Society of the Snow

2024 Oscar Awards

Best International Feature Nominee (Spain)

Netflix

J.A. Bayona, the Spanish director of The Impossible about the 2004 tsunami which devastated Thailand is back with another true-life disaster movie. The 1972 crash of a Uruguayan airplane in the Andes mountain. Its passengers were members of a rugby team along with some officials and supporters who were going to Santiago, Chile for an exhibition match.  

Out of the 45 passengers, only 16 survived for 72 harsh days battling serious injuries, starvation, intense frostbite, brutal avalanches, watching their team mates in excruciating pain deteriorating in front of their eyes, staring death in the face.  .

Their deep Catholic faith, along with their camaraderie sustained them during those gruelling 72 days. Cheering each other up, not losing hope that they will be rescued and they even give each other permission to feed on their dead bodies when they die. 

Although that sounds gruesome, it was a reality they had to face in order to survive the elements. Society of the Snow succeeds in its narration of this tragic accident because it focused more on the friendship and their will to survive. It does not highlight the cannibalism  which really occurs during any catastrophe of such magnitude. That aspect was handled well.

The vast Andes mountain range provided a bleak backdrop as it stood witness to the devastation of the airplane crash. Excellent make-up and costume design visibly transformed the virile young lads into weary, battle torn and despondent survivors. 

The scene which stood out for me is during the actual crash landing of the airplane as it hit the mountain, then slided bounced off the deep snow, the body of the aircraft is sliced into half, the tail is torn off, bodies ejected, could hear the sound of bones breaking as the victims were slammed against metal. It was very vivid, and violent yet at the same time you couldn't keep your eyes off the screen. It was very realistic, thrilling and quite shocking too. One of the best depictions of an actual plane crash I've seen so far. 

In movies about disaster, one tends to keep guessing which victim will survive, which victim will not make it. The passengers all looking alike and blending into a big blur. But Society of the Snow was different. It was a humane, poignant and realistic rendering of a tragic accident. An entirely moving and hopeful tale about survival, strength and determination that God won't abandon us during insurmountable hardships.

Perfect Days

 2024 Oscar Awards

Best International Feature Nominee (Japan)

If this was a vlog, it would be titled "A day in the life" of the vlogger. This film about Hirayama, a 60 something year old public toilet cleaner's routinary life in Tokyo runs for 2 hours and 3 minutes. 

Minimal or hardly any dialogue, he is an old soul as he still listens to music using the old reliable cassette tape while driving to his job. He also uses an old analog camera, with film and takes random pictures of tall trees then he has them developed in a shop. He sorts out the good shots from the 'ugly' ones and neatly arranges them in metal storage boxes. 

In this day and age when technology has taken over our lives, it is simply refreshing to witness someone existing without the trappings of modern gadgets. Quite ironic because he lives and works in Tokyo, Japan where the latest versions/models of gadgets are manufactured.

Nothing much is revealed about Hirayama brilliantly portrayed by veteran actor Koji Yakusho. We don't know if he is single, married or divorced. Yet he seems pretty content with his simple, no frills, no drama existence. He exudes a cultured, intellectual vibe, judging from his choice of books (Faulkner, Patricia Highsmith) which he reads every night before sleeping in his tiny, yet well maintained apartment. His musical preference ranges from Otis Redding, Lou Reed to Van Morrison.

In his sleep, we are shown a visual of black and white abstract images which don't really say much about his background. Whether they are dreams or nightmares from his past is not articulated. It is only when his niece shows up at his apartment and stays with him for a few days that we more or less get a glimpse of his past life. When he starts crying after his estranged sister picks up her daughter, we understand his heartbreak but then there is no turning back.

Honestly, 2 hours is a tad too long for a movie that wants us to believe we can subsist with the bare minimum. Renowned director Wim Wenders though succeeds in making Hirayama a well loved character. Towards the emotional ending, in an encounter with a random yet significant character there was even a hint of a possible romantic interlude for Hirayama. Or at least, I like to think so or maybe I am reading too much of it. Heh.

As for his raw, emotion-filled facial expression in the last scene (spoiler alert: actor Koji Yakusho's explanation) it is open for many interpretations. I believe that it comes from a grateful and happy place. Each morning when he opens his door, he looks up at the sky and the rustling leaves of the tall trees outside his modest place and smiles with a twinkle in this eyes. He is living his best life and we do wish him well.

A Man

 Japanese Film Festival 2024

Cinema 4, The Red Carpet
Shangri-la Plaza Mall

An intriguing premise abounds in this dramatic thriller that begs the question: how much do we really know someone? Even in the context of a marriage, there are certain truths/secrets/lies that spouses keep from each other especially when it involves some sordid past. We only know a person based on what s/he reveals about themselves.

Rie, a divorced single mother meets Daisuke, a reticent tree faller. She owns a stationery shop that sells art supplies and he frequently buy his sketching materials there. Four years later, they are married and have a daughter and Daisuke is also a doting father to Rie's pre-teen son from her previous marriage.

A tragic accident claims his life and Rie is left to pick up the pieces. At Daisuke's wake, when Kyoichi, Daisuke's estranged brother takes a look at the picture of the deceased, he asserts that Rie's second husband is NOT his brother. To get to the bottom of this whole mistaken identity mess and for the life insurance, Rie hires her former lawyer Akari Kido to do a background check on the true identity of the person she married.

In the blink of an eye, the movie's plot shifts from a story of a happy family unit to a convulted, dark narrative of deceit and hidden identities. It doesn't really delve into the technicalities like identity theft, forged documents or counterfeit. As Atty. Kido probes deeper in his quest, he encounters several characters who shed further light into the true persona of Mr. X. We discover who he really was, the real sad reason he wanted to be someone else. Until slowly, we overlook the deceit and feel more empathy towards him and his hapless existence.

Overall, good performance from the entire cast who all play sympathetic characters. Each of them dealing with their inner demons. Rie is neither a wife nor a widow. Her son is tormented by the fact that he needs to change his surname, yet again. Mr. X was desperate to be 'reborn' to escape the stigma of  his father's transgression. Despite being a top lawyer, Atty. Kido is an outcast, being the son of Korean parents living in Japan which I found out is a big issue there. They are called Zainichi Koreans.

Googled this: "You're only a Zainichi Korean if your Korean ancestors settled in Japan during the Japanese colonization period. Zainichi Koreans have a special residential status, they are Korean citizens, but they are also protected under the Japanese law and have most of the same rights as Japanese citizens apart from voting I believe. Zainichi Koreans are also not required to do mandatory military service if male so there's really nothing much to lose if they don't become a naturalized Japanese citizen."

Father of the Milky Way Railroad

 Japanese Film Festival 2024

Cinema 4, The Red Carpet
Shangri-la Plaza Mall

Filmed in muted tones and set in an idyllic rural Japanese town, laden with heavy dramatic scenes buoyed by sad instrumental background music, this biopic of Kenji Miyazawa an early 20th century Japanese poet and novelist (said to be the Hans Christian Andersen of Japan) runs for 2 hours and 8 minutes.

The plot centers on the Miyazawa family. In a small town, Masajiro Miyazawa is a wealthy pawn shop owner who lives in a humble abode with his father Kisuke, his wife Ichi and their 4 children. He goes above and beyond what is expected of a typical Japanese father and is really hands on in rearing up his children. 

He dotes on his first born son Kenji who is expected to inherit the pawn shop. After free spirited Kenji is done with his studies in an agricultural school, his flair for writing poetry and short stories is developed. All of these elements clashes with Masajiro's desire to retire so Kenji can take over the family business.

Will Kenji be allowed to pursue his passion or would he be forced to manage the pawn shop?

The answer to this question unfolds in several melancholic scenes that is well acted out by the two lead male characters. An inner struggle develops within both Masajiro and Kenji. Their relationship is tested, but their love for each other never wanes. I had no idea who Kenji Miyazawa was nor am I aware of any of his writings, so it was hard for me to feel invested in his story. 

Yet the universal theme of the power of family and the unconditional love of a father for his son amidst hardships and obstacles make good fodder for any tragic biography.