Power of motherhood
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amyseller — 21 years ago(October 08, 2004 02:00 PM)
I had mixed feelings about that scene as well. There was some pretty uncomfortable humor going on there! I understand that Japan is a very male-dominated society and to me, as an American, it reinforced that. The beautiful part of it, despite the way the husband demanded that the wife get up and cook for her family is her attitude about the whole situation (maybe he did that because the doctor was there?). She knew she was dying. She got up, cooked for them and then, as her family ate, her face had such a look of joy and love for them right before she died. For her it wasn't about following her husband's workhorse orders, it was about one last act of service for her family. That part was very sweet. Trials can either tear us apart or strengthen us immensely. That's how I see it.
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tvr-7 — 19 years ago(January 22, 2007 05:04 PM)
You are quite right. The father's tone does not reflect any harshness or dominancy over his wife. In fact, his tone suggests his desperate attempt to retain normalcy in his family. In a typical day, the husband would come home from work, the wife would cook the food, and everyone would eat and enjoy it. The father was merely trying to keep everything as it was, as it should be. The wife, even in her dying state, knew this, too, and gave her last to provide her family with one of the most routine, most bonding, and most treasured moments a family can sharethe simple evening meal. It really is a beautiful scene.
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nunyrbiz — 18 years ago(August 25, 2007 01:17 AM)
Yeah, I'm American and I didn't get a feeling of harshness from this scene. It was very touching, as if he was desperately trying to keep her alive, and he couldn't believe she was about to die. Yelling at her to cook dinner was like a last ditch effort to stave off her death one more day. (Remember how fast he runs home, apparently after getting the call from the doctor that she is on the way out he appears to me to be very worried about her.)
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nunyrbiz — 18 years ago(August 25, 2007 01:19 AM)
Oh, and one more thing I loved about the motherhood theme of the movie is the credits, showing a mother nursing her baby. The camera gets closer and closer until all you see is the peaceful, completely satiated face of the infant. Made me wonder if that state is what we are all constantly trying to get back to through our desire for comfort food.
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vesna-14 — 18 years ago(October 15, 2007 04:04 PM)
the very last frame of the breast feeding is meant to bring symbolize the basicness of food that is often forgotten.
becuse this entire movie is a satire - and a good one - it's interesting to me that the director/writer set it up as "first the distractions around food - food and sex, food and fmaily, food and business etc. then the very last scene - the basic, essential side of food which is forgotten. "
more related to the dead mother scene question:
my favorite frame in the movie is the train visiual as the mother is cooking and they are eating or waiting ot eat. any thoughts on why that is there?
it casts interesting, dubious lighting - will she die will she live ?
and also trains symbolize journey's. they can also be negative symbols.
what does everyone else think the purpose of this frame was? -
rainofwalrus — 17 years ago(June 20, 2008 01:37 PM)
what does everyone else think the purpose of this frame was?
you nailed it. the train-frame symbolizes a passing vessel. in death her soul leaves her body; the empty vessel. (if you believe in souls.)
as for the demanding husband? all the good points have already been made. he loves his wife very much and is very sad to see her pass. FOOD is the only thing that can dull the pain of this family's loss she makes the best FOOD they know.
COOK! he yells.
EAT! he yells.
take pleasure in how far you've come -
onepotato2 — 17 years ago(May 03, 2008 03:44 AM)
Oh, and one more thing I loved about the motherhood theme of the movie is the credits, showing a mother nursing her baby.
by - nunyrbiz on Sat Aug 25 2007 01:19:24
I love the little boy also (with the healthy food note around his neck - ha ha) who craves the dental patients ice cream! So cute. So funny. -
dantheman998 — 17 years ago(August 25, 2008 10:19 AM)
I also thought the train visual was the best part of the movie, in response to whatever else was said about it, and I also thought it was definitely an image of death.
As to the mother cooking her last meal, I thought it was more about the food and the sense of family than the mother herself. I had this feeling that the father was thinking that maybe if his wife could start cooking, and the family could eat together, then they would stay whole somehow. Also when the mother does expire and he tells his kids "Eat! While it's still hot!" I thought of it as a cheesy analogy to mortality. -
coolaree — 14 years ago(November 21, 2011 07:23 PM)
I thought it was a great scene, but I can see how some people (particular feminists) would see it as highly patriachal and somewhat misogynistic
but I thought the husband was just trying desparetly to keep his wife alive and functioningand the mother of course took pleasure in providing for her family at home, which is a beautiful sentiment