My broken Mariko

Japan Film Festival
Online 2024

We are introduced to Mariko through a breaking news on the TV in a small diner, an office worker Tomoyo hears and see it on the telly. The news story is about a young lady who committed suicide by jumping off the balcony of her residence. Tomoyo instantly recognized the suicide victim whose name is flashed across the screen. Mariko was her troubled childhood classmate.  Mariko was physically and mentally abused by her parents her entire life.

Tomoyo takes leave from her work to pay her respects to her childhood friend. She ends up stealing the urn containing Mariko's ashes from her despicable parents, vowing to give her friend a true, final tribute. A much better send off than what she experienced throughout her miserably troubled past. A road trip ensues as Tomoyo travels by train, bus to the farthest corner of Japan to a seaside town which Mariko always talked and dreamed about in her youth.

Guided by some letters written by Mariko which Tomoyo found in her lil trove chest, we are introduced to the sweet, kind hearted yet clingy Mariko through flashbacks. Often poor Mariko is covered with bruises on her face and her body yet she is always smiling and a dear friend toTomoyo.

It isn't easy to watch a film that explores suicide, grief and misery but the way it was presented to a captive audience is through light hearted moments between the two friends. No physical altercation is shown on screen but it is truly implied that poor Mariko was a victim of abuse. 

I guess that suicide is a common occurrence in Japan. Most if not all Japanese films that deal with this sensitive subject is ingrained with deep, mixed emotions. It isn't sensationalized nor glorified and neither does it dwell too much on the act of killing oneself. Focusing instead on the varied reasons why a growing number of these cases happen. Peer pressure, depression, non comformity to society's norms to name a few. Each of these 'reasons' are valid and I don't intend to belittle those who choose to end their lives instead of bearing the struggles, the trials and tribulations of life.

"My broken Mariko" in its simplicity is able to draw us into the emotional journey of Tomoyo's quest  to give her dear friend a fitting tribute so that even if only in her death, she would have felt loved, not neglected by her parents, her peers and society in general.

We made a beautiful bouquet

 Japanese Film Festival
Online 2024

The Japan Foundation organized the 3rd Japanese Film Festival online featuring 23 films of different genre that run for two weeks, from June 5 (12 noon) to June 19 (12 noon), 2024. The subsequent two weeks from June 19 noon to July 3 noon, 2024, they will be streaming full episodes of two (2) TV drama series. Simply register at the official website, log in and start streaming the movies. Subtitles in several languages are available. 23 Japanese movies is alot to watch in a span of two weeks so I just picked the ones which piqued my interest.

My first choice is an anatomy of a love story between a young couple with many common interests and hobbies. A chance meeting when they both miss the last train home, they end up spending time at a diner/cafe discussing a myriad of topics and discovering they are on the same wavelength. Missing a train home surely sucks but if this means that you get to meet the love of your life then it must be fate. 

Kinu and Mugi's love story spans 5 years before the cracks surface, and unfortunately fizzles out. Not really a spoiler, mind you. Because as the audience can clearly see, from the second or third year of their relationship, their bond slowly and sadly begin to drift apart. Even though they live together in an apartment with a stunning view of a bridge, their seemingly idyllic set up turns into a haven of lonely desperation. 

By then, we are clearly invested in them and keep wishing that they would try harder to make it work. We talk back to the screen, almost screaming at them that Migu should be more attentive towards her and not bury himself in his job. While we also wish we could shake Kinu and tell her to be more understanding of Migu's need to be the main provider in their household. An interesting aspect is presented towards the ending when both Migu and Kinu still thinking alike, equally decide that separation is the best and only option for them. Such maturity is rare, especially in the youth nowadays.

Couples breaking up isn't easy to watch in any language or form, whether on the screen or in real life yet it does happen regardless if they are Asian or European. Or whether they are in their 20s, 30s or even in their 60s. Yet to see it from a Japanese perspective, with young actors portraying really relatable and well developed characters is refreshing in many ways. "We Made a Beautiful Bouquet" is a well made film about a couple's break up because it was emotionally raw, and humanely portrayed without any shouting matches, or some melodramatic third party angle. In my book, hysterics serve no purpose in a break up movie.