲自己的愛情結晶，也依然自私。

事先已告訴某位媽媽，她孩子名字很不吉利，會如何如何，我勸她去找師父改名。她說會來找我看孩子的八字，我笑笑。妳在我面前說的是幾句真話，妳當我真不懂嗎？怕傷了妳的自尊，給面子不說破而已。

後來，幼女真的出事了，她才嘗試聯絡師父，說她認為現在是「好時機」。（不是錢的問題）

母愛，不見得真的是最偉大的。雖然孩子不是她最疼的，如此拿孩子的命運來冒險，也是有過失。

大家要懂，你口中說的「好時機」是你自己的一種感覺，不見得和現實吻合。說不定，因為你的婆媽，你已錯過了最佳的時機了。

另一位男客人，也說他會找師父改名。我一樣笑笑。一個男人，有多少本領，就算沒有照片，在臉書私訊裡講幾句話，我便已知。更何況，我已見過他本人三次。他，最終也沒有找到師父。

改名改命，不是你拿錢給我們，我們就「應該」、「必須」、「肯定」爲你服務。你在一旁偷偷觀察我們時，我們也一樣在觀察你，看你有多少耐力與誠意，看看你會不會去幫助社會。

自古，學風水命理的都知道，客人必須有德，我們才能教他如何改命造命。這是祖師傳下來的戒律。違背了這個戒律，爲了名利，胡亂教導，罪業深重。自己不是見死不救，如果真是這樣的心態，我們何必寫那麽多文章，免費供大家閱讀冥想？祇是有些人，真的不能讓他好命有錢，會累人累己的。

不是錢跟地位，決定你能不能夠有良名。你的八字，你的面相有德，你自然而然就拿得起一個良名。

.......................

Shifu once said that if you find your fortunes dwindling, you can write your name in repetition to boost your luck. Condition is it must be an auspicious name in the first place. 😁

My current Chinese name 李季謙 was given by my Master. My old name dictated my stubbornness and poor relationships with my family. It carried the fate of an emperor, which explained my many leadership positions from a young age. Like an emperor leading his men to fight for his empire, there was bound to be bloodshed. This will cause me to incur more injuries, that call for surgery and hospital stay, all the way to old age.

At the time, I had never met Shifu in person. In my first phone call to Shifu, he analysed my Chinese name over the phone and was accurate on every count. Indeed when I was 12 and 13 years old, I underwent 2 eye surgeries and had scars to prove for it. Due to long-term stomach issues, I was hospitalised before. Be it family or external relations, I did not have good interpersonal relations. During my schooling days, my teachers saw my leadership qualities and groomed me. After I started working, my career luck and money-making abilities were always rising.

You can say that, no matter where I went, being recognised, getting promotions and pay raise were never a problem for me. However, as with all things good, there was always a price to pay.

My original Chinese name only had a single Chinese character, given by my father. His own name, just like those of my grandfather big Uncle and my sister, is also of a single Chinese character. It was different from the norm and because of that, many thought I was not a Singaporean. I felt my name was quite special and formed a continuity of the Lee’s family lineage, so I told Master that I did not want to change my name.

Shifu laughed at my stubbornness and impracticality. He said the true way of continuing the family lineage and bringing glory to our ancestors lies not in a name, but in achievements accomplished with my own abilities. If my name was going to bring me misfortunes, how would I have any sustainable achievement and would my ancestors wish to see me constantly in trouble? Given the little education of my ancestors, would they not want me to have a good name to aid my fortune in life, if they had known better?

I am especially fond of the character 謙 in my current name. Shifu predicted that I would have great accomplishments in the future. Although he did not said in which aspect, this character would remind me not to be proud, as gossip tends to surface when one's popularity surges. The sweetness in this character 謙 is much more likeable than my original name, and it will help minimise misunderstandings others have of me.

Shifu always put in such meticulous effort and foresight in crafting Chinese names.

I was not even a disciple of him at that time. I had no idea I would be doing what I am doing now.

My identity card still retains my old name, as a mark of respect to my ancestors. But in my work and with the family, I use my current name. I think of it as somewhat like coining a Christian name. Most people do not have their Christian names in their ICs either. But my edge is that historically, Chinese Han characters are more powerful in influencing one person's luck, than English alphabets. So the empowerment I get is definitely extraordinary. If you address me now by my old name, I would feel very alien indeed!

Since my name change 13 years ago, I have seen improvements year after year.

When we learn anthroponymy, we must first master the subject of Bazi. Because names are acquired, whereas Bazi are inherent. The auspiciousness of a Chinese name is determined by the five grids. Every Chinese character and its pronunciation has a different unique element. If you are unable to decipher the Bazi of a client thoroughly, you will not be able to find out what is regrettably missing in his/her Chinese name. Nor will you be able to come up with a good name to make up for the lack in the client's Bazi.

Unfortunately, I have no talent in anthroponymy. While I can analyse a name very well, I am unable to coin good Chinese names despite learning for many years. Hence, for clients who have this need, I always refer them to Shifu.

Alas, humans are suspicious by nature. Some only dream of riches but have no real ability to achieve it.

Among clients, some took too long to contact Master. If it is only for one’s own benefits, I could not care less. But some were parents seeking improvement for their own children, yet were too selfish to act swiftly.

I once told a mother that her child's name was very inauspicious and what would happen in the future. I advised her to look for Shifu for the change of name. She said she would seek my help in getting her child's Bazi read.

I smiled to myself. You really think I have no idea how much truth there is in your words? I kept mum because I did not want to hurt your pride.

Later on, her youngest daughter really got into trouble. She attempted contacting Shifu, citing that "it is a good time now". No, she didn't have money issues.

I had seen enough to say this: a mother's love isn't always the most noble.

The daughter was not her favourite child. But to risk your child's destiny this way, it is a sin.

Please understand that your “right moment” is based only on your own feeling, which may be incongruent with the reality. For all you know, you might have let the "best moment" fleet past because of your indecisiveness.

Another male client told me that he would definitely look for Shifu to change his name. I also just smiled. I do not need to meet a man in real life, to know how much real ability he truly has. It is telling enough from a photo or a mere few words exchanged via PM. Moreover, I had seen him thrice. He eventually did not seek Shifu's help.

Just because you are willing to fork out money, it does not mean we MUST, SHOULD, SURELY will serve you.

Changing your name and destiny for a fee is not a given, nor is it our obligation. As you secretly observe us from the sides, we are also doing the same. We see how much sincerity and perseverance you have and whether you will give back to the society.

Any one who learns Chinese Metaphysics should know that since ancient times, a client must have virtues before we can help him/her to transform and establish his/her favoured destiny. This is a precept laid down by the grandmasters. If we flout it for the pursuit of profits and fame, we would be heavy sinners.

Do not think of us as someone who will watch you sink and die. If we are indeed of such character, why would we put up so much free content, videos and articles, for your consumption and thinking? There are indeed people that do not deserve more riches in life, otherwise havoc to oneself and others will ensue.

Wealth and status do not decide if you can have a good name. If you possess virtues in your Bazi and facial features, you will definitely be able to carry a great name.