"Greed" is a classic film that explores the depths of human nature and desire, depicting the dramatic changes in character and fate brought about by sudden wealth. The movie tells the story of a loving and kind couple who, after coming into a large sum of money, experience a drastic shift in their personalities and relationship, ultimately leading to their downfall. The stark contrast between the male and female protagonists before and after winning the lottery is crucial in highlighting the dramatic watershed that occurs.
To enhance the main storyline, the film introduces a supporting character who evolves from self-sacrifice to jealousy and resentment, eventually destroying the lives of the main couple and spiraling into his own desert of destruction driven by money madness. This character not only sets up and advances the main couple’s acquaintance and romance but also provides external stimulation and a brutal endpoint to their transformation. Through this character’s journey from sacrifice to hatred to destruction, the film effectively portrays how desire and greed can turn a person from good to evil.
Additionally, the film portrays a couple who collect junk and sell lottery tickets for the female protagonist, dreaming of riches but meeting a tragic end. There is also an elderly pair of kind neighbors who disregard money and ultimately find fulfillment in love. These subplots offer contrasting reflections of the main storyline, illustrating both the positive and negative outcomes of human ambition.
Key props like the accordion and the bird in the cage connect several pivotal scenes, witnessing the transformation of the characters through the same objects. The caged bird serves as a metaphor for the beauty of human nature imprisoned by greed and desire.
At 3:04, the male protagonist's failure to return home prompts the female protagonist to search for him out of worry. This scene beautifully transitions from the awakening of love, with the female protagonist ready to return to a normal life, to a roller coaster of emotions when she discovers her husband has stolen money. The shift from love to resentment, coupled with the surrounding festivities, the warmth of others, and the realization of the theft, amplifies the emotional gap.
The female protagonist's journey from being stingy with money to counting, hiding, and sleeping with gold coins, and the male protagonist's progression from asking for money to robbing and killing for it, vividly depict the gradual erosion of their morals by greed. This escalating villainy makes the characters' transformation more authentic and relatable. Details such as hiding the recovered change after buying bad meat highlight the meticulousness and accuracy of their performances, bringing the characters to life.
"Greed" is not just a film about desire and human nature; it profoundly reveals how greed can corrupt the soul, showcasing the real struggle within human nature. It leaves viewers reflecting on their own desires and choices through its powerful storytelling and compelling character arcs.