Fear & Trembling
J.sharp
j.sharp
Wed Nov 24 18:38:07 EST 2004
I just figure it wasn't picked up for distribution because the market for
European films is not so big, and also because I can imagine word of mouth
getting out pretty quick about how offensive it was.
Jasper
--
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--------- Original Message --------
From: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
To: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu <KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu>,
KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu <KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu>
Subject: Re: Fear & Trembling
Date: 24/11/04 05:59
>
> That's very interesting that the film hasn't been released in Japan. Is
there a specific reason (that you know of) or did it not find distribution?
>
> You're right that it is an exact adaptation of the book, and that's why,
as a film, it fails in my opinion. About 75% of the film is done in
voiceover, and that leads to a very dull, flat film.
>
> It's interesting to note that the only episode in the book left out of the
film is one in which a European (a Dutch man) comes off looking poorly.
>
>
> >
> > From: "J.sharp" <j.sharp at hpo.net>
> > Date: 2004/11/24 Wed AM 08:42:08 EST
> > To: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
> > Subject: Re: Fear & Trembling
> >
> > I saw this film last year at the Puchon Festival and posted a few
times on
> > it in connection with the discussions on Kill Bill/ Lost in
Translation /
> > Last Samurai. Rather than reiterate what I said before, I will just
add my
> > voice to your objections about the film. It is downright racist, and
> > needless to say, hasn't been released in Japan. But it was good to
see Taro
> > Suwa, the bald headed actor in many a Shinji Aoyama/Takahisa Zeze
movie get
> > some sort of international exposure. But it is indeed sad to see that
this
> > sort of film still gets released in so many territories when so few
Japanese
> > films do.
> > By the way, the film is a very accurate adaptation of the book, which
was
> > also pretty awful, but for some reason lauded as a classic in the
> > French-speaking world.
> >
> >
> > Jasper
> >
> > --------- Original Message --------
> > From: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
> > To: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
<KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu>
> > Subject: Fear & Trembling
> > Date: 23/11/04 16:28
> >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Hello all --
> > > &nbsp;
> > > Has the Alain Corneau film "Fear &amp; Trembling"
> > > been discussed on the list? I just saw it yesterday, and was
bothered by
> > it.
> > > &nbsp;
> > > For those unfamiliar, the film is based on a
> > > novella by Belgian author Amelie Nothomb. Nothomb, who was born
in Japan
> > (she
> > > left at 7, I think), returned to Japan in her early 20's as an
interpreter
> > for a
> > > large Japanese corporation. The novella is based on her
experiences, and
> > is
> > > clearly described as autobiographical. Though Ms. Nothomb is a
talented
> > writer,
> > > the portraits of her bosses were exaggerated, to say the least.
> > Exaggerated
> > > stereotypes, in my opinion. From her immediate superior, a woman
with whom
> > she
> > > has an almost Hegelian master-servant relationship, to the
department
> > boss, who
> > > is portrayed as a bit of a buffoon as well as a tyrant, to the
vice
> > president,
> > > an obscenely obese monster who screams, shouts and even
physically
> > harasses
> > > Amelie. I can sort of understand her creating them to that
degree in the
> > novella, but to see those characters writ large on the big screen was
> > > cringe-worthy.
> > > &nbsp;
> > > Briefly, Amelie is hired as an interpreter, but
> > > never gets a chance to do the work she's hired for. She is
punished for
> > showing
> > > initiative, and her&nbsp;responsibilities become more and
more demeaning
> > until
> > > she ultimately winds up in the toilets (literally). Her goal is
to
> > "become"
> > > Japanese -- therefore she stands the humiliation because
"that's what a
> > Japanese
> > > person would do".
> > > &nbsp;
> > > I don't wish to make any knee-jerk reactions -- I'm
> > > not simply going to&nbsp;condemn it as&nbsp;racist, but
there's something
> > about
> > > this French eye on Japan that left a bad taste in my mouth. I'd
love to
> > hear
> > > some other opinions.
> > >
> >
> > ________________________________________________
> > Message sent using Hunter Point Online WebMail
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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