Movie Review | ‘The Legend of 1900’
A Man Who Deserve the Reputation of Pianist
The story of 1900 is narrowed by a trumpet player named Max, who is the only and closest friend of 1900. Abandoned on board the luxury liner The Virginian as a baby, 1900 was adopted by an engine room worker. With every passing year, 1900 comes to show an incredible talent for playing piano. When he reaches his twenties, 1900 charms audience on broad with music ‘that’s never been heard before’. As word of his talent spreads, he draws the attention of record producers and public, even the father of jazz comes to challenge the prodigy to a piano duel.
With thousands of people pass by day after day, however, the talented pianist never set off the ship. Despite the attraction of fame and fortune and even the affection of a woman, 1900 remains to live on the ship steadily.
When Max finally finds 1900 on the liner The Virginian, which is going to be abandoned and destroyed, 1900 refuses to get off the ship because of the fear of the possibilities and the infinity of the life on the land. In the end he dies where he was born with the explosion of The Virginian.
Part of why this movie touches me is the strong bond of 1900 and piano. He makes fun with piano, expresses himself with piano, reads people with piano, as it is part of his own body. He goes for piano without any thought of fame or fortune or even interest. He merely lives for the 88 keys and infinite tunes.
However, the truth that 1900 can not confront the infinite life of land adds a deep feeling of sorrow to the end of the movie. Probably we all need just a little ship to live in, as 1900 does, but we have to choose every accessory of this ship from the infinite and dizzying world on our own.
