February 23rd, 2006 | Category:
Eiga Sai 2006, movies from Japan. This year’s theme was about teens… generally the themes of young love and overcoming all odds . I suppose it isn’t strange that both themes still command a lot of drama even for 20-somethings like myself. I think even when I get to reach 60, the themes will still resound.
I like the way the themes encourage, inspire, and move me to overcome all odds to reach all sorts of goals. Yet at the same time I wonder whether the momentum from them will carry me on… or whether it’s too late for me already.
I feel a sense of poverty when comparing my teenage experiences to the experiences portrayed on those films (as well as on many anime.). Japanese teens are portrayed in the Eiga Sai as having such rich and meaningful relationships and ideals. No doubt to encourage real Japanese teens to experience it thus so . By their junior year the teens in the movies seem to overcome all obstacles and find romantic, if not true, love. In reality, I don’t really know what they do and if they really do experience such things at that age.
If you think about it, these are the two things that guys like in a movie – an adventure to pursue and a beauty worth fighting for. Hollywood does a good job including both themes too… (Braveheart, Last Samurai, James Bond, to name a few) except that it doesn’t have nearly the humility & innocence present in most Japanese films. Purity in films is so refreshing, especially when you get older – and hence oftentimes more meaningful.
While I may be passed my teens, such movies will continue to impress upon me the value of the dream and of the persistence to reach that dream. I am reminded of an instance when I was interviewed by a Japanese company, the Japanese had his translator ask me what my dream was. Then I am reminded of Naruto… his dream to become Hokage and all the other ninjas in the anime. Japanese seem to be big on their dreams. Everyone’s got one, or at least everyone should. And what follows that dream is the belief that Man can do anything if he works hard enough. Apart from divine salvation, I believe that 100%.
P.S. Another reason why I love J-movies… the kawaii school girls! If you’ve ever wondered who my model was for my first digital coloring workshop AD you can meet her in one of the movies in Eiga Sai 2006! If you have the Eiga Sai 2006 brochure, she’s in the movie photo that’s different from all the rest.
kawaii schoolgirls huh hehe lumalabas. well dreams are pretty big in japan partly also becuase they take everything to heart, sompetitions especially. here you can see groups of people ranging from all ages boys and girls crying tears of frustration over not being eligible. and here you have kids whose dreams in life is to be like a princess (hence princess parties) and action heroes (power rangers, mask rider, ultraman) and the like. personally i want my very own doraemon hehe
Yes I remember my sister… who had experience teaching english as a second language… she said with the Japanese … you have to be extra sensitive with what you say (especially when they get their english incorrect.)