I haven't had a great experience with Japanese cinema. While I admit I haven't seen a whole lot of it, it seems that the nation's film industry sort of died in the early 2000s with the massive rise in pop culture and animation. From the 50s to the late 90s, however, there are a lot of great films that display life in Japan, the culture and tradition that shaped around the growth that came after World War 2. As well as the way of life that existed beforehand over many centuries of established structure. To this day we still think of Japan as an efficient, relatively reserved nation. While things haven't changed all that much, it does seem as if the film industry of Japan was left to stagnate and, to some degree, even rot. Where independent creations seem few and far between, with its bigger blockbuster entries being just live action attempts pulled from the animation industry. There are a few big faces here and there from throughout the years, many of which now aged or having passed. Perhaps signaling the start of a new era as the youth may take control.
I say this because I often do keep an eye out for new Japanese films to watch. But it seems rather rare that I do actually come across anything. There are a lot of older films that I haven't checked out, though, and I do have a bit of a library saved up over the years of films I have been needing to check out. One of these rather known filmmaker's from Japan's past is Takeshi Kitano, known for his work both behind and in front of the camera. Kids Return has been in this watchlist of mine for well over three years now, and I haven't really bothered to give it the viewing it deserved. Instead roaming through the many films of other nations instead; though having finally sat down and seen a Japanese film again, I have to say that all it did was spark a new interest in again searching and viewing many more.
Kids Return is a very Japanese film, after all. With oozing with 90s soul that cements it within the era. Like a time capsule that shows the history of a now very different place in terms of appearance.
Kids Return
To summarise Kids Return, I'd say that it's a 90s Japanese film with the ongoing score of elevator music. A film that has a constant theme playing in its scenes, but this type of music that I'd call elevator music is incredibly atmospheric. Anyone that had a PlayStation 1 and remember the boot up sound will know precisely what I mean here. I noticed this music playing throughout the film and honestly, I actually love it for this. It was so different and really gave the film and its characters a very delicate, relaxed approach. Particularly interesting given the relaxed Japanese culture, though the contrast to this being a narrative surrounding youth, troublesome times, and the sport of boxing. This is a narrative that is quite depressing, too. Showing the reality of life's struggles and now the pursuit of something just may not work out. Where ambition may not be enough to make it in something, and failure becomes a frequent occurrence. While this seems like a fairly straightforward idea in most cultures, failure is an interesting concept to the Japanese. Where family and friend expectations are heavily felt on the individual, surrounding a society that aims to please all in pursuit of what is self-destruction.
How do we cope with the concept of failure, when our society is so oriented around it? As the nation progresses forward with the rise of gangsters, crime, and a youth that feels lost in a changing environment. Failure guides us into unexpected areas of life too; and the film displays the ways in which some people pursue acceptance from others in the worst way, and others strive to become something. Our two characters being high school dropouts completely void of direction, one takes the route of attempting to become a boxer, and the other finds himself doing work for the Yakuza. The film being an exploration of life and its many struggles which either cripple us and push us down or serve as lessons that make us see the upcoming opportunities in life. These two characters moving down two very different paths, though inevitably converging again by the end. I really liked the story and its simplicity for this, being about the complexities of life and how we may end up anywhere without planning it. The mystery and adventure that came about with shifting times and how that anxiety is felt in the youth as well.
With the really relaxing music within the scenes comes the film's very beautiful cinematography. This is a film still film where movement of the camera is quite rare. The camera stays still in most scenes, just watching from different angles with very little movement. Instead with very photographic compositions that rely on, well, very established photographic techniques. Sometimes the characters move within the frame from one side to another, as the camera utilises the environments leading lines or lack of depth. Shot on 35mm film, it makes the rural life of this place in Japan seem empty, spacious, and actually rather peaceful. A ripe environment for troubled youth to end up seeking out their own challenges and sources of entertainment. With the music, gentle tones in the use of 35mm film, and the general empty environment, Kids Return seems like a nostalgic trip; a reminiscing of yesteryear, with a glimpse at the ambitious and chaotic youth once lived. Where they didn't quite care what happened and how, but glided through life down whatever paths that may come their way. Because of this it feels like a love letter to youth. Showcasing the bad, and the good.
Its approach is still very much relaxed, as the film has a lot of breathing room with its runtime. It almost seems like nothing is really going on for most of it, but it seems like an intentional pacing consideration that displays the slow days of youth. But not once did I feel bored. In fact, I watched the film after returning from having lunch in a pub garden, warmed by the spring sunlight. Returning home, I still felt like warmth, the sky blue and completely clear from my window. Feeling the excitement and comfort of the warmth of an upcoming summer. It had me watching the film and looking back at my own days as a teenager; and I found this really engaging given the differences in culture that the film displays with the idea of failure. Where you'd try something new, fail, but only come out on top with newfound optimism. That carefree mind that came knowing there was more time to try new things, that life was an adventure just starting. Is this a time of fear? Perhaps. But should you care? No!
Takeshi Kitano has created a very beautiful, very thoughtful take on what it means to be young. That hopeful optimism in which one believes that there's always tomorrow for things to just fall in line. Looked at with a delicate lens that considers the hardships of not knowing, the passions of falling in love with something new, and the carefree nature of youth. I highly recommend checking this out over a warm spring or summer's day.
