Thursday, December 01, 2005

Nobody Knows... Kore-eda Hirokazu production

It's really touching. Another of the wonderful productions threading a story about the less fortunate who are living amongst us, as I am typing.

The storyline was one of four children... who lived with their mother... after moving into a new apartment (quite discreetly as the younger children were kept in suitcases so as to give the impression to the landlord that they would not be a disturbance... since they were chased out previously for being a disturbance...)... the kids had a rather memorable time together. Their mother was caring to them then... at least quite so caring.

But later, as the mother had a 'bf' outside, she left them for an occasion of close to a month. The eldest kid, Izu, was placed to manage the family... with him just 12 years old.... and the second sibling, a sister... taking care of two really young siblings (boy and girl)... so four of them lived together, happily.

The mum returned and brought lots of gifts... but the eldest child knew that the mum was going to leave again... and she did... in a selfish manner, abandoning the children who still expected her return.

After christmas, the children were still waiting for the mum to return. The amount of money she left them was running dry... later the eldest kid met some bad boys in the district (btw, all of the 4 are not studying... it's reallly a sad film and I nearly cried)... they had a rather affluent lifestyle for a few days before Izu came to his sensible self again... he took care of the expenses of the family... but eventually the bills could not be repaid. The electricity got cut off and they had to use the water in the park.

For singaporeans, we might think that such a thing may not be a reality. (Btw the movie was 'based on a true story' and filmed in Japan) But, there are some people who are living in the dark at night... seeing their taps run in trickling droplets... no entertainment, nothing.

The children scrimped and saved and tried to make ends meet. However, it was really painful. As the eldest child was under 16, he could not find employment... it was really desperate and later they had to rely on a neighborhood supermarket to give some left-overs to survive.

On one day, Izu was at the park and doing his routine of managing the household and getting groceries... he got a chance to play as a substitute in the baseball team (Btw, he really wanted to get a baseball glove for christmas, but never afforded)... he played really well and enjoyed himself. But, upon reaching home, he found his youngest sister... the youngest in the family on the floor. She had fallen off a chair and had concussed.

There was no hope, the kids did not know what to do. Izu tried to contact the mother, but to no avail, she had abandoned. Eventually, Izu brought his sister's body to the airport to bury... it was really a sad scene... the emotions flowing as he tried to fulfill her last wishes... he also got for her lots of her favorite chocolates. On the train ride back to the apartment, the music ran a touching theme of growing up.

As the story progressed on, it ended with the children living together, 3 of them and a new found friend... they lived together... sticking by each other in the purest of love and attachment.

As the credits came up, the director placed the "mother" as being acted by the "you" (audience). Which was really a self-reflecting moment. We have not helped the needy in our society; we might argue that we've given donations and cared for them... but how many of us have accepted them. They are like 'jewels but in a stench'... we may have avoided these homeless or helpless people on the streets... can you remember the time when you tried to walk a step away as you approach a beggar? Or the time you tried to hold your breath as you see a tattered shirt boy? Maybe we don't see such scenes that often here? Maybe.

I recall vividly the times in Taiwan, at the train station underground paths, there used to stay two or three homeless men... in their tattered clothing (even in winter... you can sense how cold they were feeling)... people shunned that area... I must admit, I did shun a little too. It's something I'm really wondering. Why? A friend of mine once saw one of these folks' belongings on the floor and tried to return to him... but the guy was furious. Maybe we avoid them out of fear, not out of discrimation, maybe.

I'm really thinking of how I should live my life. I ought to slow down.

The present is to be treasured.

I've made a lot of mistakes... many of which are dark secrets that I hope to be gone with. I know it's never possible for me to forget... but I've to 'Learn AND Let go'.

Time and again, we might have seen news about abandoned children, the widening gap between societies... the needy receiving some gifts during christmas... but I believe these material needs are merely a small part of what we can do. I don't know. But in this season of giving, I'm really thinking whether I ought to really step out of my comfort zone and return to grassroots. I've never been there for about more than a year now. I enjoyed myself back then. Seeing the people we helped. Seeing them return at times... and understanding their plight. Sometimes, we probably just have to lend a listening ear... that's something the needy may require too. I'm really quite tired about our society now, me included. I'm not being totally egalitarian here but... truthfully... when was the last time you helped someone... and never wanted anything back in return....


dk scribbled
1:13 PM
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