Set in the American West in the 1880s, William was once a ruthless killer, but after marrying his wife and having two children, he decides to wash his hands of the business and live a quiet life.
When two cowboys cause trouble in a brothel, one of them brutally disfigures a prostitute, so the prostitutes are furious and offer a thousand dollar reward for the death of the two cowboys.
William decides to go back to his old ways and takes part in the action, eventually killing both cowboys and the local sheriff, “Little Bill”.
This is an anti-heroic western, the performance of violence is extremely restrained, different from the traditional westerns that commonly glorify violence, every gunfight carries a heavy moral burden, and strongly explores the state of mind of the killer and the killed, through this way of expression, questioning the legitimacy of violence to solve the problem, and exploring the price of vengeance and the evil consequences of the cycle of violence.
In the last scene of the tavern fight, the old man is simply handsome. With rage in his heart, he accomplishes the bloody killing with calm and precise movements, showing his strength as a cold killer, and at the same time revealing a kind of sad destiny.
1992 / USA / Drama Western / Clint Eastwood / Clint Eastwood Gene Hackman
Kansas farmer William (Clint Eastwood) was known as a killer and robber in his youth, however, when he meets Claudia, his life begins to change forever.
William and Claudia married and had a child, and washed their hands of the business, and the family lived happily ever after.
But it didn’t last long. Claudia died soon after, and William was left alone with his two children to live a life of poverty and tranquility.
At this time, a cowboy in the area drunkenly beat a prostitute and disfigurement of the vicious incident, bad guy sheriff Daggett (GeneHackman GeneHackman) only to put the matter of the incident hastily, the murderer is still on the loose.
Local prostitutes are donating money and asking for a $1,000 reward to bring the killer to justice.
“William is approached by the Coldfield Kid, who asks for a partnership in the business.
In order to give his children a happy and rich family, William finally agrees to go back to work.
