Yasukuni article and interview with Li Ying

[starsweeper Cathy]

Jasper,

You make a lot of really interesting points.  I also wondered about the
authenticity of the American protester, and I haven't been able to find any
news items written about the event (apart from reviews of Yasukuni, of
course), so I am curious if anyone has any more information on that scene.
Clearly for a lot of the episodes, he would have had to have been in the
know - like that guy in WWII uniform who visits the shrine at night in the
rain.

Even if the 'Yankee Go Home' scene was a set-up for the cameras, they
couldn't have scripted the varied response the man got from the crowd.  I
think the scene was important for demonstrating a range of responses to the
provocation: some at the shrine were bewildered, many didn't pay him any
attention at all, some were very pro-American, and only a handful got
belligerent with him and starting shouting anti-American epithets.

It contrasted nicely with the scene that you mention with the 'Chinese'
protester, not to mention the fighting words of the Taiwanese woman who
confronts the head priest at Yasukuni.  I'm guessing that was one of the
scenes you had trouble with - Taiwanese with German subtitles!! - she starts
off with a very moving, eloquent speech that was bringing tears to my eyes
but when she realizes that she's not getting sympathy from the priest she
says some pretty nasty things.  I heard the whole audience take a sharp
intake of breath when she said what she thinks of Shinto!

I must admit that I was really worried while waiting for the film to start
that it wouldn't live up to all the hype, but Li Ying has pulled off an
elegant film that reminded me of Tokyo Olympiad with its elegance, lack of
voice-over narration, and its focus on the relationship between place,
events, and people.  He shows what a complicated political situation it is
by allowing a wide-range of people's voices to be heard.  The film asks more
questions than it answers, and is designed to provoke debate and
discussion.  It's ironic to think that the mere existence of the film has
already provoked so much debate among people who haven't even seen the film
yet!

Looking forward to reading more responses to the film,
Cathy
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