In this blog post, we’ll explore the medical possibilities that human cloning technology could bring, as well as ethical issues such as the identity of cloned humans, the dignity of life, and our attitude toward humanity, through the lens of the movie ‘Moon’. Is cloning humans merely “science fiction” that is completely unrealistic? Currently, research on human genes and gene...
How does the movie “Chocolat” use sweet magic to transform the lives of wounded people?
In this blog post, I’d like to explore the healing and transformative power of chocolate, the characters’ conflicts and growth, the tension between religious austerity and natural human desires, interpretations based on the theories of art by Plato and Aristotle, and the meaning of life conveyed through the film’s fairy-tale-like visual beauty, all through the lens of director Lasse Hallström’s...
How Does Violence Blur the Line Between Good and Evil?
In this blog post, I’ll examine ‘Eastern Promises’ from the perspectives of the gangster genre and the noir anti-hero, exploring how the boundary between good and evil is shaken and eroded as the violent world and the ordinary world collide. The Catharsis Arising from the Reversal of Good and Evil: Gangster Films The origins of the gangster genre, which began in the United...
Why Does the Love Story Between an Ordinary Man and a World-Famous Star Become a Romantic Comedy in ‘Notting Hill’?
In this blog post, I’d like to examine the typical structure and characteristics of the romantic comedy genre as portrayed in ‘Notting Hill’—through the chance encounter and romance between William, who runs an ordinary bookstore, and Anna, a world-famous movie star—as well as the differences between real-life love and love in the movies. A Special Love That Began in an...
“The Act of Killing”: What Is Justice in a World Where the Perpetrators Prevail?
In this blog post, I will examine “The Act of Killing,” focusing on Indonesia’s history and the perpetrators’ self-justification—revealed through the process of reenacting their past murders—as well as the guilt and inner transformation that emerge as filming progresses. Prologue and Opening The film begins with a scene of people emerging from the mouth of a fish, perpetrators and actors...
How did “Pina” turn the fantasy on stage into reality?
In this blog post, I’ll explore why I chose Wim Wenders’ ‘Pina’, starting from my interest in dance and movement; I’ll also examine key sequences in the film, the movements of Pina Bausch and the Wuppertal Dance Company, the unique use of documentary style and sound, and my reflections on Pina’s ability to create fantasy on stage. “Pina”: A Choice Rooted in an Interest in Art...
What Kind of Conflict and Love Should a Korean Romantic Comedy Depict?
In this blog post, I’ll examine the conflict, character development, endings, and use of supporting characters and settings in ‘The Zoo Next to the Art Museum’, ‘He Was So Cool’, and ‘Notting Hill’, and consider what structure and elements a Korean romantic comedy should have. The Beloved Genre: The Potential of the Romantic Comedy What is the most...
What is the movie ‘You Have to Pass the Gift Shop to Find the Exit’ trying to say?
In this blog post, I’ll summarize the various thoughts I had after watching the movie ‘You Have to Pass the Gift Shop to Find the Exit’ and the social questions the film raises. My mind was already racing the moment I first encountered the movie’s title. Starting with simple associations like, “Pass the Gift Shop to Find the Exit? What kind of exit is it? Is it a museum or an...
How Does ‘The Shining’ Create Horror Through Madness in a Real-World Setting?
In this blog post, I’ll analyze the genre characteristics of horror films and examine how the horror of madness manifesting in a real-world setting is portrayed through Stanley Kubrick’s ‘The Shining’. Before We Begin I first saw this movie last summer when it was screened at a small film club. As the saying goes, “Horror movies in the summer,” we were watching horror films...
Why are Stanley Kubrick’s films still regarded as great masterpieces today?
In this blog post, I’ll examine Stanley Kubrick’s masterpieces—’2001: A Space Odyssey’, ‘A Clockwork Orange’, and ‘The Shining’—to explore how his directing style, mise-en-scène, music, and thematic vision have left their mark on film history. I consider Stanley Kubrick to be one of the most representative filmmakers of the 20th century. I chose Stanley...