This study explores emotional expression ambivalence among middle-aged men and examines the characteristics of their emotional experiences within the tension between social role expectations and personal emotional needs. Furthermore, it analyzes how t...
This study explores emotional expression ambivalence among middle-aged men and examines the characteristics of their emotional experiences within the tension between social role expectations and personal emotional needs. Furthermore, it analyzes how these emotional experiences are represented through film characters and applies the findings to the film planning strategies and creative practice of the short film Years of Years.
The theoretical discussion investigates the social roles of middle-aged men within family life, the workplace, and intimate relationships, as well as the characteristics of their emotional expression. The findings indicate that middle-aged men tend to communicate emotions indirectly through fulfilling responsibilities, providing care through actions, and accompanying others in everyday life, rather than through direct verbal expression. This tendency does not imply the absence of emotions; rather, it reflects the characteristics of emotional expression ambivalence emerging from the tension between emotional needs and social role expectations.
For the case analysis, the films 2046 and About Time were selected. 2046 illustrates the repeated patterns of approach and withdrawal experienced by middle-aged men in intimate relationships, revealing the tension between emotional needs and self-protection as well as the suppressive aspects of emotional expression. In contrast, About Time presents the character of James, who conveys emotions through companionship, attentive listening, and everyday interactions within family relationships. Despite differences in cultural backgrounds and narrative styles, both films demonstrate that middle-aged men's emotional expressions are often realized through actions and relational interactions rather than through direct verbal confessions.
Based on these findings, this study developed the film planning strategies for the short film Years of Years. In terms of character planning, the protagonist Hwang Woo-jin was designed as a middle-aged man with a stable career and a long-term marriage, suggesting that emotional expression ambivalence can emerge within ordinary intimate relationships rather than only through extraordinary events. In terms of emotional representation strategies, the film employs characters' actions and inner monologues instead of dramatic conflicts or direct confessions, thereby audiovisually portraying the emotional expression patterns of middle-aged men.
By integrating theoretical discussions, film case analyses, and creative practice, this study confirms the possibility of transforming emotional expression ambivalence among middle-aged men into cinematic narratives. The findings further suggest that middle-aged men's emotional experiences should be understood not merely as individual issues but as phenomena closely related to sociocultural contexts, gender role expectations, and interactions within intimate relationships. Ultimately, this study seeks to expand the representation of middle-aged male characters in film and contribute to a deeper understanding of emotional expression among middle-aged men.