I wrote twitter meta about the one good thing about this film (Adam Driver’s acting, the PURE character work he did with zero dialogue) because I finally figured out what he was talking about when he said he was using “mask work” with Kylo Ren. He wasn’t playing through a mask only when he wore the helmet, he was acting as if his very FACE was a stoic blank mask he was looking through. That’s why Kylo Ren as a character has such a specific feeling to him, and why the audience instantly responded to Ben Solo, who could show his emotions.
This character was always 100% a young boy hiding behind a mask that hid and disallowed every emotion except for his anger, the only emotion that men are allowed to feel. This character is an exploration of how toxic masculinity harms men. And what miracles can happen for men internally when they embrace emotionality and forgive themselves and use their energy to do good. (I’m crying about him again.)
the towerxvi { upheaval • release • transformation }
– my digital painting of a star wars based interpretation of the tower card xvi from the tarot major arcana // created as part of the reylo tarot project
Rey asked, rubbing her eyes. It took her some time before she realized it was an unnecessary question. She KNEW where she was.
When the Jedi turned her neck, she saw him. Only a few feet away, Kylo Ren was sleeping deeply. His bare back, in the diffused light, rose and fell slowly, like the waves of the sea on a calm day. Rey found herself in his mind.
