Movie Review 1 - Hanayori Dango, Episode 1 (repost)

I got to hang out with the Makino Tsukushi and friends when watching Hana Yori Dango on Youtube. Without English subtitles I would have been lost. I’m sure I did not get to fully understand everything Makino wanted a viewer to know about her life as a student at Eitoku High School (Japan) as nuances in language can only be missed in subtitles. However, she is a delightful actress and much can be gleaned from her physical, facial, and tonal expressions to understand what she wants her audience to know about the character she plays. I think it would be a fun adventure to occasionally visit Makino and other students, via Youtube, at Eitoku to learn from her – and from them. What are the concerns they are addressing in their culture through highlighting them in the script?

The first episode introduces the characters and systematically unfolds the culture of the school and its students. The episode title, Declaration of War! The Thing Which Is Absolutely More Important than Money left me wondering what the thingwas. As this is the first episode I can assume it is love. Makino meets a young man in a stairwell – a well scripted intrigue to hook our interest and wonder where the storyline may lead. And, another young man declares war on her – such a challenging introduction makes me wonder what the writers have in mind for these characters.

However, there were so many different things which Makino did not like about her school culture anyone of them could be something to be valued more than money. Perhaps it is all of them: love, friendship, care, camaraderie, parental involvement and family. All of these are elements of love.

The opening scenes focus on material wealth and the status brand names bring to those who own them. Chauffer driven cars, brand name bags, watches, accessories and more – school lunches – all count towards social eligibility and acceptance.

Makino, does not make the grade. She is not a typical Eitoku student, she comes from a working class family. Makino has no brand names to make a statement about who and what she is. There is no material wealth to validate her. When many would consider this a negative it gives Makino a strength to observe the reality of her school’s social order, and to do what is right, to respond with compassion to unfair treatment. She is not bound to peer exclusivity. Makino recognizes the façade wealth, brand names, and chauffeur driven vehicles provides. As the first episode unfolds we learn the façade is carefully cultivated - it hides the shame, fear, hurt, rejection and insecurity of the lead characters. Each one has something that would allow others to see them as weak should they see beyond and beneath the façade.

Makino teaches us that character counts. Brand labels, wealth and the façade of status are good shields to hide behind when fear of discovery rules.

What about you, do you hide behind a peer façade afraid of rejection if you do not do what is considered socially correct? Wouldn’t you like to live free from binding social requirements? What and who do you live for? Whose opinion counts? Is this kind of freedom possible? If it is, how do you achieve it?

#movies #Japanese