INDEX
The Ominous Signs of Societal Collapse: Ordinary People’s Intuition About Doom
Even Yoshii, who is cautious and calm, undergoes a transformation as if possessed by something. The sight of everyone, including the vengeful group, being consumed by some obsession is both frightening and, in a way, absurd. What was Kurosawa’s mindset while capturing this?
Kurosawa: Essentially, I see all the characters as ordinary people. However, I think this reflects a modern characteristic: those who seem unremarkable are often the ones who might have a bleak outlook on the future. There’s a sense of uncertainty and a vague anxiety about what lies ahead. They might feel the urge to lash out due to their frustration, but they don’t have a clear target. Wars are already erupting around the world, and I can’t help but feel that there’s a growing sense of dread among ordinary people, as if they sense that disaster is lurking just ahead.
I’ve heard that the idea for this film was inspired by real-life incidents where strangers met online and, with a simplistic mindset, ended up killing each other like a game. It seems that such events could stem from vague anxieties.
Kurosawa: I don’t think these are unique incidents; rather, they’re something that could easily happen in today’s world. Groups of strangers, gathered out of curiosity, can escalate their violent intentions through the internet. Again, the internet itself isn’t inherently bad; the problem lies in the small anxieties that build up in the hearts of ordinary people and are amplified when brought together through the internet.
Yoshii unapologetically identifies himself as a “reseller” when asked about his profession, and Sano only says he helps Yoshii because he’s his assistant. This could suggest that “verbalizing” one’s identity acts as a switch for being consumed by something. What are your thoughts on this?
Kurosawa: I wasn’t explicitly aware of that, but there might be some truth to it. While Yoshii is aware that being a reseller isn’t viewed positively by society, he still carries a sense of pride. Clarifying one’s position and thoughts could indeed serve as a trigger, but that also leads down a path to destruction.
Do you prefer to clarify your position by expressing it verbally?
Kurosawa: I actually prefer not to define my position too clearly. However, there are times when I have to clarify it, so in those moments, I try to accept that this is who I am. By doing this repeatedly, I gradually become accustomed to it, even if, upon deeper reflection, I might view things differently. It’s often easier to simply convince myself of a particular stance. I think I should reflect on whether I genuinely believe that or not, but perhaps this self-convincing is part of “navigating society.”
