Ok, I know this picture isn't about Asian cinema but trains and films, do have something in common. They both transport me to different places and sometimes the journey can be better than the destination!
Trains have also featured in many Asian films and in films made by westerners about Asia. Take the film "Lost in Translation" for example. Bustling and super modern Tokyo is the setting for two American lost souls who have either seen too much of the world, or not enough. This film features a train trip made by Charlotte (I think that's her name) to Kyoto to see the temples and shrines this city is famous for. She wisely takes a Tokaido Shinkansen service (as above) and the reduced travel time allows her to spend the day exploring a completely new culture. Her train also manages to take in Mt Fuji before reaching Atami, which pretty much tells the viewer in the know that the editors also had no idea about Japan (Atami comes before Mt Fuji travelling south from Toyko).
The train trip to Kyoto could also be seen as a metaphorical representation for the stages of life Bob and Charlotte find themselves at when we meet them. Bob, having had a long and successful career as an actor, has already been on his 'train' for some years and is now starting to wonder if he's on the right one, or whether it's time to get off. Charlotte, with completely useless higher degree in hand, has yet to even find the right platform! Both struggle to answer the nagging questions and doubts that, until recently, were hidden deep at the unconscious level. The film ends with neither character deciding on a definite course of action but beginning a new journey anyway, the time for meditating over their respective problems being over. The train of life continues inexorably on for Bob and Charlotte.
PS. Don't you love the way the passengers above are neatly queuing up according to the markings at their feet? Don't be fooled dear reader, these people proved themselves to be highly skilled at the art of 'Melbourne Shove'(Connex users, you'll know what this means).
6 comments:
Have you seen densha otoko -- train man? I loved it except for the syrupy ending which seemed out of place with the rest of the film. It was also made into a japanese TV series.
Tony
No, I haven't. This sounds very good! I must look out for it. The syrypy ending sounds suitably kooky for a film with a name like Densha otoko.
TTT,
I really liked "Lost in translation" (and have watched it a few times now). A bit deep with the metaphorical stuff though. Did you think the director just left the viewer hanging at the end? Perhaps a sequel?
Well funny you should say that about the end being left hanging. I read somewhere that the moment when Bob whispers into Charlotte's ear was not rehearsed, but entirely spontaneous. I'll always wonder what he said.....
'.....but trains and films, do have something in common. They both transport me to different places and sometimes the journey can be better than the destination!' Like your comment here, I've found when traveling that from time to time getting from A to B can actually be better than arriving @ B. Sometimes almost an anti-climax to actually arrive @ a destination! Experienced that yourself?
Great work.
Post a Comment