#edo period les misérables

[hadleysmis]

!!! About Kyojinndenn

So I've talked about the Shouwa Les Misérables movie for a bit in this account, but I don't think I've really put an emphasis on the date that it was made. It was made in 1938.

The movie talks of the rebellion to be a Samurai rebellion in 1877; the last push for the feudal system which soon became snuffed.

I try not to look into background information of artists (which makes me a bad analyser, I know), but especially during this time due to the sensitive time frame (Japan was an active coloniser at the time of the filmmaking, and thus I'm too scared to read about the biography due to the possibility of them having been conscripted, etc.) To add onto this to the same grave degree, there was WWII happening soon after the wrap of the movie, meaning you get to read about some of the gruesome deaths of the actors in the biography section.

Anyways, putting my excuses aside, I did happen accidentally upon the wikipedia page (eng) of the director for the movie, and found out he made many Samurai films; but his takes were unique in the sense that they were not romanticised, and rather satirical.

I've talked in at certain length about the choice of using the Seinan War as the June Rebellion equivalence, but this fact might tip this seesaw of a thought process by a lot.

Of course my Japanese is not good enough to understand a Shouwa movie even to a gist, so I can't pick up many things satirical,, but maybe I should then take back parts of my thoughts on the choice of using the Seinan War...

If the director often critiqued it, maybe he knew how bad the system was for the governance of a country? I don't know. He did seemingly like making Samurai movies, as satirical as they were.

[hadleysmis]

Samurai are highly romanticised, so the tension in Seinan War is not bad vs bad. The interpretation might be more close to the advancement of the 'modern Japan' which separated it from the previously Feudal era.

I didn't think about it that way! But this then rises the question even further in why they chose the Seinan war would be chosen for the June Rebellion equivalence 😭

[hadleysmis]

巨人傳- 西南戦争

Kyojinndenn- Seinan War

What is interesting about using the Seinan War as the screen equivalence of the June Rebellion in the Shouwa Movie of Les Misérables (Kyojinndenn), is that... I didn't root for either side.

First thing's first, what is the Seinan War? Well, to put it shortly, it was the last proper rebellion from the Samurai clans against the Imperial Japanese Government. Before this war, the Samurai class were being abolished, and thus the Samurai fought to keep their power.

However, this didn't work, and the Imperial Japanese Government took full of control of the country. This was seen as the 'final curtains', if you will, of the feudal system.

Feudal. The system in which a minority of the 'superior class' exists, wherein the lower class individuals, like peasants, worked for them.

Imperial. The government which wished to conquer East, Southeast Asia, and beyond.

Ryouma's (Marius) grandfather was a Samurai, and he sticks to his bloodline duty and fights in the Seinan War. He survives, Chiyo (Cosette) is by his injured side after he's brought to her by Oonuma/Sannpei (Jean Valjean), and he promises her he will never enter another war again.

Now, the "never do war again" part could be alluding to the rising tension as the movie was made in 1938 (and also to some historians state that 1937 was the beginning of World War II given what (Lugou Bridge incident) Japan did to China); so it could be some sort of a stance in the looming or already begun war.

Even if the Second World War had not begun, the Second Sino-Japanese War had. So it might be in reference to not desiring the said war.

However, it is romance-based of Chiyo and Ryouma, and it does not linger long on the consequences of the wars. Instead, it is used to show how much Ryouma and Chiyo cared and loved each other.

But if we take a step back for a second consider the bubble of the Seinan War... Were we supposed to root for Ryouma?

If we think about who lead the war, it was Saigou Takamori (西郷隆盛). He has shrines and statues dedicated to him (you can see it on his wikipedia page in Japanese), and thus is safe to say he is held somewhat highly. He embodied Bushido, and showed honour in the system that relied a lot on loyalty. So it's understandable why he was pardoned after his death by the Imperial government, as he showed the masculine, ideal way to fight for a cause and die in your stern belief.

So, then we must wonder if it was pro-Samurai, and thus used as the equivalence of June Rebellion.

The June Rebellion's equivalence never has to be exact to make its point. Kundan portrayed the Quit India Movement-- a fight which was successful, and also had actually planning and a National committee which predated the event by many year and thus was not as sudden as the French event-- it still portrayed the themes of June Rebellion. And, oh, you knew which side to support.

Or with the official Korean translation of the English version of the musical using terminology from the years after the liberation of Korea from the Japanese Empire. Even though this version focuses on pride of the National identity and the anger against the colonisation in history, it still portrays the June Rebellion equivalence because there is a side that is being treated unfairly, and a side which abuses its power.

Not to mention many Koreans bringing up events such as the Gwangju Uprising as a direct parallel to the June Rebellion. Gwangju Uprising being yet another student protest which demanded democracy, but was brutally suppressed by the military government.

There are many instances where the equivalence is not exact and precise, but due to the themes, it makes it good, or perfect. It's okay to talk about colonisation in Les Mis-inspired story. It's okay to talk about another student uprising in another context to the French history.

But if we were to choose any period in Japanese history to parallel this event, would people truly choose the Seinan War?

I think this whole thing boils down to what we think the June Rebellion is about, and what makes a good adaptation of the battle. Whether it be a war or an uprising or a battle or a rebellion, the themes in play seems to be the most important component.

So, when it comes with the choice of using Seinan War to tell the tale of Les Misérables, I must admit, I am still scratching my head about it.

[hadleysmis]

巨人傳：千代と大沼の初めて顔を合わせた時

In kyojinndenn, when Chiyo (Cosette) begs for her mother's appearance in the forest, her voice becoming increasing shaky and her vision misty. She wipes her tears as there was no answer.

With the sobering reminder of her situation and her place, she has no other choice than to continue carrying the bucket, struggling and taking her time.

She stops, takes a breather before continuing. The bucket is big, it is heavy, and she is small.

When she advances despite her hardship, Oonuma appears.

She looks up, unsure of this new presence. But she had just wished for a mother, and there Oonuma was.

[hadleysmis]

Patron Minette from 巨人傳

I believe they never have a name, and are just called Thénardier's friends.

@patron-minette

I wish I had more footage of them,, but believe me this is most of the footage of them. I hope you get to enjoy these short clips and photos,, and the reflection of my face.

[hadleysmis]

Gavroche struggles to get up from having been shot, lying to himself that his injury was not fatal and did not happen. He tries to recreate the confident energy that he just had and raises his hand to the sky.

He was doomed though, as he flops to the ground, joining the corpses and rubbles on the infected ground.

He was valient but too confident. These two defining characteristics, which one often defines a child by, brought this little boy his downfall.

[hadleysmis]

Sokabe, forced to think.

Sokabe, thinking.

Sokabe does not die.

[hadleysmis]

A barricade is built.

(巨人傳)

[hadleysmis]

Chiyo asks Okuni for the delivery of her letter to Ryouma

In 巨人傳、it is Cosette who asks Éponine to deliver a letter

Upon receiving the letter, Okuni smiles as she recognised the name. "Ahh, I know him very well," She says.

Through the cannons and gunfire, through the region torn by rebellion, she walks barely living, having been shot she still navigates through the streets for the objective to deliver the letter Ryouma.

In his arms, she tells him that the letter is inside her clothes, and it is by "the one you love the most."

She confesses, her body becoming limp as she closes her eyes. Only her hand climbs his chest; with her final energy used to reach to him, perhaps his face.

Ryouma holds her hand tightly to his heart.

Okuni has died.

Upon witnessing his sister's death, Gavroche cries loudly.

It makes it sadder for me, that in her character introduction, I believe she says something along the lines of "such is the life of poverty/destitution."

In other news, Ryouma does have the "Marius confused!" Look on his face when she confesses her feelings to him. It could be him trying to choose the right words, but I also like to entertain the idea that he absolutely had no idea she was flirting with him the entire time.

She would literally say things like "Do you like that I did a good job? Are you happy?"

And what did he think? Ahh, she's looking for a parental role figure?? Ryouma, she liked you...

[hadleysmis]

While the rebellion is happening, Ryouma is distraught that he may never see Chiyo again. He's too depressed to react to the sounds of the cannons and guns firing, and the shoutings and the rushing of the people.

I did mess up with the order of the scene to make it a little funny... 😆

He does eventually get up and help fight, but this is definitely Book Marius behaviour.

[hadleysmis]

Within the forest of the garden, two souls bind and love.

巨人傳

The romance of the garden. The actual scenes is clear, and you can see the characters well (unlike in these photos, I understand.)

However, the actors pretend to not be able to see one another, so the message of this garden being bursting with life is conveyed.

And thus, their first caress and kiss is shared privately with no one else around, and quietly with only the shaking of the leaves are heard.

[hadleysmis]

Cosette's pass time in Kyojinden

1) I believe she's playing 琴 koto

2) Flower arrangement 華道 kadou

[hadleysmis]

Kyojinden's Les Amis

They say he's acting strange. Everyone's confused.

[hadleysmis]

How to scare the Patron Minette: a guide

1) Wiggle

2) Bend a metal bar

3) Call them all stupid

[hadleysmis]

Okuni receives money for having guided Ryouma to his love. Money was not what she wanted.

[hadleysmis]

I think Kyojinden having the whole "Chiyo becomes fluent in English after a couple of months of studying it" must be inspired by Victor Hugo's "Marius became fluent in languages just from reading some textbooks" no?