Abstract:

Magnolia is a classic movie. The themes like parent-child relationship, gender and social relations are the key to the movie analysis. Based on these themes, the movie not only demonstrates exquisite diversity by portraying diverse characters and independent stories, but also constructs homogeneity through abstraction particular in films. The excessive performance of the cast highlights the balance between diversity and homogeneity. The movie follows the “the scenes of confession” in traditional melodrama, but very contemporary anti-individualism. The movie presents a central theme that human nature is love.

Key words: excessive performance, scenes of confession, antiindividualism,  diversity and homogeneity, love