[Chua-young's Music Box] The Reason for Tears in the Theater... The Emotions Left by the OSTs of 'Wicked' and 'Wicked: For Good'

In the winter of 2024, the film 〈Wicked〉 opened the door, and a year later, the 〈Wicked: For Good〉 returned to theaters. The 〈Wicked〉 series, which has been imprinted in the world as the wicked witch Elphaba with green skin since 1939 due to Victor Fleming's film 〈The Wizard of Oz〉, instantly sheds the stigma of the wicked witch character. The 〈Wicked〉 series, which reconstructs the image of the wicked witch character, inherits the thematic consciousness of Gregory Maguire's original novel 「Wicked」. Gregory Maguire, who is also queer, revealed the intention behind writing 「Wicked」 by stating, "I too felt conflicted between the world's gaze and the 'otherness' I felt within myself." 「Wicked」 reflects the author's sense of alienation and perspective as a minority, having personally experienced the distorted gaze and discrimination of the world as a sexual minority. This was reborn as a film through the lens of director Jon Chu, who was born to Asian American parents and has the identity of a second-generation immigrant. In this context, the film's OST, which is also a number from the musical 'Wicked', serves as a conduit that conveys their voices with emotional pathos. In particular, the theme songs 'Defying Gravity' and 'For Good' from 〈Wicked〉 and 〈Wicked: For Good〉 exist as the emotional core of the films, captivating the audience.

From Wicked Witch to Earth Goddess Gaia

Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), with green skin and uncontrollable powerful magic, did not receive love from her parents since childhood and was raised by her animal nanny, Dullibear. Among people, Elphaba was thoroughly othered, and in her alienation, she reveals her true self only in the company of nature and animals. The sequence in 〈Wicked〉 where the OST 'The Wizard And I' plays gives a glimpse of Elphaba's nature-friendly attitude. In this sequence, people flee upon seeing her green skin, but she remains unfazed and connects with the flora and fauna. Elphaba runs across the vast fields, revealing her long-held desire to be cheered by the people of Oz alongside the wizard. Singing against the backdrop of the expansive land, Elphaba, filled with joy, evokes the image of Gaia, the earth goddess who embraces all beings.

Alongside Elphaba's love and respect for nature, the image of Elphaba, a woman oppressed under a patriarchal father, and the animals oppressed by the fascist government under the rule of the wizard Oz (Jeff Goldblum) evoke the structural issues of nature and women being objectified and exploited under oppression, calling forth the thoughts of ecofeminism (a political philosophy and theory that sees 'women's oppression' and 'environmental destruction' as occurring under the same power structure, understanding ecological issues, climate change, gender inequality, and class/race issues as a single structural problem). Elphaba exists as a character who personifies the animals oppressed and suffering from the destruction of nature and humanity.

Meanwhile, the fascist Oz, who takes away the voices of all animals that oppose him, creates a yellow brick road by destroying nature to make himself greater in 〈Wicked: For Good〉, and exploits animals for labor. The wizard Oz also embodies the modern technological determinism. Oz does not roam the grand castle but stays in his small machine control room, interacting with humans while hiding behind the machine. The production design of the Emerald City filled with gears and Oz's machine control room seems to bring a steampunk image. Elphaba learns the true nature of the wizard Oz, who oppresses nature, animals, and marginalized beings, and decides to follow her own path. At this moment, the sequence of the song 'Defying Gravity', filled with Elphaba's determination and courage, begins.

The Justice and Solidarity Conveyed by 'Defying Gravity' and 'For Good'

The song 'Defying Gravity' captures the process of Elphaba and her perfect mirror image Glinda (Ariana Grande) making different choices. Glinda, who has not yet realized her true nature, chooses not to confront the massive system. The two decide to walk different paths but wish for each other's happiness. 'Defying Gravity' foreshadows the diverging lives of the two characters due to a momentary choice, but the undeniable owner of this song is Elphaba. 'Defying Gravity' explosively conveys Elphaba's resolve to realize justice, choosing to stand against the oppression of the system and the criticism of people to protect her beliefs and the rejected beings. Cynthia Erivo's strong and solid voice, which also embodies the identity of a Black queer person, provides the audience with an emotional experience deeply connected to the self-assurance of social minorities, evoking powerful emotional catharsis and solidarity.

In 〈Wicked: For Good〉, the song 'For Good' recalls the space in the opening scene of 〈Wicked〉 that hints at the death of the wicked witch. Here, the duet 'For Good' sung by Elphaba and Glinda reflects on the positive impact they had on each other's lives and the preciousness of the time spent together. This duet shares with the audience the realization that Elphaba and Glinda had a relationship that deeply involved each other's identities and growth, beyond mere friendship or opposition. While 'Defying Gravity' focuses on freedom and resistance, 'For Good' emphasizes the value of relationships and interactions. 'For Good' perfectly embodies the theme that runs through the 〈Wicked〉 series: "Acknowledging each other's differences and living together" through music, effectively serving as an emotional connection between the two characters and the audience.

***** Starting with 'Joo Seong-cheol's Locker', which overinterprets objects in films, and looking forward to the rise of actors in 'Kim Ji-yeon's Jewelry Box', to the emotional film music appreciation room 'Chua-young's Music Box', and the purchasing diary of a subculture merchant 'Seong Chan-eol's Comic Books', Cineplay reporters will begin biweekly serialization with their own tastes and perspectives. *****