Arts & Entertainment
Friday,
March 25, 2005
Volume 33,
Issue 12
Sun, Nov 22, 2009
IN THE SGN
SECTION ONE
Front Page
MORE/ALL
SECTION ONE
STORIES
SECTION TW0
Arts & Entertainment
The MuIntense |
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| Intense, at times funny, and deeply moving, Nobody Knows will grab you by the heartstrings | ||
| by Rajkhet Dirzhud-Rashid
- SGN A&E Writer
Nobody Knows Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda. Starring Yagira Yuya, Kitaura Ayu, Kimura Hiei, Shimizu Momoko, Kan Hanae and YOU (who plays the mother) Opened March 11 and runs for one week at the Varsity Theater After seeing Hirokazu Kore-edas newest film (he also did another film that blew me away, Afterlife, back in 1999), I have to admit I wasnt sure I could so readily write the review immediately (which I had to do). The film is so gripping in its unsentimental portrayal of a true story, the story of five children (in the film, there are only four), who had to survive on their own, after their mother abandons them, that its hard to find words for it. But, I can tell you, its definitely not a feelgood story, though it does have hope within its core. The way each day of the childrens lives is shown, both before the mother leaves and after, is the true magic of this film. The audience gets the feeling of restless hopelessness of the familys lives and sees, before the children do (something that the adults in the film totally miss, though there are many clues) the impending chaos that will eventually descend. And no better is this communicated than through the mother (YOU), who acts as if she is either mentally stunted or completely unaware of the reality of her life and that of her children, or their needs. One could easily - coming from our culture where children seem to be valued (but often arent) - see the mother as a selfish, lazy creature, careless of her own welfare or that of her offspring. But, the other magic of the film is to show each act, each interaction between mother and child, and to leave out big chunks of her life, her identity, so that we see that everyone in this family is a tragic figure, particularly the mother. She comes and goes, and the lives of her children ebb and flow with her caprices, until finally she is gone from their lives and everything they know of survival is put to the ultimate test. And no, there is not a happy ending, but Nobody Knows is not a maudlin film, just honest in a way that most filmgoers may not be used to. Oh, and if youre guilty of a short attention span, pass this one by, as it takes focus to catch the films stark message and appreciate its rough beauty. |
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 GENERAL GAYETY Leslie Robinson |
 LESBIAN NOTIONS Paula Martinac |
