How does one go about describing this film? Bizarre, to say the least, but also enlightening. It depicts the Japanese obsession with furthering yourself in life with education. But it also shows the toll this obsession takes on the typical family: exorbitant costs for a tutor, personal shame at the hands of teachers and classmates, and the risk of dishonoring your parents by your own academic failures. The symbollism in the film can only be understand to its full extent by the Japanese. As Americans we do not deal with the same rigorous demands for achievement. The final scene depicts a murder-suicide that is incomprehensible to most Americans. Our culture does not have the high standards in relation to success and education that the japanese do.
Random Thoughts:
It is best to understand the symbollism before viewing this film: the helicopters and death, the parents going to the car to discuss family issues, the invasive attitude of the tutor, the young newlywed neighbor and her own struggles, the relationship between the classmates, the chaotic food fight at the end...But I think this film teaches us lot about a culture we truly do not understand. View it with an open mind, only then can you grasp the context of it.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment