I have never actually been to a premiere in the Berlinale Palast. Before this, I have only seen specials and repetitions of competition films here, and while I think that it’s a decent venue, there is something I simply don’t like about it. This time, at least I got to know that the personnel here is very nice and competent. I’ve always wanted to experience a premiere of a competition film at the Berlinale, only to realize with “Ten no Chasuke” that it’s quite pointless unless you are really into someone in the cast and even then you might only get a glimpse of them. Compared to that, the Panorama and Generation premieres I have seen so far have always been amazing, followed by an interesting Q&A. Oh well.
Also, it’s the last day of February and I still have a long way to go to blog the Berlinale. Seriously, my February is always entirely dominated by the Berlinale, though that is also somewhat awesome.
Ten no Chasuke
Japan/France 2014, Sabu, 106′
Chasuke is a tea boy in heaven, where heavenly scriptwriters write the stories of everybody’s lives. While serving tea to them, Chasuke reads various people’s stories and especially falls in love with one girl, who is going to die soon. Since Chasuke’s actions are not dictated by any script, the girl’s scriptwriter sends Chasuke to earth to save her.
How should I put it – “Ten no Chasuke” was panned by critics and unlike “Under Electric Clouds” it was rightfully so. To me the film was an example of how movies should not be made: Incoherent storytelling, wasted side characters, overly melodramatic ending, absolutely absolutely horrible directing and cinematography (you may disagree, but this is how I see it). The first indication that the movie might not fulfill my expectations was the moment when they showed how the actress of the female protagonist was walking on the red carpet and tons of otaku were having her sign her gravure shots. This does not bode well. There is nothing wrong with a gravure idol becoming an actress, heck I love Sibel Kekilli to pieces, but I got the feeling that she was foremost a bikini model and indeed it was. She had a mute role (thank goodness) and she barely had to act.
To be honest, the complaints of “Ten no Chasuke” have no end. The story made no sense, it completely lost its suspense after Chasuke managed to save the girl’s life (and thus fulfilled the job he had to do in the first place) and towards the second part, I wasn’t even sure what the whole point of the film was anymore. His problems with the yakuza seemed totally unresolved and the whole “Chasuke heals people’s illnesses” plotline was utterly unsatisfying too. I already mentioned the ending, but its badness can barely be put into words (they both randomly get revived and she randomly regains her voice? hello?) and the “we can take our future into our own hands” makes no sense whatsoever within this setting, where people’s lives are being foretold by heavenly scriptwriters. For a premise so interesting and cool, “Ten no Chasuke” is probably the biggest disappointment in years.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed the film as curious as it may sound. Sure the last 30 minutes were a complete waste, but it started off incredibly strong. I almost laughed out loud a few times, and I am in love with all the side characters (oh and how awesome is Chasuke’s sister?), I just wished they had gotten an actual purpose in the story. More than anything, I enjoy how the film shows a somewhat alternative Japan – one which is not serene like an Ozu movie but actually loud and lively. On my only trip to Japan (which was before “Tamako Market” aired), I was fascinated by the covered arcades. Unlike the ones in Paris, the ones in Japan are really ugly but there is so much culture and life in them that I am surprised why you don’t see more of them. I liked how “Ten no Chasuke” took place almost entirely in one of these arcades, and how the entire story is a product of this setting (albeit a bad one).
I doubt I will ever watch another Sabu movie in my life, it’s totally not like Hirokazu Koreeda who is actually a good filmmaker.