LogFAQs > #895919115

I had no idea this movie was going to be this thought provoking. I thought it was going to be a thriller like Shutter Island. Instead I ended up watching a masterpiece. It explored so many ideas such as colonialism, isolationism, morality vs faith, inequality.

From the get-go, the cinematography is phenomenal. The dreary smoke plagues the coastline evokes feelings of embers and fire, and subsequently images of Hell. However, the smoke is also an indication of the ambiguity of perception, smoke distorts things. As the movie progresses, and the smoke subsides, Japan begins to reveal itself as more of a pragmatic nation and not the brutal Hell it is initially depicted as. Much like the main character, he initially views things as black and white, and faith will remediate despair. But, as the movie progresses, his faith is repeatedly tested, and his sense of morality and instincts come into a direct clash with faith.

The movie did a great job of keeping the villager's motives ambiguous. When it was revealed why they converted to Christianity and what it represented for them, it kind of hit me with a "oh yea" moment. The priests weren't really converting them, much so promising them paradise. There was no teachings of Christianity. I wouldn't say it was exploitation because the main character had no intention to use them for a coup or extract funds. His motives came from the belief that he could bring them into paradise.

Anyways though. Phenomenal movie.
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