A film that was hated by many in the homeland of the maker. Bashing touches a sensitive chord and the film’s successes outside Japan – it was included in the prestigious competition at Cannes – did nothing to improve the image of the maker. He was alleged to have put his country to shame. The film is based on a true story that caused a lot of fuss in the media. In 2004 several Japanese volunteers for an aid organisation were kidnapped in Iraq. That happened to quite a lot of volunteers and journalists of various nationalities that year, but the Japanese hostages were not supported by their government. On the contrary: they were told it was their own fault and that they had got their country into difficulties unnecessarily. The film follows the fictional fate of the young Yuko (Urabe Fusako), one of the hostages who was released. After her return to Japan, she is rejected and despised. People don’t take a national disgrace lightly. The loss of honour, face, has been portrayed by Kobayashi in all its profundity. Precisely the things that should be suppressed are illuminated by him in close-shot images. Yuko’s environment turns out to react uncharitably even months later. She loses her job and even her father is sacked because of her. In detail, step-by-step, the film maker shows how Yuko is punished out of all proportion. Until the viewer is almost denied all breath. (GjZ)
