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AnonymousI recently watched the video Princess Monoke. It was a story of a young boy who tries to stop a demon and is cursed in the process. He travels far across the land to find the source of his curse. He finds a small village of people who are polluting the land and are being warred upon by the spirits of the forest that appear as wolves.
I think this could be useful in the classroom to teach not only awareness of the environment, but it showcases some philosophical ideas about the natural world. It also shows some eastern philosophies of honor and sacrifice. The main characters in the story are quick to lay their lives down in order to fight for what they believe in. They give their lives to the forest.
This could also be used to teach qualities of character. There are some really vivid and rich characters in this film that would be perfect for some character analysis. Check it out!
AnonymousI recently watched the Japanese film Kagemusha which was recommended to us during our Saturday Japanese History seminar. I was skeptical at first, but as the film progressed I was won over. Initially the film started off pretty slowly, but as I became more engrossed in this story, time picked up. The movie itself is 3 hours long so it is a commitment.
This movie is about a shadow warrior that imitates the lord after his death. The shadow warrior is saved from death sentence in order to be trained to "shadow" the lord in battle. Unfortunately, the lord is killed in battle and begs for the generals to use the shadow warrior in order to cover his death for three years. The shadow is reluctant at first, but decides to show honor and serve his dead lord.
What stood out most in my mind was the way in which Japanese custom was portrayed. Each move was deliberate and methodical. No one in the movie moved just to move. There was a certain way to kneel, close doors, set down weapons, speak to a superior. In one particular scene in the movie there is a clan meeting in which the shadow warrior must imitate the lord in front of the entire clan. The way in which they speak to him is very interesting. Whenever they are not speaking they look straight ahead. When they speak to Shingen they turn their whole body to him, speak, and then turn away. It must take them years to learn how to be in public. The servants especially have it bad. They make the most intricate moves in order to complete every action.
I think that this film would be a really good film to show your students when studying Japan. You might want to pick out clips to show your students as we don't always have 3 hours to show a movie. You could maybe show the movie and do some frontloading in order to cover more ground with the movie. I think it would really bring alive medieval Japan in a way that a textbook never could. I really enjoyed watching it. I learned a few things. It put together some information we learned during the seminars.
AnonymousI watched this anime thinking that it was going to be like Spirited Away because it was made by the same director. The story was about a girl that is turned into an old woman by the evil witch of the waste. What a play on words. I normally really like anime, but this movie was a little off. I couldn't really follow the story, because nothing was ever really explained. Unlike the Alice in Wonderland type story of Spirited Away, this was like a romance novel. The girl had to look inside herself and find love in order break the spell. The ending was a little strange too. There was something about some war and then it stopped. I don't know. I was confused throughout the entire movie. I wouldn't recommend using it in your classroom. There wasn't any enduring parallels that could be made to the curriculum. If you really liked it, I hope you don't take offense. It's just one opinion.
AnonymousI watched the film “JSA” over the weekend. JSA stands for Joint Security Area (The Korean title is Gongdong gyeongbi guyeok, according to internet movie database. The film was made in 2000 and is one of the most popular and widedly respected films in the history of the country. “JSA” was directed by Chan-wook Park and stared Yeong-ae Lee, Byung-hun Lee, Kang-ho Song, Tae-woo Kim and Ha-kyun Shin.
The film starts with a killing at the DMZ. The DMZ or demilitarized zone separates the two parts of the country of Korea. A North Korean soldier has been shot and a South Korean soldier has confessed to the killing. The number of bullets, don’t add up and an pair of Swiss/ Swedish investigators are in charge of determining the truth.
The plot is certainly a strong point for the film. The story is unique and well told. Without getting to much into the plot, the film involves the issue of the separate Koreas. While they are one country, the two societies and governments could not be much different. The film’s message, in the end, is wherever you live you are still Korean. The differences between a North Korean and a South Korean as a people are so small, it is the government that creates the differences.
The cinematography is amazing in the film. During a scene at the DMZ, the camera angle is directly above which put a focus on the line and how the soldiers interact with it. Other visually impressive scenes include the very first scene with the Owl and a violent shooting scene that was high on dramatic effect.
One issue English speakers would have with the film is it is, obviously, mostly in Korean. I say mostly since about 10 minutes of total dialogue (between the Westerners) is actually in English. Since the film is often driven by the action of story and not the dialogue, the subtitles are not hard to handle. In fact, most people would be surprised at how easily one gets used to them.
As far as showing this film a class there are details a teacher needs to know. It deals with the issue of the separate Koreas in a very well thought out way that students can learn from. However, there is violence in the film. The amount of blood and gore is probably that of a typical American action film staring Arnold Schwarzenegger or Sylvester Stallone. Most 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students would not be offended or surprised at the violence. Besides the violence, there is brief nudity shown. The troops briefly look through a magazine that specializes in naked women. That portion of the film is probably 5 seconds.
As far as availability, it is moderately difficult to acquire. It is not at blockbuster or Hollywood video. If you, however, live in an area with a fair share of Korean-Americans then its very likely you can find it at a mom and pop video store that specializes in Asia films.[Edit by="jdelarme on Jun 15, 12:18:26 AM"][/Edit]
AnonymousEvaluation of 'WATER' - a movie on India
Posted: 06-11-2006 05:18 PM
WATER – A Deepa Mehta Film
I think the film has tabled two still prevalent issues in Indian society. The first one of child marriage that is to be found all over India – especially amongst the illiterate rural class – and the other is the castration of a widow to the point of her expulsion from community to lead a life of bare sustenance, bereft of the company of her family, her loved ones and follow a life of total austerity devoid of any pleasures.
Generally speaking, a Hindu widow practices austerity in society today by wearing a dress (sari, etc.) devoid of any color, meaning white for a period of a year. During this period of time and beyond, she still lives with her in-law’s family but is no longer at liberty of wearing the ‘sindhur’ – red spot on the forehead which is a traditional symbol of being married. However, the type of social castration depicted in the movie is to be found among the community of Bengalis (people who live in the state of Bengal, with the city of Calcutta – or Kolkota – as the central hub. The term ‘Bengal tiger’ is from this region and this name is given to the magnificent big cats that inhabit the marshlands of the Sunderban in this state, adjacent to the country of Bangladesh).
The theme of the story, as also its matter-of-fact presentation, toggles the mind of the viewer and the audience cannot but feel the frustrated helplessness of the widow forced into such a situation. All the artistes have done a great job in playing a genuine role of the character they are portraying. Kudos goes to the child actress Sarala (Chuiya) because she is a Sri Lankan and does not actually speak Hindi – she had to learn how to speak her lines in Hindi. Credit can also be given to the others – like John Abraham (Narayan), a Bollywood superstar, and Lisa Ray (Kalyani), who is a new actress in tinsel town, for not letting a touch of their glitzy side to appear on this movie. This lent an authenticity to the their roles.
The set of the ghats (banks) of the River Ganges in the city of Varanasi, or Benaras, look quite genuine (because of the threats against the production by Hindu extremist groups, it has been shot in Sri Lanka and not India). The background of the funeral pyre in quite a few scenes helps only to emphasize the frailty of life and its closeness with water – the ashes of the dead body in Hinduism is ritually immersed in the water of the River Ganges to attain ‘moksha’, or a sort of continuity of the soul into another life.
A couple of things caught my attention as not being realistic – the fact that Kalyani was not shown with her hair shaved which was in keeping with the character of widows in the movie. The other point was that the ghats are actually a flurry of on-going activities like people bathing and washing – in the movie the atmosphere around the banks is shown to be comparatively serene and calm.
Overall I think the movie is a strong portrayal of the lives of Bengali widows and touches a very human emotion in all of us – that of being cut off from the rest of the community we are attuned to. I could not but wonder why not rebel against this social norm and follow ones own path? What is it that binds these widows to quietly follow such a custom? But then, in India, the issue of widow re-marriage is one that is still scorned on.
AnonymousIn my district in San Diego Country it is theoretically possible to show 'R' films, but only after securing parental authorization and creating an alternative assignment. Of course, it has to be approved by the principle. Perhaps the same policy exists in your district?
AnonymousI finally had the chance to sit down and watch this film. I was excited to see it because I read the book some time ago. As usual, the book wins, but this movie does provide a rich visual tapestry of information. Because I teach middle school grades, I think there are a few points of the movie that would be difficult to show in a class setting. The Geisha auctions off her virginity to the highest bidder and earns a high status in the community because the price paid for her is a record. It would be touchy to discuss this in a 6th grade class, a little easier in an 8th grade class. The costumes are beautiful, the social rules interesting. The separation of the two sisters at the beginning of the movie is tragic and would be easily understood by students, but you would probably need to explain why they were sold off and why this was practiced by families. In my opinion the movie doesn't give enough details for middle school students to understand how the girls wound up there in the first place. On the other hand, the girl's feelings for the chairman because of his kindness towards her inspire her to find success in life despite the hand she has been dealt. It is an example of human spirit, making the best of a difficult situation, always a welcome theme.
AnonymousSo, should I really review this movie? I did watch it, and the thing is, it is not suitable for a classroom setting. It is an incredibly fun and corny comedy movie about a bad guy gone good... essentially a guy wants to become part of a mean scary gang. He is essentially laughed at, but then later, he ends up fighting them. He kicks some crazy fun booty too. The movie has a lot of special effects, and the affect of them is that it appears kind of dream like, with exaggerated fighting scenes and goofy moves. It is all in subtitles (at least the version I saw), so you also have to be able to read and watch at the same time. My students still have to think too much about reading, so they probably would not enjoy the silly dialogue. However, the physical acting would be appreciated... I imagine it would make them laugh in parts, but in general would just leave them confused.
The only thing you could really get from this movie with a class, is to discuss the types of entertainment appreciated in modern day China. It would be good if your point is to show similarities between our entertainment styles if you just showed a part of it, and then part of... say an American Jackie Chan movie. His movies are often corny with fun action... pretty similar, very fun, and many of the kids do like them. I even showed my sixth graders a Jackie Chan movie (Around the World In 80 Days) as a reward during lunch. They liked it, and so did I.
AnonymousI listened to the recommendation of a fellow student and rented this movie through Netflix. I really enjoyed this tale of a low ranking samurai and his struggle to take care of his family in the face of uselessness. The samurai must struggle with traditions and being a fighter when he no longer has the heart to do so. In the beginning of the movie it shows him at work with his colleagues. They leave to go out and have drinks, but he must go home and care for his mother and two small daughters. His wife has died and he is all they have left. He is a kind hearted man and makes cricket cages at night in order to supplement his meager earnings. His two daughters help him around the house a little, but he is barely managing to scrape out a living.
There is a love interest in his life, but he passes her up because he knows the struggle of being a low class citizen. He talks about the struggle with his late wife as she married below her station. He is a simple man and wants to enjoy life. He cares nothing of riches or a name in the kingdom. The climax of the movie is when he must fight a mad samurai in order to keep his family name. What will he do? Risk death to save his honor? You will have to watch it to find out.
AnonymousAbout a year ago, I viewed an interesting Japanese movie at an independent movie theater that would be appropriate to show in the high school classroom for a purposeful discussion. It was an old movie probably filmed in mid 60s, but is the kind of movie that makes an impression on the viewer and would be reflected upon when the viewer finds himself in a similar situation.
“IKIRU” meaning “To Live,” (director: Akira Kurosawa; starring: Takashi Shimura) is a somber but warm movie that touches the audience’s emotions about human motivation.
The story takes place in the mid 1950s, post WWII Japan. The movie depicts a man who works as a city employee, leads a boring life, and has a repetitive bureaucratic job that doesn’t bring any motivation to his life, and especially after his wife dies. One day, he finds out that he has only a few months left to live his life. After he overcomes his initial depression, he becomes constructive and feels the need to accomplish something meaningful before he dies. His actions influence many people’s perceptions and passions. However, after his death, people, who were moved by his action, get back to the same old bureaucratic way of life fulfilling their responsibilities minimally. Most Hollywood movies please the audience with a happy ending. What I liked about Kurosawa’s however, is that he goes beyond the happy ending into a more realistic circumstance about how one’s life might affect others.
There were many sad, funny, annoying and touching scenes that were intertwined in human emotion. How each person deals with their own situation was interesting. Even though it was a Japanese movie using an entirely Japanese cast, the plot, depicting the reality of human nature, enables the audience to transcend their own cultural and racial awareness.
Overall, the movie is very well made with a strong emotional presentation. I recommend this movie for higher-grade multicultural students.
S.P
AnonymousI was so excited about seeing this movie. The book was absolutely fabulous, despite the cries and questions of "accuracy" of a man writing about a woman's perspective. Yet the movie came and went in theaters and I missed it. Today I finally had the chance to see "Memoirs" and I was happy I did. Though the book was far superior, I thought the movie version did try to make the book and the time in history come alive onscreen. The costumes and scenery were amazing, as I'm sure most would agree. But I must say, I did have a problem believing the lead actress was Japanese (knowing full-well that she is a Chinese actress (who was incredible in "Crouching Tiger..." and "The Red Jacket"). I almost wish I didn't know the background of the multinational cast. Maybe that would've made this just that more authentic??? Other than that, I enjoyed watching a film that not only came from a good book but that tried to give a Western audience a small look into the art of geisha.
AnonymousThis movie follows the story of a High School kid who can't keep from getting into trouble with cars. As a last resort his mom sends him to Tokyo to stay with his dad where he gets into all kinds of trouble with the Japanese Mafia. The movie is full of action packed car racing and pop culture. I found it to be interesting because it takes a look at the excitement of fast cars and getting into trouble. If you were doing Asia studies of pop culture you could give the movie to your sub or show it on the last few days of class.
😀 😀 😀
AnonymousI finally had a chance to watch Memoirs of a Geish on DVD. DVD version of rated R movies are always modified. I hope I have not missed much.
I will not talk about the story. Much has been said.But:
The least I got out of this movie was that I learned the true definition of the word Geisha. I always thought it was synonymous to prostitute. Not only it does not mean that, but nothing is worse than being considered a prostitute by a real geisha. I learned that a Geisha is a traditional female entertainer. Geisha literally means "art-person," and the true geisha is above all an artist. She is an accomplished musician, being able to sing, dance, and play traditional instruments like the shamisen, but perhaps most excels in the fine art of making her client feel like a king.
It also means;female performers who specialize in entertaining and providing companionship to men at dinner parties and similar venues. They are skilled in classic Japanese arts such as music, poetry and calligraphy.
Being a Geisha was a torturous life style. Resting one's head on a high thin rod(as a pillow) is not comfortable. Not washing your hair for two weeks is even worse. These are the least I could mention.
This movie told me more about Japanese culture. Japanese people like to go beyond perfection in many aspects of life and take it to the point of obsession. That is the reason geishas are not found as commonly as they once did. Another example is their tea ceremony. I might be able to experience their tea ceremony once (4hours), but not twice. I hear that to clean and prepare a certain fish (I don't know which) you have to train for 10 years. This certain fish is poisonous. If it is not done right, and a guest(customer) dies of the poison, the chef will have to kill himself(This is a quote from a visitor to japan).
Here is more interesting cultural point leraned from the movie. To japanese men the more a woman is vovered the sexier she is. Showing off your skin is not considered sexy at all. In fact a geish goes as far as covering her face with powder. The only exception is a tiny spot on the back of the neck (That is considered SEXY), which sends this tempting message: If this much of me is so beautiful, imagine what the rest of me is like!!!!!!
Please let me know if my takes are interesting to you. 
AnonymousThe review of this movie reminds me of a book I read, "The Seven People You Meet In Heaven" I believe is the title. It is about a man who dies, and as he travels through heaven he encounters 7 people whose lives he effected in very specific ways during his own life. Not all of the encounters were good, but it brought perspective and a sort of closure to his own life as he traveled through heaven to his ultimate destination. This is not a book set in Asia, or with an Asian author, but I find it very interesting that the ideas in the book and the movie IKIRU transcend culture. The movie IKIRU by Kurosawa sounds so familiar to me, but it is because of this book. Humans are humans, no matter where they are born. A wonderful thing to be reminded of, and to remind our students. High School students might benefit from reading the book and drawing contrasts/comparisons between it and the movie IKIRU.
AnonymousDaughter Wil is having issues with her traditional chinese family. For one she's 28 and still single, and for another she's a closeted lesbian. This makes for a very complicated situation in this film from Alice Wu titled Saving Face. It showcases many of the issues experienced by American children of native born chinese. The roles of each of the family members are very pronounced with the grandfather at the pinnacle of each families social pyramid. Each level must show respect and follow the wishes of their elders.
I think you could possibly show this to high school if you want to discuss the pros and cons of tradition. Middle school definitely not. There are some racy sex scenes that most students couldn't handle. Actually, you might want to save it for college. Then you could really analyze some of the societal issues presented here in a mature fashion. High school boys and a lesbian love scene don't really mix. The movie was well written and the characters are lovable. Even if you can't watch it at school, try it at home!