Film
Review
This is a particularly horrible film. What is more, if you have heard nothing about it (too late now), it will catch you entirely by surprise, as it begins, and indeed continues for some time, in a gentle, sparse, low-key sort of way. As you peer forwards to make out the subtitles against a series of unhelpfully light backgrounds, you could be forgiven for thinking that you are watching simply a soon-to-be heartwarming tale about loneliness and the difficulties of communication between isolated individuals stuggling with the constraints of Japan's very formal society. Because for about an hour there is very little to suggest otherwise except the certificate, and a slight sense that "there must be more to it than this." The film opens with a man's wife dying in hospital. Cut to his life seven years later, he runs a film company, and he and his teenage son are shown to have a solid, amicable relationship. A chance remark from the son that he is looking older sets him thinking about remarrying. His friend suggests that he audition for a wife under the pretext of looking for an actress for a part. And he does. He is drawn to a particular applicant, she appreciates his interest, and cuteish, slightly awkward courtship meetings ensue. She is a little secretive, he a little oversmitten, as is common enough in men of mid-life crisis age. His friend tells him that he feels something odd about the girl, and warns him to be a little cautious, but routinely, not in a "don't go into the cellar, the violins are playing" sort of way. He ignores this, as you do, the couple go for a weekend away.. and then the rest of the film happens. In my opinion,
with which you are cordially invited to differ, the ensuing nastiness,
however graphic, is not merely gratuitous, for several reasons. One
is the question as to whether it all really happens or not, which
is cleverly and confusingly done (although after some thought, I'm
sure the answer is "Yes, it does"). Another is the fact that the victim
has not been set up, by immoral behaviour, to "deserve" what occurs,
as so commonly happens. The film seems to be saying only that some
people get very messed up indeed by their lives, which causes them,
in turn, to do horrible things to others who, like themselves, were
not originally at fault. At the same time, it scares the living pants
off you with some truly hideous images (and sounds), which will ensure
that it is discussed for some time. If you enjoy being horrified,
and do not suffer from any heart conditions, I suggest you go see
for yourself. |
