tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718363357363343340.post8268417048281636998..comments2022-05-09T09:20:48.004-07:00Comments on Film of the Month Club: Memorial Day thoughts on Kenzo OkuzakiChris Caglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11896423565458620046noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718363357363343340.post-78626797994490091742008-05-28T18:33:00.000-07:002008-05-28T18:33:00.000-07:00On punishment: I think Okuzaki is definitely looki...On punishment: I think Okuzaki is definitely looking for punishment - he talks about it often enough. I'm inclined to think that survivor's guilt is a significant part of his motivation - he wants to mete out punishment on those who have done wrong - but it's hard to avoid the idea that he also wants to suffer punishment himself. He courts trouble - when he does something violent or illegal he quickly volunteers to take responsibility - he even wants to build a jail cell in his own home.... <BR/><BR/>I should probably add - there were plenty of demonstrations and what not before the invention of photography - what might be missing is a certain type of symbolic demonstration... maybe the possibility of a non-violent demonstration.... Though I'm not sure - quite a few protests were purely symbolic - presentations of grievances and so on....weepingsamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11885871104310819374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718363357363343340.post-81679509960367439082008-05-28T02:27:00.000-07:002008-05-28T02:27:00.000-07:00Girish, I guess I'm alluding to my childhood under...Girish, I guess I'm alluding to my childhood understanding of the word "manslaughter"- accidental killing, as opposed to "murder" which requires intent. I now know that the terminology's usage is more complicated than that, but since I'm not clear on the specifics, I still tend to translate "attempted manslaughter" as "attempted accidental killing," which is definitely a paradox.<BR/><BR/>Of course, my above reflection is written as if in ignorance of Okuzaki's shooting incident, as described at the end of the film. I'll chalk it up to my tendency to write in "spoiler mode". I suppose I would go on to say that the shooting doesn't come out of the blue even if it has nothing to do with truth or reconciliation. Though Okuzaki talks of wanting to set the record straight above all other goals, he's pointed toward punishment, by camera or by other means, all along. Ignatiy Vishnevetsky's post above gets at this very eloquently.<BR/><BR/>Peter, thanks for your comment. I'd like to see that film! When I think of engraving as war protest I think of Paul Revere's engraving of the Boston Massacre, and that's about as far as it goes. I wonder what the differences in the manner of protest pre-photography and post-photography (as well as pre-motion picture and post-motion picture) might be. Are there fewer than one would expect?Brian Darrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17693169310367670898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718363357363343340.post-47477809990600587532008-05-27T14:22:00.000-07:002008-05-27T14:22:00.000-07:00"Although attempted manslaughter sounds like a par..."Although attempted manslaughter sounds like a paradox. I wonder why that was his sentence..."<BR/><BR/>Perhaps because Okuzaki didn't actually succeed in killing Koshimizu's son; his attempt was a failed one.girishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05079328617099035797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718363357363343340.post-50862594624917725402008-05-27T11:37:00.000-07:002008-05-27T11:37:00.000-07:00Regarding social protest before photography: i too...Regarding social protest before photography: i too would have thought it didn't exist before the photo image, but my film teacher is doing a film on engraving and it's use as a tool of war protest throughout history. it is very eye opening. just thought you may find that interesting.Peter Rinaldihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08665020900615475757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718363357363343340.post-81345650624922507142008-05-27T09:41:00.000-07:002008-05-27T09:41:00.000-07:00Oh, that's really interesting, girish. Although a...Oh, that's really interesting, girish. Although attempted manslaughter sounds like a paradox. I wonder why that was his sentence...Brian Darrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17693169310367670898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718363357363343340.post-59782523012934842312008-05-27T06:52:00.000-07:002008-05-27T06:52:00.000-07:00Hi there, Brian. Something I discovered about what...Hi there, Brian. Something I discovered about what happened after the film was made:<BR/><BR/>In 1987, Okuszaki was sentenced to 12 years hard labour for attempted manslaughter. He appealed, and his lawyer tried to introduce the completed film as evidence. The judge admitted it, and Hara quickly produced a video transfer of the film. It was shown in court. It was also the first time Okuzaki saw the film. The screening didn't help; the higher court upheld the ruling.girishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05079328617099035797noreply@blogger.com