Taboo

Rating:
Summary: A natural or unnatural yearning?
Review: The year 1865 was a time of transition for Japan. The Tokugawa Shogunate would collapse in two years time and the Meiji Restoration, where the emperor would be restored to his full glory was a year after that. Yet political struggles and fighting between those loyal to the shogun and those loyal to the emperor marked that interim period.

The black-robed Shinsengumi are a pro-shogunate, pro-isolationist police force, a kind of elite squad fighting against pro-imperialist forces in Kyoto. They are led by Commander Kondo Isami and Captain Hijikata Toshizo.

The story revolves around Sozaburo Kano, one of two new recruits whose fighting skills impress the two leaders. Kano seems very able even in his first assignment, the execution of someone who broke the Shinsengumi code of borrowing money, dispatching the offender in the traditional way. Yet his effeminate looks and his hair, still in a long pony-tail as opposed to the short-cut adult style, arouse desires in certain officers in the police force, such as his fellow recruit Hyozo Tashiro and threatens the stability of the Shinsengumi. While Kano denies that he is someone's lover, he seems to enjoy the attention he gets from the others. Hijikata seems to think Kano and Toshiro were lovers. He has a dojo bout against Kano, who stands up well, and against Tashiro, who is "one notch lower than Kano." Yet when Kano and Tashiro fight, the former does not fight as well. This inconsistency leads the captain to that conclusion in answer to rumours asking who Kano has taken up with.

One repeated line has the motif of "Does he lean that way" or "I didn't know he leant that way" in regards to officers suspected of desiring Kano. There was indeed a homosexual subculture flourishing in Kyoto during the Tokugawa period and it wasn't forbidden. In the Shinsengumi, though, it's akin to love of youthful male beauty in Roman times.

One thing that might confuse people is the repeated mention of the Ikedaya Jiken (Incident). That was a fight that took place at the Ikedaya, an inn in Kyoto, in July 1864. Commander Kondo and some men attacked and killed eight anti-shogunate activists, arresting twenty. The two samurai who taunt Kano while he is having a bout with Commander Inoue were suspected of being anti-shogunate activists itching for revenge. And Satsuma and Aizu refers to domains held under sway of more moderate anti-shogunate forces who sought reconciliation with the shogunate.

Beat Takeshi (Takeshi Kitano under his acting name) is his usual understated but occasionally potent self, and he does well as Hijikata, even if real Hijikata died in his mid-thirties. His observation that jealousy among men is a dangerous thing underscores what happens when Kano comes into their midst. Historical accuracy is also questionable in the characterization of Commander Kondo, who like Hijikata was in his thirties when he was later captured and executed in 1868 by imperial forces.

The period detail is well captured, down to the dress and even the palanquins, as is the militaristic dojo atmosphere of the Shinsengumi. An interesting study of the attractions to youthful beauty and the jealousies it can lead to.

Rating:
Summary: CHERRIES and stuff .........
Review: The young and handsome samurai Kano is courted by some other samurai that dwell within the same walls. This is observed by the elder samurai to be a not too uncommon phenomenon among the samurai, but it is something that is well concealed by them. However, it seems like the attention that Kano is attracting is too obvious, which the elders try to prevent and reverse through the use of women. Meanwhile, there is a struggle brewing among those who have mutual feelings for Kano and this is running in a disastrous direction. Taboo is a film that portrays homosexuality in a male dominating society where men carry themselves with an outmost social confidence providing for terrific film experience.

Rating:
Summary: Passionate Complexity Among Men...
Review: The young and handsome samurai Kano is courted by some other samurai that dwell within the same walls. This is observed by the elder samurai to be a not too uncommon phenomenon among the samurai, but it is something that is well concealed by them. However, it seems like the attention that Kano is attracting is too obvious, which the elders try to prevent and reverse through the use of women. Meanwhile, there is a struggle brewing among those who have mutual feelings for Kano and this is running in a disastrous direction. Taboo is a film that portrays homosexuality in a male dominating society where men carry themselves with an outmost social confidence providing for terrific film experience.

Rating:
Summary: Shadows and Light
Review: This film displays the use of photography as film better than any other living director. Watch The Royal Tennenbaums or Element of Crime and you think that every shot is a photograph. Watch Madadayo, Ran, or The Celebration and every shot is an emotion. Watch Taboo and every shot is a wood engraving on an antique piece of Japanese furniture. An effect that cannot be said about any other film without possible consideration of Seven Samurai or Sanjuro. Oshima has taken a simple piece of homoerotic film and has made a Jarman-like transcendance to something more. And that is all I should have to say. This is not just a film, it is something more. A good story alone is a book, and a good story with brilliant scenery is enlightening. You are seeing the reason why someone decided to give pictures motion. This is not one of the best films I have seen, but is one of the most beautiful pictures I have every spent a few hours looking at.

Rating:
Summary: Captivating
Review: This is a really interesting film that captivates your attention from the beginging. The dramatic actions of the characters speak for the movie itself. It's written narraration was a bit choppy but that did not bother me since I was to engrossed with seeing what would happen next. And the ending.....well, see for yourself! :)

Rating:
Summary: Captivating
Review: This is a really interesting film that captivates your attention from the beginging. The dramatic actions of the characters speak for the movie itself. It's written narraration was a bit choppy but that did not bother me since I was to engrossed with seeing what would happen next. And the ending.....well, see for yourself! :)

Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: This movie is absolutely superb. The acting is amazing (I am a big fan of Beat Takeshi and he's genius in every movie he's in) and it's a work of art within itself. It has the feeling of a beautiful Japanese watercolor with flowing designs and fantastic scenes. Every scene is filled with elegance and careful attention to detail. The directing is more than superb and just the mere thought of this film makes me catch my breath.