Mono no aware is the Japanese idea of the awareness of the transience of beauty and the ultimate sadness of life. After watching Early Summer can you better understand this concept? Where there scenes that evoked both feelings of joy and sadness, moments of beauty and tears? What were your emotions at the end of the film? What did you think about some of the images we discussed in class: the waves, the photograph, the child's balloon? Are there moments when you felt the sadness and the beauty of life?
After watching this film, I have a much better understanding of Mono no aware throughout the many examples of finding beauty in the small things of life. At first, many scenes or shots didn’t make sense and were almost unattractive, however throughout the film, I had a much greater sense for the purpose of these shots. The many scenes of holding a shot much longer than in other films forced the viewer to pay closer attention to the surroundings and beauty outside of the plot. This concept, although unusual, gives a new perspective on life and which lens we should view it through. This film shows how life moves so fast that if one does not stop and enjoy it, it along with all your loved ones will be gone sooner than one thinks. Only at the end of the film, when the mother and father just sit and take in their environment, do they truly see all the beautiful things around them. The field of wheat, rolling in the wind, the balloon flying away high into the sky, reminiscing about the time they had with their children. These are core values of mono no aware. Until the parents of the children were left alone, they were too busy to notice all the little things in life which make every life worth living. They were too wrapped up in their own lives to sit down with one another and be thankful for all the blessings they already do have instead of wishing for more. Mono no aware may have an emphasis on slowing down to enjoy the moment, but it is about being pleased with what one already has, instead of asking for more.
ReplyDeleteBecause there are four generations of people living under the same house, it is possible to see the progression of Mono No Aware in through them. The children have next to no knowledge of life, and are focused on material things. They care more about their toy trains and pranks on grandpa than people or the environment around them. Their emotions mostly reside in laughter and happiness rather than negative emotions. When they do have negative emotions, they attribute it to the adults in their lives, even if they had been nice directly before. For example, one of the kids is given multiple pieces of candy, but as soon as he stops, the kid says that he doesn’t love him anymore. They don’t have much mindfulness beyond the absolute moment. On the opposite side of the spectrum, the great grandpa has next to no momentary awareness, and instead is living in his memory and surroundings. This state of mind is the extreme of the parents watching the balloon fly away. They see a balloon, and although the child may stop at that and cry because their balloon is gone, the parents see it and reminisce in memory of their own kids and their experience with balloons. The great grandpa is so far removed from the present, that when the children give him paper and tell him it’s candy, he eats it. The Grandpa also doesn’t hear the child calling him an idiot right beside him.
ReplyDeleteFrom these observations, my deeper understanding of Mono No Aware is the progression of reflection and understanding. The temporal nature of our lives forces us to reflect the older we get. The kids only cared about the very next thing, as with the gifts of candy and toys. Even though they may have just gotten more, they look forward again and desire even more, barely thinking at all about what they just received. The parents look to the future to provide for their family, with little room for much else. The grandparents are focused on their children's relationships, as they see themselves and their own experiences again through their kids. The Great Grandparents do nothing but appreciate and reminisce about the past. The end of the film gives a glimpse into how the grandparents feel. The slow panning over the field forces the viewer to do nothing but reflect on the film they had just watched. The calming field and the peaceful tone gives a happy impression, even though the movie is ending. Even after it’s over, that feeling doesn’t immediately go away. There is no future possible in the movie because it’s over, so when prompted to feel and reflect, they do so in the past, just as the older generations did in the film.
After watching Early Summer, I was able to better understand the concept of mono no aware. Mono no aware is the concept of understanding the true beauty of a moment, but also recognizing the sadness of the moment because it will not last forever. The film starts with a shot of the waves of the ocean, highlighting not only the beauty of the world, but also how temporary it is. Waves come and go and only last for a few seconds, representing the beauty of a moment, but also its quick passing. The waves set the viewer up to open their mind to the beauty of the world in the movie, but also realize how quickly it can be gone. Additionally, Noriko and her sister in law go to the beach, and we once again notice waves. This is the last time that Noriko and her sister in law are going to be together for a long time, but it is the beauty of the moment that is contrasted with the sadness of the moment passing, just as the beautiful waves instantaneously disappear from sight in the background. In another instance, a photograph is taken of the family. This represents capturing the beauty of a moment in which it might be the last time that everyone was in the same room at the same time. With the happiness and joy that comes from the whole family being together, it is also very upsetting and sad for one to think that this moment will soon come to an end. It is the contrast between the happiness of a moment, and the ability it has to just be gone in the next second that makes mono no aware such a powerful, intriguing, and relatable idea for the viewer.
ReplyDeleteThe film Early Summer depicts the lives of a large Japanese family. This film uses a technique known as mono no aware. This technique is used thoughtfully throughout the film by enhancing small moments and making them beautiful. During the viewing of the film, I often thought that some of the scenes were too long or too drawn out. I lost attention a lot of times during the film. After discussing with the class, I realized that these elements of the film were purposeful and important to the style of the director. The director is trying to show that each moment of our lives contains a type of beauty that we must appreciate. The danger of not appreciating this beauty is wasting our lives before we know that they are gone. You must take time to break down and understand every moment so that you do not miss out on anything. My favorite example of mono no aware from this film is the balloon scene. This scene emphasizes both sides of the mono no aware context. In this scene, the parents see a balloon flying over the horizon. While the parents take a second to appreciate and understand the beauty of the balloon floating over the horizon, they also understand that beauty does not come without sacrifice. Someone must be upset that they lost their balloon. This made me understand that beauty does not often come without the suffering or misery of somebody else. We must appreciate this point because sometimes in life we can be both the person that sees the beauty, or the one experiencing the pain.
ReplyDeleteThis was me, I don't know why it says unknown.
DeleteBefore we watched Early Summer, I had a very surface level understanding of mono no aware and was not quite sure how the idea could be applied to film. After watching the movie, I was able to see specific examples of mono no aware which deepened understanding. The examples from the film that stand out the most is just before Noriko’s departure at the end of the movie. Before Noriko leaves her family to marry her partner, she begins to realize these will be her final moments in her home with all her family. Noriko is devasted and cannot control her tears, but her parents are surprisingly less upset. It seems as if they have accepted the fact that their daughter is leaving. We hear Noriko’s father say that although he wants to live together forever, it is impossible. This is an example of mono no aware because even though Noriko’s father is very sad his daughter will never live with him again, he knows she will go on to start a new life and start her very own family in a new city. The moment is very bittersweet for him because there are conflicting feelings of happiness and sadness. Noriko’s father understands the concept that life is always subject to change, and there is nothing he can do to alter that which is the essential idea in mono no aware. It is the appreciation for the little things in life such as raising your kids because you know they are finite experiences.
ReplyDeleteEarly sommer helped me gain a better understanding of mono no aware, specifically through the balloon scene. Portrayed by a long and high shot, a balloon is seen slowly floating into the air. Two of our characters see the balloon and start to talk to each other about their past. Topics such as childhood and children come up. As they talk, they begin to smile and laugh, as they remember stories from the past. However, what I find most interesting, is the simultaneous happiness and sadness the ballon depicts. In terms of happiness, the balloon created an opportunity for two people to reminisce on their memories of their child. As a result, the balloon put a smile on our characters’ faces. Therefore, the balloon was able to spread positivity and bring happiness. However, the balloon rising into the air brings forth a feeling of sadness, as a child has most likely lost their balloon and is now sad as a result. The image of a child crying and people smiling while telling stories, allowed the viewer to experience both sadness and joy. The dual emotions portrayed are inherently mono no aware in and of themselves. The balloon represents both the sadness and beauty of life. Though a child is suffering from the loss of a balloon, others were able to reminisce on their past. Life is both filled with sadness and beauty. Through mono no aware we can look past the sadness of life, and focus on the beauty that surrounds us.
ReplyDeleteThe film Early Summer depicts the philosophy of Mono No Aware through the photograph scene and the bittersweet ending. Mono No Aware is the philosophy that life is beautiful because it is temporary, and the importance of appreciating that beauty before it is too late. The whole film is centered around Noriko getting married, but is really centered around the family splitting up. Her family rushed the proposal, until they realized the consequences of it. After Noriko decides to marry a family friend, the family notices how precious life at home was and appreciates their time together. After her engagement, a photographer comes to take a family photo of the parents, two kids, daughter in law, and grandchildren. This scene is bittersweet because nobody knows when the whole family will be together again. It emphasizes how their union is just a moment in life, and thus everything is temporary. While it is sad to watch, the family smiles for the camera knowing that this moment deserves to be appreciated for its beauty. Furthermore, the idea of Mono No Aware closes the film and leaves the viewer feeling content. As, the parents look out at their land, they sit together appreciating the view. The camera moves along the grass and sets a peaceful tone for the scene. The parents sit alone in their home that was once full, but they are not sad. They appreciate the beauty of their home and land because that too is temporary. As they continue watching, a bride walks with her family down the road. The parents are reminded of Noriko and reminded of the circle of life. The end is inevitable, so the only thing one can do is appreciate everything to the fullest.
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ReplyDeleteBefore watching Early Summer, I had little to no understanding of mono no aware. I believe mono no aware is to appreciate everything in life because nothing is guaranteed. At the beginning of the film, I was wondering the purpose of many of the shots the director decided to use because they did not make a lot of sense to me. As Early Summer progressed, I started to understand the meaning of each shot. At the ends of most shots, the camera would linger for a few seconds. This is an example of mono no aware where the viewer should take a step away from the plot to understand and appreciate the normal things in life that we may take for granted. This style of filming gives the viewers a fresh point of view on life. To me, the most noticeable moment of mono no aware occurred when the grandparents were sitting down and watching the balloon fly away. The long shot of the balloon we see represents the happiness and sadness of life. In terms of happiness, we see the two older characters bonding and sharing an experience when they see the balloon floating away. Meaning the balloon was able to make a positive moment in those characters' lives. In terms of sadness, we see the balloon floating away from everyone and everything. This shows how nothing lasts forever. If everything lasted forever, we would not have any appreciation for the things we have in life, and mono no aware would have no purpose.
ReplyDeleteMultiple scenes throughout Early Summer depict the concept of Mono no aware with various artistic decisions. An example of the depiction of mono no aware is in the child’s balloon scene. Ozu contrasts the prior scene of Noriko and her friend energetically eating their food to a scene of Noriko’s parents calmly eating at the park. Directly after the scene with Noriko, which had a lot of dialogue, viewers are greeted with a serene image of her parents eating in the park. In their limited dialogue, Noriko’s parents talk about their life satisfaction. The concept of mono no aware is made clear when Noriko’s dad mentions that they should never ask for too much in life, and that they should be fulfilled with what they have. This topic of conversation has both a beautiful, but sad undertone. Unlike Noriko’s conversation in the scene prior, her parents have a somewhat hopeless outlook on their life. This contrasting feeling depicts her parents’ awareness of the transience of living. Further, following this dialogue, the older couple look up towards the sky to see a balloon floating upwards. Ozu again, contrasts the youthfulness of Noriko’s parents to the balloon. Ozu uses longer cuts, giving viewers time to reflect on the balloon. During this scene, I was able to reflect on where the balloon came from, and I immediately thought of a child who lost their balloon. After this cut, Ozu films Noriko’s parents again as they address the same thought. In these series of scenes, the image of the balloon brings both a joyful and sad feeling of mono no aware. Viewers realize that the balloon is a symbol of youth, but we also know that the balloon will eventually float away, making its youth and joy ephemeral. Mono no aware creates a harmony of joy and sadness throughout the film, highlighted through the contrasting scenes of youth and old age as well as the passing moments of beauty.
ReplyDeleteMono no aware is a very conceptual idea that is subtly shown throughout this film. We essentially see some form of mono no aware in every single scene because each scene is just a part of somebody’s life. We might think each individual scene is boring and slow, which it definitely is, but the reason for this is because it is literally just an unedited shot of a conversation. There is one camera angle for each scene, and there are very few transitions. The choice to have a singular camera angle in each scene underscores how each scene is just a raw, unedited part of life. Secondly, there is no dramatic or exaggerated acting, everything is natural. And there is some drama in the movie, but its drama that would occur in our every day lives which enforces the idea that this movie is about the significance of life. Finally, there is the main idea of mono no aware that life does not last forever and has a bittersweet end. We mainly see this with the character, Noriko, because we follow her life throughout the entire film. She already has an established life with her family, but at the end of the movie we find out she is going to get married and move away. In this example, mono no aware doesn’t necessarily have to be death, but rather the ending of a chapter in life.
ReplyDeleteYasujirō Ozu’s 1951 drama, Early Summer, is perhaps the perfect film to examine for the Japanese idea known as “mono no aware” because it not only contains individual scenes which exemplify the main characteristics of this concept, but the main plot of the film is arguably centered around mono no aware as well. There is no disputing that in certain scenes throughout the movie, there is an emphasis placed on the beauty or appreciation of things because of their infrequency or finite nature. For example, when the grandfather leaves the house to buy birdseed, he is delayed by the passing of a train. Most people would be annoyed by this inconvenience and would wait impatiently with their minds still fixed on their destination. However, the grandfather, as calm and peaceful as ever, decides to take the moment to appreciate the beauty of nature. He sits down on a bench nearby and directs his gaze at the clouds overhead, recognizing, perhaps, that the forms and images displayed in the clouds will not last forever. And it is precisely because of their ephemeral nature that the clouds are beautiful and deserving of his attention in that moment. Still, it is not just the film’s individual scenes that communicate this key theme of Japanese culture, as the main storyline appears to be aligned with mono no aware as well. At the most basic level, Early Summer is a film which captures the period of time that a bride-to-be has with her family before she leaves to be with her new husband. This narrative is related to mono no aware in that Noriko’s time with her family is clearly limited, so every moment spent with them should be appreciated since life will change dramatically once she is gone. Therefore, the depictions of day-to-day life which make up the vast majority of the film may come across to some viewers as boring. However, they should actually, in looking back, come across as beautiful since these moments are fleeting, and the family cannot get them back once Noriko has left for Akita.
ReplyDeleteNot necessarily during the film but after finishing the film Early Summer by Yosujiro Ozu, our conversation helped me grasp a much better understanding about Mono No Aware. In this film there are 3 different generations, all focused entirely on different aspects of life. The children, very materialistic, as we can see when the child tries to save up for the train tracks. Jobs and marriage for the second generation, earning money and romance. Finally, as for the oldest generation, they are trying to enjoy life to the fullest, and enjoy and strengthen relationships they have, as we can see through countless scenes of just peaceful quietness with them in the frame. To take that even further and investigate it through the lens of Mono No Aware, reflection and understanding the deeper you get into life. The children focus on nothing besides the present, expecting to constantly receive more without reflecting or thinking about what they have just received. The parents are thinking about the future, ready and willing to provide for their family, not focusing much on themselves individually, yet rather on love. And the grandparents are thinking about the past, seeing themselves through their children and grandchildren, both happy about the life they had yet sad realizing that it’s slowly coming to an end. One of the most significant scenes that I felt we went over was the waves, representing the ebb and flow of life, both arriving and disappearing soon after. It represents the way life happens to each and every one of us, and through the means of mother nature as well. And finally the scene in the end with the wavy field of grain. I feel as though they have a very similar message yet represented the film wonderfully, as it was a very joyful experience, seeing the life of multiple generations living their lives through one house. Yet also a wave of sadness as we get to the end of the film, when they have to split up and live their own lives as they are all growing up.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching Early Summer, I have a better idea of the concept of mono no aware through how Ozu portrays it throughout the film. One scene that evoked both joy and sadness was the final scene of the film, where the old grandparents are sitting alone on the porch, staring out into the empty distance, and not speaking at all. They are now empty with not having anyone around, and have lost what previously filled their purpose in life and motivated them. They felt that raising their kids and giving them the most successful opportunities was what they were required to do in Japanese society, and without this stress, they have little motivations, external or internal, in their life. They acknolege both the beauty of their situation in being comfortable in late age and achieving their goals, but they still have an underlying sadness that they had to do it. Ozu portrays the beauty and sadness of mono no aware perfectly in this scene, which cinematically closes out the film. While I watched the end, I myself felt a little dejected, because I never got the exiting conclusion to the film I expected. However, I also felt sadennded due to how well the symbolism of mono no aware was portrayed by the grandparents. I felt highly empathetic to the grandparents being forced to live on their lives without a goal, which is a key part of mono no aware. Ozu geniusly uses these contrasts of sadness and happiness to show the beauty of life in Early Summer and in mono no aware.
ReplyDeleteThe film Early Summer really illustrated the complete honest emotions of the characters through the idea of mono no aware, seeing things for how they are. I think the film constantly put everything into perspective, focusing on each and every detail, no matter how small, while simultaneously looking at everything very broadly. Throughout the film, Noriko’s parents continue to tell each other how they are happy in this time period, and that they should enjoy it, while not asking for too much. They emphasize the idea that they should make the most out of what they have, and be happy, rather than expect anything more. They really show what it means to be grateful for what they have. All the characters in the film seem to prepare for what is to come, for example acknowledging that Noriko will leave the family at some point, so they enjoy the time as much as they can, knowing they will be sad when she does leave. They show the recognition that good things eventually come to an end, a bittersweet end, where they can be sad about the end, but cherish the memories. The end of the film definitely felt quite sad, because family was split apart, and their happy time together was no more, however it ended with a sense of hope, a new beginning, where Noriko began a new stage of her life. We don’t really know much about Noriko’s future, but the ending doesn’t feel as sad because we know that Noriko gets something she wants, even if she has to leave something else behind.
ReplyDeleteI think there are many symbolisms in Early Summer that echo the ideas of the Mono No Aware philosophy. The name of the film itself, which does not just establish the setting of the film, but the idea of early summer brings to mind flowers that are in full bloom or have already finished blooming and the flowers have begun to wilt. This imagery reiterates the feeling that life is fragile and should be appreciated, like a flower. Mono No Aware is also embodied in the scene where the camera moves along side a wonderous field of plants with great rolling hills in the background. The wind blows these plants around almost like waves in the water. It seems to represent how people are almost blown around like these reeds. There is also a scene at the beach featuring waves these waves like any other waves eventually dispersed after sliding onto the shore. These waves, like life, are temporary; they come and they go, But the beach is still a beautiful place. Mabey the beach is beautiful because each wave is temporary. Like how maybe life is beautiful because every life is temporary. Another important scene to Mono No Aware is the scene where the entire family takes a photo together. It presents the idea that this family took a photo to be able to appreciate the fact that some point their entire family was together. Even if their family was separated, like how it was, they would still be able to appreciate that time together.
ReplyDeleteIn the 1951 film Early Summer directed by Yasujirō Ozu, the audience follows Noriko, a young woman living with her parents, her brother, his wife, and their children in postwar Japan and her journey to find a husband. The film also depicts the Japanese idea of mono no aware, which is the notion that moments in time are beautiful because they are fleeting and evanescent. After viewing Early Summer, I feel like I fully understood the concept, and almost felt forced to reflect upon moments of my own life that were impermanent. There are a multitude of scenes from the film that are clearly inspired by the concept of fleeting beauty, such as the scene with the balloon and the photograph scene. In the balloon scene, Noriko’s parents are depicted conversing about how they really enjoyed their day and how nice it is outside. Then, her mother notices a balloon rising into the sky, soon to disappear into the clouds. They watch for a moment, and she says that a child must be crying somewhere. This scene portrays the essence of mono no aware. While this moment to them is beautiful and tranquilizing, it’s bittersweet as it's only going to last a moment. Another noteworthy scene portraying mono no aware is the family photograph scene, in which the audience sees the entire family (consisting of three generations) all gather together to take a professional photograph. This moment is possibly the last time the family can all be together at once. It punctuates the concept of impermanent beauty and the idea that this specific instance of time can never be recreated, and if not photographed, would be lost in a matter of seconds. It’s beautiful because it's a one of a kind memory, but once again, sad due to its ephemeral nature. Overall, Ozu’s Early Summer stunningly captures the idea that moments in time are beautiful because they are transient and only exist in short snippets of time, which are encapsulated by specific scenes within the film.
ReplyDeleteWatching Early Summer gave me a better understanding of Mono no aware. I now understand what it actually means now instead of the rough guidelines which we had before watching this film. In the film, there were many examples of Mono no aware shown that solidified my understanding. One such example is after the main character decides to marry a family friend. After the news spread, she and her sister-in-law(?) went to a beach and talked about how although how they might never see each other again, it is for the best of both of their futures. This is a prime example of Mono no aware as it shows the sweet side: Noriko, the main character, is finally getting married and settling down. And also the sad side: Noriko is moving away to Akita, away from her family and friends. Another image that we talked about that resonated with me is the child's balloon floating away. It is a common spectacle in our everyday world as well that epitomizes Mono no aware. While the balloon is floating away, the money used to buy it is lost true, but the beauty of the balloon floating away is the joyous part of it. At the end of the film, I had emotions of happy sorrow. It put my real life in a perspective I had never really looked at before, knowing that everything moment that might be sad or happy are just current, they will never really last due to the short span of life.
ReplyDeleteYasujiro Ozu’s 1951 film, Early Summer, gives the viewer a better understanding of the concept, Mono No Aware, through the lives of a Japanese Family. It is the concept if having empathy or deep feelings for the things in life. These emotions of understanding, happiness, and sometimes sadness emphasize the true beauty of the things in life. An example of this in film are the scenes where the family is around the table on the ground, there are many different scenes like this, where family members are around the table eating, drinking, smoking and talking, that show the beauty of the small things in life and moments spent with family. While a family sitting around a table and eating cake may normally overlooked, this film shows us these kind of scenes in depth that evoke those ideas of Mono No Aware. Another way this is shown in the film is through the children. We see scenes of the young children playing with the trainset, which cause those feelings of childhood joy. There is a scene where the child is asking his mom for more train tracks so he can have as many as his friend and you can see the emotion on his face while he is asking, showing that getting more train tracks is the only problem he has in his life, again showing the beauty in small moments. Another scene with the children that shows us Mono No Aware is a scene where the kids run away from home for a while because one of them was scolded. The two kids were walking, along a path right by the water, and on the path, there were small wooden posts along the side. While walking, the older kid tapped each wood post as he went by. His younger brother was a little bit behind him walking doing the same thing. This scene is shown for a while, that really shows a beauty in the innocence of young children. This is an example of Mono No Aware because it emphasizes the emotions of the small things in life.
ReplyDeleteThe film Early Summer by Yasujiro Ozu helped me get a better understanding of mono no aware by showing me how time flies and things don’t last forever, which is what makes life beautiful, but also sad. One scene that uses the idea of mono no aware is when the family is getting their photo taken before Noriko leaves for Akita. It was going to be the last time everyone was going to be together, together in the same room for a long time. The photograph is to capture that moment, of happiness and sadness. Every parent wants their children to be happy, but it is also hard to watch them grow up and leave the nest. Time goes by fast, children grow up and move away. Another example that things don’t last forever is the shortcake scene when they are eating this delicious shortcake. They don’t have shortcakes often, so when they do, they enjoy it and live in the moment. The shortcake represents how things don’t last, that is why they are called moments. It’s sad that life doesn’t last forever, but that’s what makes it special. Throughout the film, there were scenes that once the characters left the scene, the camera didn’t cut for another 4 seconds after. We just see the background for a few seconds because Ozu wants the audience to have time to reflect on what just happened. Ozu teaches us the importance of mono no aware; to enjoy what is happening right now because it won’t last forever.
ReplyDeleteIn the film, Early Summer, the idea of Mono No Aware is stressed several times throughout. Mono No Aware is the concept that nothing in life lasts forever. Knowing that everything in life has a limit creates a deeper appreciation for all of the smaller events in life. Mono No Aware is present in the overarching theme of the film, Noriko’s marriage, as well as in some of the less prominent scenes. For example, viewers get a great glimpse of Mono No Aware when Noriko and some of her family member share a decadent shortcake. The shortcake is expensive and considered an occasional treat for the family. Because the shortcake was temporary and extremely pricey, the family was able to cherish it all the more. They gathered around their dinner table and enjoyed it together because they understood that it would not last forever but that is what made it so special to eat such a delightful treat. Additionally, many of the family-oriented meals create a sense of Mono No Aware as the family recognizes how important their time together is, even if it means just sitting around a table and sharing a meal. Some of the most memorable examples of Mono No Aware in Early Summer are towards the end of the film. Noriko’s marriage builds a bittersweet feeling within the family; while the family is happy and excited for Noriko to start a new chapter in her life, they are also saddened by the fact that she’s growing up and moving on. For most of the film, Noriko is teased about being unmarried and many nudge her to take this big step in her life. When it finally comes to the point when Noriko decides to marry, everyone begins to realize that the family dynamic is bound to change. Even though they were happy for her, they could not help but wonder how their own lives would change; this realization shows their deeper appreciation for Noriko, among the other beautiful elements of life.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the Japanese film Early Summer, the idea of mono no aware is much more clear to me as the film gives multiple examples and shows the beauty of daily life through the lens of Noriko and her family and friends. It allowed me to reflect on life and how there are so many moments that come with both beauty and sadness. One of the scenes in which mono no aware was clear to me was when Noriko’s parents were in the park watching a balloon float away into the sky. Although it’s a peaceful and pretty sight, they remark that a child somewhere is crying because they lost their balloon. The child probably really loved that balloon, but it couldn’t last forever. In fact, as it is floating up it only has a couple minutes before it pops. This scene shows how good things can’t last forever, and there is a slight sadness in that knowledge mixed in with the peace of the parents watching the balloon, as well as the child who was probably very happy when they had the balloon. Another scene that left an impact on me was at the end when the family is splitting up. With Noriko getting married, the rest of the family also decides to move on with their lives, and move away. It’s a very bittersweet moment, and I think that’s the perfect word to describe it. They all come to the realization that the beauty of living together as a family has to come to an end, and they must part ways. There is a bitter feeling of having to leave the family that is mixed in with the sweet feeling of all the time they spent together. Beautiful moments are fleeting, and it is bittersweet knowing that they will end.
ReplyDeleteThe Balloon scene in Early Summer highlights the sadness and beauty of life through the conversation between the parents and scenery. During this scene, the two parents are discussing how happy their family is at the moment, and how sad it will be when their daughter gets married and leaves. This reflection on their family helps uncover ideas of how short their time together really is, allowing them to appreciate the little time left. During this conversation, time seems to stop as they sit reflecting. The camera placement then changes, to capture the backs of the parents within a long shot. This change in placement helps to emphasize the intense contenplation that is occurring between the two. In this shot, the parents are looking out into the park.The trees are seen blowing in the wind, encapsolating the peaceful day as people stroll by through the park. While talking about how much they have enjoyed their day, the mother points up to the sky at a balloon floating away. We then see a clip of this, the ballon drifting up toward the clouds.When the father sees this, he says that the child who lost it is probably crying. The loss of this balloon highlights how rapidly changing things are in life, and the sadness of losing these things. Loss also causes people to realize the beauty in everything while there are still there. This idea ties back to the parents earlier in this scene when the parents were talking about how this is the happiest their family as ever been. These emotion show their appreciation for being together, knowing it will soon end.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching Early Summer, I definitely better understand the concept of Mono no aware and finding both the beauty and sadness in life. Scenes like the final panning shot over the field or seeing the emotion of the characters helped evoke the feelings of joy and sadness. The end of the film for me felt like the feeling of letting out a deep breath; you and the characters finally have closure and are each assured in their own way that their new directions will go well, something that wasn't apparent until the end of the film. Small details like the waves and sand on the beach or the balloon definitely helped push the idea of seeing the sadness and beauty in life itself, and throughout the film we see reoccurring themes to reinforce those ideas as well. For example the continued debate around marriage, the birds and shot down the hallway, or even the many children in the film. Almost everything in the film helps guide towards the idea of seeing beauty and sadness with and through your loved ones around you, and by showing this small slice of this family's life the director is able to slow down a seemingly hectic moment and take a moment to appreciate everything around them. The contrast of the parents and grandparents who were thinking heavily towards the future and how to save their family contrasts heavily with everyone else around them, who are only thinking about getting someone married or the children who only want sweets and trains. Mono no aware was shown in every aspect of this film from start to finish through not only the actions of the characters but also the environment and dialogue as well.
ReplyDeleteAt both the beginning and end of the movie, Early Summer, we get this scenery shot that is very calming but also give you this feeling of sadness. These shots were probably put in the movie to represent the sadness yet beauty to life. After watching the movie I understand what Mono no aware means a lot better. One scene that stuck with me and made me think about Mono no aware was one of the last ones. Its the one where Noriko and her family are sitting in the room all together as they realize they might not be in the same room like this again for a long time. Even though the scene evokes sadness its also beautiful in a sense because it represents life. Everything must come to and end and everyone has their own life to go on and live. Another scene that really struck me was the scene when the grandparents were in the park and they watched that balloon fly away. Watching the balloon made the grandparents happy but it also probably made the owner of that balloon sad. The balloon also showed that nothing good last forever. Eventually that balloon was going to be so far away that nobody would be able to see it. Even though the balloon isn't there visually its still there. I related this to good memories or feelings. The longer away the memory or feeling the less you think about it but its still there. In the end, I think the film portrays that its ok that life isn't forever and change is inevitable. Everybody has to go on their own journey and everybody has an end to their journey and this is ok. Life is beautiful and sad.
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