The Harmony Of The Occident And The Orient

Lost Horizon is a film directed by Frank Capra in 1937. It is adapted from James Hilton's successful and famous novel which has the same title as the film. This film tells a story of Utopia-pursuing. When several westerners try to escape from a local war, they are kidnapped to Tibet where they find Shangri-la. Its natural environment, social system and culture as well as the harmonious relationship enable them to see a completely different world from the Occidental world.This thesis analyzes how the film presents the motif of the film--pursuit and construction of Utopia. It is analyzed from the perspective of Utopia and also applies cultural relativism to the analysis. Chapter 1 reveals the loss of the past Utopia by criticizing the reality. Due to wars and financial crisis, the western world is not as strong and prosperous as before. People are dissatisfied with their living conditions, so they begin to look for a new dreamland. Chapter 2 shows and analyzes the images in Shangri-la which are totally different from the Occident. Through analyzing the environment, residents and social and political system in Shangri-la, it highlights Shangri-la's exotic Utopian characteristics. Chapter 3 shows and analyzes the imagination of the brand-new Utopia from the perspective of construction. This regained Utopia is not a copy of the existing social patterns, but a new construction. It is the result of the cooperation and communication of the Orient and the Occident. At the end, it is concluded that the regained Utopia is an ideal state of harmonious integration of the Oriental and the Occidental cultures.