This film originated from the fortunate adoption of Xiaoling. Many people think that luck is due to sympathy, pity, and kindness. In fact, there is a Japanese repayment plot hidden behind this.
The Japanese are most afraid of bothering others, and they must repay their debts when they owe love and debts. From the emperor's grace, to the parent's parenting grace, to some small favors in daily interactions, even as small as a cigarette and a glass of wine.
From the beginning of the film, Yangzi wanted Xiaoling to read the eulogy, but Xing felt that it was inappropriate, and then the three sisters on the top of the mountain thanked Xiaoling for taking care of her father. Behind the scenes, Xing felt that because of her father's departure and the breakdown of the family, she was a child. Failed to fulfill his duty to support his father. And all of this was carried by the young Xiaoling, so they felt that the three sisters owed Xiaoling, and that was the reason for adopting Xiaoling. It is also a form of debt repayment.
In "Chrysanthemum and the Sword", "Japanese ethics have a basic principle, that is, men, women and women receive the great kindness and great virtue of their parents when they arrive." Even if it destroys his happiness, he cannot fail to be filial.”
It was only when Xie Xiaoling was cooking with Xiaoling that Xiaoling said sorry for her mother who broke up other people's families, but Xie Xiaoling said sorry for sending her father on the last journey for Xie Xiaoling.
Fortunately, why did she choose hospice care as her career, or because of the "owe", she owed her father a love for support, a love for repaying the kindness of upbringing, this is a regret in her heart that can never be made up, so she Choose to send more elderly people the last ride to repay, to give yourself peace of mind.
Netizens may feel strange, why did the father abandon the children, and the children still feel guilty for not being able to provide for their father? In addition to the duty of filial piety, this also talks about the Japanese hierarchy, as well as the culture of the emperor and patriarchy.
In Japan, there is absolute respect for the older generation, especially for the father. Like the traditional Chinese three obedience and four virtues, loyalty and filial piety. In Japanese families, women obey their fathers, husbands, and elders. In the past, women had a lower status in the family, so in the film, even though parents are responsible for the breakdown of the family, they are rendered in great detail. It is the nostalgia for the father. From the memory fragments of different children, I slowly outline the positive image of the father's gentleness, cooking for the daughter, fishing, and accompany the child to climb the mountain.
On the other hand, it is a completely different attitude towards mother and Yoko. Some of them are only resentment, confrontation and talk back. Fortunately, why do you insist on taking on the responsibility of taking care of the sisters? To a certain extent, she also wants to make up for the vacancy of her mother in this family. Speaking of which, why the director let the children live in the old house is also a metaphor.
The old house means memories and the past. In Xing's heart, the family in the past was incomplete, so she thought about rebuilding it. Even if she couldn't give her sister's father, she could make up for the vacancy of her mother. Fortunately, the sense of responsibility is a bright color in the whole film. The independence of women starts from being able to take more responsibility.
However, I heard that women in Japan are now a lot more independent. When they grow up, they feel that the retired old man in Japan does not do any work at home, which is a burden. He wants to throw out all the old men like throwing garbage. True or false.
After talking about repayment, let’s talk about the audio-visual language of the movie. In the film, the extensive use of medium and long-range lenses captures the beauty of Kamakura in all seasons. From the train passing slowly by the sea, to the path in the mountains, to the platform in winter, and the avenue full of cherry blossoms, people have an irresistible urge to go to Kamakura.
Narratively, it is basically a linear narrative, interspersed with the love stories of several sisters. It is Hirokazu Koreeda who is a master of detail sketching, and is good at capturing the beauty of ordinary life. The love story of four sisters, which one is the most beautiful? You must have seen the green plum wine that appeared many times in the film and already have the answer.
Finally, I have watched several films by Hirokazu Kore-eda, and the incomplete family has always been the focus of his attention. From "Deeper than the Sea", to "The Thief Family", to this "Sea Street Diary", it seems that he is always asking questions. One question - does the incomplete parental love need to be filled? Is there anything to make up for? How to make up?
Don't know where it came from?
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Forgot another point. About the cowardice of the father.
The sisters in the film repeatedly said that their father was cowardly. To understand this, it is also necessary to talk about the Japanese culture of duty and love. "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword" says, "According to the judgment of the Japanese, those who disregard personal happiness and fulfill their obligations are powerful."
"When a person's personal desires conflict with the rules of duty, if he cares about his own desires, then he is considered weak."
In the film, the father's extramarital affairs are human desires, and maintaining the family and raising children are his obligations and responsibilities. Therefore, the choice of the father is cowardly in the eyes of the Japanese.
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