The Ceremony (1971 film): Difference between revisions
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| director = [[Nagisa Oshima]] |
| director = [[Nagisa Oshima]] |
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| producer = |
| producer = Kinshiro Kuzui<br>Takuji Yamaguchi |
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| writer = |
| writer = Nagisa Oshima<br>[[Mamoru Sasaki]]<br>Tsutomu Tamura |
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| starring = |
| starring = Kenzo Kawarasaki<br>Atsuko Kaku |
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| music = [[Toru Takemitsu]] |
| music = [[Toru Takemitsu]] |
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| cinematography = |
| cinematography = Toichiro Narushima |
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| editing = |
| editing = Keiichi Uraoka |
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| studio = |
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| distributor = [[Art Theatre Guild]] |
| distributor = [[Art Theatre Guild]] |
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| released = {{Film date|1971|6|5|Japan}} |
| released = {{Film date|1971|6|5|Japan}} |
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| runtime = 123 |
| runtime = 123 minutes |
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| country = Japan |
| country = Japan |
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| language = Japanese |
| language = Japanese |
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| budget = |
| budget = |
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| gross = |
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{{nihongo|'''''The Ceremony'''''|儀式|Gishiki}} is a 1971 film |
{{nihongo|'''''The Ceremony'''''|儀式|Gishiki}} is a 1971 film directed by [[Nagisa Oshima]], starring Kenzo Kawarasaki and Atsuko Kaku. The film takes place in [[postwar Japan]], following a Japanese clan through their wedding and funeral ceremonies, and the lengths the family goes to preserve their traditions in spite of the damage it causes to the younger generations. |
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== Plot |
== Plot == |
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The film begins with Masuo Sakurada receiving a telegram from his cousin Terumichi. He is traveling with his cousin Ritsuko to check out his cabin and see if the telegram is true. Masuo has a flashback to the ceremony on the first anniversary of his father's death, after he and his mother repatriated to Japan from [[Manchuria]]. Because his younger brother died before they returned from Manchuria, Masuo is expected to live for two sons. |
The film begins with Masuo Sakurada receiving a telegram from his cousin Terumichi. He is traveling with his cousin Ritsuko to check out his cabin and see if the telegram is true. Masuo has a flashback to the ceremony on the first anniversary of his father's death, after he and his mother repatriated to Japan from [[Manchuria]]. Because his younger brother died before they returned from Manchuria, Masuo is expected to live for two sons. |
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* [[Kiyoshi Tsuchiya]] as Tadashi |
* [[Kiyoshi Tsuchiya]] as Tadashi |
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== |
==Production== |
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===Themes and interpretations=== |
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''The Ceremony'', like many other Oshima films, is often seen as a social critique of Japanese society. One of the most important themes in the film is that of the clan's attempt to look prosperous on the outside, while it is secretly falling apart from within. In his article on Nagisa Oshima at ''Senses of Cinema'', Nelson Kim makes the case that this is showing how Japan in and of itself is "trapped between past and present", with an older generation stuck in their ways and a younger generation afraid to speak up.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://archive.sensesofcinema.com/contents/directors/04/oshima.html |title=Nagisa Oshima |first=Nelson |last=Kim |work=[[Senses of Cinema]]}}</ref> Any attempt at changing of the social order is quelled. This is seen best with the character of Tadashi, a far right nationalist sympathizer who coincidentally dies after attempting to interrupt Masuo's wedding ceremony. |
''The Ceremony'', like many other Oshima films, is often seen as a social critique of Japanese society. One of the most important themes in the film is that of the clan's attempt to look prosperous on the outside, while it is secretly falling apart from within. In his article on Nagisa Oshima at ''Senses of Cinema'', Nelson Kim makes the case that this is showing how Japan in and of itself is "trapped between past and present", with an older generation stuck in their ways and a younger generation afraid to speak up.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://archive.sensesofcinema.com/contents/directors/04/oshima.html |title=Nagisa Oshima |first=Nelson |last=Kim |work=[[Senses of Cinema]]}}</ref> Any attempt at changing of the social order is quelled. This is seen best with the character of Tadashi, a far right nationalist sympathizer who coincidentally dies after attempting to interrupt Masuo's wedding ceremony. |
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A recurring scene in the film involves Masuo putting his ear to the ground. The first time the scene is shown, he explains that he is listening for his brother, who was buried alive in Manchuria. This is repeated the night before Setsuko's death, and again at the end of the film. This gesture becomes a metaphor for the backward morality and that has crippled the humanity of the Sakurada clan.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.filmref.com/notes/archives/2007/04/the_ceremony_1971.html |title=The Ceremony |first=Aquarello |work=[[Shooting Down Pictures]] |date=2007-04-04}}</ref> |
A recurring scene in the film involves Masuo putting his ear to the ground. The first time the scene is shown, he explains that he is listening for his brother, who was buried alive in Manchuria. This is repeated the night before Setsuko's death, and again at the end of the film. This gesture becomes a metaphor for the backward morality and that has crippled the humanity of the Sakurada clan.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.filmref.com/notes/archives/2007/04/the_ceremony_1971.html |title=The Ceremony |first=Aquarello |work=[[Shooting Down Pictures]] |date=2007-04-04}}</ref> |
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== |
===Style and form=== |
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''The Ceremony'' has a [[nonlinear narrative]], jumping back and forth between the present, with Masuo and Ritsuko heading out to find Terumichi, and the past, all the weddings and funerals Masuo attended through his life. Masuo often delivers voice-over narration directed to his relatives about his regrets of the past and his feelings of how they affected his life. The musical score appears mostly during the present day sequences between Masuo and Ritsuko, or in sequences which would otherwise be silent. The ceremonies in the past usually do not have any musical accompaniment. |
''The Ceremony'' has a [[nonlinear narrative]], jumping back and forth between the present, with Masuo and Ritsuko heading out to find Terumichi, and the past, all the weddings and funerals Masuo attended through his life. Masuo often delivers voice-over narration directed to his relatives about his regrets of the past and his feelings of how they affected his life. The musical score appears mostly during the present day sequences between Masuo and Ritsuko, or in sequences which would otherwise be silent. The ceremonies in the past usually do not have any musical accompaniment. |
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''The Ceremony'' makes use of many long takes. Some of the more private conversations during the ceremonies are played out throughout static long takes, with none of the characters moving around the screen. Wide-angle tracking shots are often used to help establish locations, as the film does not make usage of the [[180 degree rule]] in its editing. |
''The Ceremony'' makes use of many long takes. Some of the more private conversations during the ceremonies are played out throughout static long takes, with none of the characters moving around the screen. Wide-angle tracking shots are often used to help establish locations, as the film does not make usage of the [[180 degree rule]] in its editing. |
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== |
== References == |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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* {{Amg movie|142085}} |
* {{Amg movie|142085}} |
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* {{IMDb title|0066639}} |
* {{IMDb title|0066639}} |
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* {{jmdb title|1971|cu001650}} |
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* {{ja icon}} ''[http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/1971/cj001650.htm Gishiki]'' at the Japanese Movie Database |
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{{Nagisa Oshima}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ceremony}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ceremony}} |
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Revision as of 08:59, 26 January 2013
| The Ceremony | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Nagisa Oshima |
| Written by | Nagisa Oshima Mamoru Sasaki Tsutomu Tamura |
| Produced by | Kinshiro Kuzui Takuji Yamaguchi |
| Starring | Kenzo Kawarasaki Atsuko Kaku |
| Cinematography | Toichiro Narushima |
| Edited by | Keiichi Uraoka |
| Music by | Toru Takemitsu |
| Distributed by | Art Theatre Guild |
Release date |
|
Running time | 123 minutes |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
The Ceremony (儀式, Gishiki) is a 1971 film directed by Nagisa Oshima, starring Kenzo Kawarasaki and Atsuko Kaku. The film takes place in postwar Japan, following a Japanese clan through their wedding and funeral ceremonies, and the lengths the family goes to preserve their traditions in spite of the damage it causes to the younger generations.
Plot
The film begins with Masuo Sakurada receiving a telegram from his cousin Terumichi. He is traveling with his cousin Ritsuko to check out his cabin and see if the telegram is true. Masuo has a flashback to the ceremony on the first anniversary of his father's death, after he and his mother repatriated to Japan from Manchuria. Because his younger brother died before they returned from Manchuria, Masuo is expected to live for two sons.
Throughout each of the ceremonies, the tangled family web is revealed, with numerous instances of incest that make the relationships between each of the family members somewhat unclear. The continued incest is not only expected amongst the family. Masuo himself is interested in Setsuko, and later Ritsuko, and finds himself in competition with Terumichi for them.
Masuo finds himself sacrificing much of his freedom for the family. He has a talent for baseball, but gives it up when his mother dies and he is not present. He burns all of his baseball possessions except his glove. His sacrifice reaches its climax when he goes through a marriage ceremony to an absentee bride at his grandfather's insistence. He finally releases his frustration and hatred for his grandfather afterward. His grandfather dies years later, and at his memorial service Masuo is asked by his uncles to marry as quickly as possible to have another heir to the family lineage.
Masuo and Ritsuko finally arrive at Terumichi's cabin in the film's final segment, to discover that the telegram informing them of Terumichi's death is true. Ritsuko feels an obligation to commit suicide next to Terumichi, because he had been her lover. Masuo leaves the scene, and outside has a flashback to a childhood memory of playing baseball with his cousins and Setsuko, who have all died.
Cast
- Kenzo Kawarasaki as Masuo
- Kei Sato as Kazuomi, Grandfather
- Atsuko Kaku as Ritsuko
- Atsuo Nakamura as Terumichi
- Akiko Koyama as Setsuko
- Fumio Watanabe as Susumu
- Kiyoshi Tsuchiya as Tadashi
Production
Themes and interpretations
The Ceremony, like many other Oshima films, is often seen as a social critique of Japanese society. One of the most important themes in the film is that of the clan's attempt to look prosperous on the outside, while it is secretly falling apart from within. In his article on Nagisa Oshima at Senses of Cinema, Nelson Kim makes the case that this is showing how Japan in and of itself is "trapped between past and present", with an older generation stuck in their ways and a younger generation afraid to speak up.[1] Any attempt at changing of the social order is quelled. This is seen best with the character of Tadashi, a far right nationalist sympathizer who coincidentally dies after attempting to interrupt Masuo's wedding ceremony.
The film also shows the lengths that the Sakurada clan goes to preserve traditions, and how they negatively affect the younger generations. This is best seen in Masuo's wedding scene, in which his bride does not appear. Rather than canceling the wedding, Kazuomi insists that the ceremony go through as planned, with Masuo facing the embarrassment of having to marry a nonexistent bride.
The incest committed within the family is also a recurring critique of Japanese society. The clan's obsession with inbreeding to keep the family line pure is a reflection of the conformity and xenophobia in Japanese Society.[2] Xenophobia is also satirized again at Masuo's wedding ceremony, when a relative of the absent bride is giving a speech on how this nonexistent girl is a "perfect and pure Japanese girl" who has been untainted by foreign influence.
A recurring scene in the film involves Masuo putting his ear to the ground. The first time the scene is shown, he explains that he is listening for his brother, who was buried alive in Manchuria. This is repeated the night before Setsuko's death, and again at the end of the film. This gesture becomes a metaphor for the backward morality and that has crippled the humanity of the Sakurada clan.[3]
Style and form
The Ceremony has a nonlinear narrative, jumping back and forth between the present, with Masuo and Ritsuko heading out to find Terumichi, and the past, all the weddings and funerals Masuo attended through his life. Masuo often delivers voice-over narration directed to his relatives about his regrets of the past and his feelings of how they affected his life. The musical score appears mostly during the present day sequences between Masuo and Ritsuko, or in sequences which would otherwise be silent. The ceremonies in the past usually do not have any musical accompaniment.
Oshima and cinematographer Toichiru Narushima often make use of symmetrical framing and wide-angle lenses, and throughout each ceremony often track the camera in toward individuals who are talking. In wider shots within the ceremonies, the camera often focuses on one side of the clan's seating arrangement at the ceremony, framed so that everyone in the frame is facing the same direction, similar to the family meal scene at the end of Yasujirō Ozu's Tokyo Story.
The Ceremony makes use of many long takes. Some of the more private conversations during the ceremonies are played out throughout static long takes, with none of the characters moving around the screen. Wide-angle tracking shots are often used to help establish locations, as the film does not make usage of the 180 degree rule in its editing.
References
- ^ Kim, Nelson. "Nagisa Oshima". Senses of Cinema.
- ^ "The Ceremony". Shooting Down Pictures. 2007-04-04.
{{cite web}}:|first=missing|last=(help) - ^ "The Ceremony". Shooting Down Pictures. 2007-04-04.
{{cite web}}:|first=missing|last=(help)
External links
- The Ceremony at AllMovie
- The Ceremony at IMDb
- The Ceremony at the Japanese Movie Database (in Japanese)