INDEX
Recognizing the Hellish Nature of This World
The currently showing film ‘Chime’ (2024) also explores the life of an ordinary protagonist, Matsuoka (Mutsuho Yoshioka), who works as a cooking class instructor and experiences a disruption in his daily routine. Although his family appears typical, his wife (Tomoko Tabata) obsessively discarding empty cans at a high noise level raises questions about how anyone might be affected by something unsettling.
Kurosawa: ‘Chime’ is definitely a different film. Each time I create a movie, both the cast and the story are unique, so I aim to produce something completely new. However, there’s a limit to what one person can accomplish, and despite all the fresh elements, my direction often seems to echo past works. Many people refer to this as part of my distinctive style. But I don’t make films to highlight my individuality; in reality, I would prefer if my uniqueness went unnoticed.
Kurosawa: However, it’s true that both films may reflect contemporary situations in similar ways. What I notice is that when trying to portray people in today’s world, there seems to be a certain disconnect from their realities. This is a contradiction on my part, but in both ‘Cloud’ and ‘Chime,’ the characters become consumed by something, leading to irreversible consequences. Yet, despite these dire circumstances, there’s still a desire within me to “save” them in some way.
Kurosawa: Realistically, Yoshii might not find salvation. However, I wanted to conclude the story with a sense of hope for him. If I depicted the final scene where he gets caught by the police, it might provide a more satisfying resolution for society, but that wasn’t what I wanted to do. I believe that if we don’t end on a note of hope for how the protagonist will live on despite being in a dire situation, then the people currently living also won’t find salvation.
I was surprised that Yoshii chose to live.
Kurosawa: Yes, that’s true. It may seem foolish to explain my interpretation, but the last line signifies the moment Yoshii finally realizes that this world is like hell. Whether he continues to push through this hell or finds a way to avoid it is uncertain, but just the fact that he understands it as hell can lead to hope. It may sound contradictory, but that’s my honest feeling.
Cloud
Now Showing from September 27, 2024 (Friday)
Running Time: 123 minutes
Production: 2024 (Japan)
Distribution: Tokyo Theatres, Nikkatsu
Director & Screenwriter: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Cast:
Masaki Suda, Kotone Furukawa, Daiken Okudaira, Amane Okayama, Ryoya Arakawa, Masataka Kubota
https://cloud-movie.com/
