Your dead is my alive, Chronic

and your alive is my dead

<Chronic> describes, literally, a chronic lethargy of one man. It seems he is not, would not, shall not be diagnosed of any physical or mental illness for now. Rather, others would describe him a stout man with sound character. And yet he suffers silently and clearly, from unbeatable disease, namely insensitivity or frigidity. He is numb to himself, unable to feel anything inside, insensible to other stimulants but for others’ suffer. Now a cruel irony happens that only does he could feel alive through other people’s death, vital through pain. He cannot survive without others’ mortality.

This circumstance is not dramatic at all. On the other hand it could be told that he represents a certain aspect embedded in all the ordinary people’s hearts. How many of us could claim feeling alive, vital, essential and animate while spending our ordinary lives eating, talking, walking, sleeping, typing, watching TV and touching mobiles? We would rather look ourselves being sullen and morose, indifferent to anything except raunch gossips of SNS celebs, consistently looking for something strong and light, stimulating and instantaneous. Already we are used to be exposed to various stuffs whether garbage or treasure, and we cannot spend our time and energy profoundly deliberating those. Chronically exposed and overwhelmed, people tend to be tired, ending up being in a state of torpor. It is impossible for audience to impudently judge this man’s morality - even some could envy him for having his way of life.

This man, David starring Tim Roth, literally sustains his life by assuming the role of hospice nurse, outwardly, taking care of dying people. Their being dead is the only thing which could arouse his sense of life and he cannot detach himself from his role watching people dying, suffering, craving for his help. When such demand stops, David could not find his meaning of life. The end waiting in front of him is so obvious but he exerts himself desperately in his own way. He shall be strong as long as all people are mortal, and yet he shall be perished because he is to the letter, not a god. Here is a man named David, with the same name of the ancient king who strived so much to obtain the unobtainable.