swallowtail

[marran]

Swallowtail is certainly a film that provides much food for thought.   I
haven't had time to keep up with the literature on Swallowtail but it seems
as though various "camps" have developed around the film.  I think I should
briefly clarify  that I don't think Swallowtail "celebrates difference" or
"valorizes" multi-ethnicity. I don't regard it as a particular positive
film but actually as a rather dark one that attempts to construct a new
type of *fantastical* space (through very imaginative filming as Martin
points out) that provokes thought/critique but certainly doesn't provide
any kind of positive "message." I'd be interested to know why the film
might be "reducing its celebration of difference to a consumerist
appropriation of the Other into the Japanese national self" but if we
consider the symbolic "Fukuzawas" and the treatment of Chara the performer
in the film then isn't that problem addressed at least tangentially within
the film?  Or perhaps I have misunderstood Aaron's comment.  
As a final question to Aaron, did any audience members at the Feminist Film
Workshop held at Ochanomizu Daigaku have anything to say about Chara or
Ageha?

Regards,
Christine Marran
UW