Culture is a precious use
of
uniqueness in this world of millions. Culture in movies is extremely
hard to
capture because of complexity it adds in the world. To capture it you
not only
need languages and architecture, you need to produce in an art form that
represents that culture as well. History is another important element
of
culture, which shows how the people have progressed in their own
society.
Roshomon is able to show many of these cultural elements within the
movie. Some
of these elements are directly displayed, like clothing, language,
scenery, and
in some scenes the way the camera angles are set up. The
other elements are set up symbolically like
the plot and its direct comparison to Japanese history. All of these
elements
of culture combined make a very well produced foreign movie that other
world audiences can be understand and find enjoying to watch. Two things
Roshomon do exceptionally well with, are its camera angles that in way
capture culture and
its symbolic plot that connects directly to Japanese history.
Roshomon is able
to produce different views from the camera for the audience to see some areas
of culture. As an audience member you have to picture these scenes as almost
still life because if you were to pause the movie they’d almost make a good Japanese
picture. The court scene is set up so that camera captures the testimonies and
still shows the judges behind them, sitting like Japanese Samaria. Its almost
like a still picture is being painted of the court, so that audience may know
that this is what the Japanese find appealing in art. It is bold with the two
judges in the distance sitting very discipline, but the scene still is able to
capture the voices of the testimonies and those actors unique sense of telling their
side. Another way the culture is scene is from the flash backs to the
characters sitting under the gate. The camera captures many angles of the gate,
and the scene moves slowly so that the audience appreciates the gate and gets a
sense of the damage that has been inflicted on it. Once again the the scene
could be a very good still, but it is also able to capture the characters
stories and emotions through action. Taking a camera and fixating it on an
object with different angles creates culture, because different Countries
cultures have certain angles that make their art unique.
My next element is
history and how it is displayed in the movie. In the time the movie was being
produced the Japanese were recovering from World War II and in particular the
bombs that struck Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In the movie the war is represented in
the first scene where the gate is damaged and a strong rain storm is upon
them. Struggles continue through the movie like how it happened in the war
until finally the last scene where all the men are exposed creating a climax,
this being the bombs that were dropped. At this point in the movie it looks
like there is no hope, but then the baby appears and slowly the storm begins to
dies down. This represents the war coming to a close and the beginning of
reconstruction. The priest hands the baby over symbolizing faith that Japanese
people will need faith with one another, and that the world will have to give
them faith and responsibility in creating a new, better nation.
Philip Shutler
ReplyDeleteGroup 6- Katie Robinson
I agree with this post in the fact that this film was extremely cultural. I find that one of the reasons we watched Roshomon was to be introduced to a change of customs, in order to see how important the element of culture is in films.
One of the first things I noticed in this movie was how slow and dramatically drawn out the emotions and movements were which this post points out as well. At first this was a part of the movie that annoyed me, because I am used to a movie moving along quicker in its actions to keep my attention, but watching this movie has introduced the difference in culture between American and Asia. However I did find it interesting to consider the photographic element of how slow their motions are, to build suspense and portray their culture.
I also agree with how they used camera angles in the movie to capture certain emotions in the scenes. I did not initially notice this element until after we talked about it in class, but as this blog post acknowledges, the unique, cultural camera angles were used to be very specific to the Japanese culture in film at the time, because some of these angles differed from angles you might have seen in American films.
The historical context of the ending of Roshomon was something else that was important to consider when it comes to cultural context. Since this movie took place after the war, I think they were trying to show that hope should not be given up because of war, but that humans might begin to be able to trust each other again. Yet, I think the baby in the end was universal as opposed to cultural, because I believe it represented faith not only for Japan, but for all humans as well. I found this symbolic ending to be very powerful, regardless of which culture they were trying to represent.
Rashomon is indeed known for its use of unique camera angles and lighting. The film is full from start to finish of odd camera shots, which add to the movie culturally and artistically. I agree when you say that this technique reflects certain areas of the culture. To expand on that idea, the use of camera angles as a whole reflects the confusion and deceit of the plot, which parallels to the culture. As you said above, the camera goes back to a shot of the gate and the word Rashomon a couple times in the film. Having this in the beginning of the movie gives the audience a sense of the culture and time period the film is portraying. The gate is damaged and falling apart, setting the scene and foreshadowing the brokenness of the plot. Another example of unique camera angles is when the woodcutter is walking through the forest. The camera shots come from many different angles: the side, front, and back of the woodcutter, as well as the trees from above and below. These all add to the mystery of the forest and the confusion of the plot. This method is used many times throughout the movie, and all of the occurrence relate to each other and unify the film. The camera angles are often confusing and all over the place, which parallels the culture of the current time period. The director was able to use this technique to relate to the current culture. As you said above, culture is hard to capture in a film, but Rashomon is able to achieve this using interesting and unique camera angles throughout the film.
ReplyDeleteMary Walker - Group 9
Kim Huynh
ReplyDeleteI do agree that this film is a great example of Japanese culture not only in camera angles and symbolism but the plot in general. Japanese culture, like many other Asian cultures do not value women as much as they value a man. A man can have as many lovers as he pleases but a woman may only have one. The woman in the film is prime example of women in her culture that are oppressed by their husbands and that can easily be tempted into something more fun and exciting. She is very ashamed though of how she acted in all four narratives and asks for her husband to be killed so she feels less guilt. What you mentioned about the judges in the court scene is interesting because I believe they were not shown and seen as an unknown figure. I believe it is that way to show that no one can judge these people for their crimes or tell them if they are wrong or right. It is all left to the audience because even at the end of the film viewers still have no idea who’s telling the truth or even know the fate of the bandit or the woman. It’s all left open ended for the viewers to decide. In my opinion the court was only there as a medium to tell their stories, and the omnipotence of the viewers to determine the truth makes us the judges. The baby in the end is a great symbol of faith being restored, I agree. The weather also plays a huge role in the ending of the film showing that the sun has finally come out freeing us from the darkness of the storm. I also think its interesting that weather was used because weather is forever changing and there are times it is good and there are times it is bad, just like humanity.