Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.
Taboo, by esteemed director Oshima Nagisa (Night Fog in Japan, Pleasures of the Flesh, In the Realm of the Senses) is a period drama, set in the age of the Shoguns.
This is one of the most misunderstood films, largely because it is a very Japanese film. Not just a film made in Japan, but a film that is driven by several social dynamics that are the primary differences between Japan and the West.
The story revolves around Kano Sozaburo (Matsuda Ryukei,) a youth of incredible beauty who joins the Militia. His beauty attracts many men, even ones who identify as straight, and causes some interesting problems.
Now, in the west, if Hayden Christensen joined the Army, and his love affairs with his fellow soldiers caused problems, we would understand the drama. This is in our culture, a great Taboo. But this is not the West, this is feudal Japan, and there was a great culture of Waskahu-do or, the Way of Loving Young Men. Samurai frequently were lovers. There was no stigma. It was a fact of life, and there was very little mystique about it. The militia tried to discourage interregimental romance, but for the exact same reasons heterosexual liaisons are discouraged between men and women serving active duty; your mind is supposed to be on the job.
The next thing that one must understand about Japanese culture is it is collectivist. The needs of the group are considered before the needs of the individual. Even their names reflect this emphasis: Kano is the family name. Sozaburo is his personal name, and it comes second. (Example; Christensen Hayden) Harmony is very important in the tightly crowded Japan, even more so among a group of men, young, unmarried, constantly preparing for war, yet largely idle. The captains and commander of the militia understand this. Things that disrupt society are not tolerated. Even casual rudeness can be considered a major breach, because of its potential to cause problems.
Also understand that there are class distinctions. There is a world of difference between the rights of the farm class, which is where Tashiro Hanzo (Asano Tadanobu) came from, the merchant class, where Sozaburo was born, and the Samurai. Only the samurai were permitted to carry weapons, only the samurai had the right to kill. Well, with one exception; any male could join the militia, and then he would have the right to carry weapons and to kill.
Another note that might escape the western eye is the power of rumor and gossip in a collectivist society. As the narrator note states "No secrets on heaven and earth...Everyone knows it within a month...(fill in rumor here. I'm not spoiling at this point.)
Also lost are some of the cultural images; for instance, in the West, every one knows what a red porch light means.
In the Shogunate era, young men had bangs. They only shaved them when they reached adulthood, about 18 or so. It was considered...vaguely erotic, much like school girl uniforms in the West. For a reference many will get, remember the teen boy in The Seven Samurai? His pate was shaved but he had a strip of bangs. Sozaburo is eighteen, but he has kept his bangs.
Also, suffixes are important. Most people know the importance of -san, as an honorific. Less known in the West is the use of -kun as a term of male endearment, as in Kano-kun. It is more intimate than calling a James Jimmy, but not necessarily sexual.
Another thing to remember is the symbolism of the cherry blossom. The cherry blossom appears in spring, is achingly beautiful, and in three days, it is gone. In Japan the cherry blossom represents the ephemeral and fleeting beauty of youth.
Now, armed with this knowledge, you should have a better viewing experience.
And the viewing is beautiful. The sets are gorgeous, accurate, as far as my hobby historian eyes can tell, and set the mood for the piece; sparse and evocative.
The costumes are also lovely, the kimonos rich and sensual. The star geisha of the local Willow World is a vision. A minute on the screen, she leaves quite an impression.
The film deals frankly with sex and violence. Though there is no nudity, there is one scene of fairly graphic sex under the quilt. The violence is more graphic. There is a decapitation, and several sword fights, complete with fountaining blood. This movie is not for children. However, none of this is gratuitous; it all builds the story.
The spoilers start here. If you don't want to know what happens, stop here and buy the movie.
As discussed earlier, Kano Sozaburo and Tashiro Hyozo join the Shensin Militia at the same time. The older, more masculine Tashiro is enchanted by Sozaburo, and makes advances. Sozaburo rebuffs him, but the rumor starts that they are lovers.
When Captain Hijikata Toshizo (played by the excessively talented Kitano "Beat" Takeshi) investigates, he finds that when Tashiro and Kano spar, Tashiro always wins. This seems odd to him, because Kano Sozaburo is the superior swordsman. He fights them both, and discovers he is right, and concludes they are having an affair, and Sozaburo is letting his lover win.
Time passes, and other men court Sozaburo. Even the straight men can feel the lad's strange erotic allure.
Lt. Yuzawa Tojiro is a very intense, homely man. He pursues Sozaburo, even though he believes Kano and Tashiro are lovers. He succeeds at seducing him, but is torn by jealousy. Kano Sozaburo never does anything to confirm or deny his relationship with Tashiro which only serves to drive Yuzawa crazy.
At the same time, Capt. Hijikata, trying to forestall trouble, enlists the aid of Sgt. Yumazake to take Sozaburo to the local pleasure quarter, and introduce him to the joys of women.
Yuzawa is found dead, killed by a sword in the night. An eyewitness can only say that the assailant was dressed as a member of the militia.
Yumazake, a very masculine fellow, trys to get Kano-kun to go with him to the pleasure house. Sozaburo rebuffs him, like an unwanted suitor. It is very frustrating for the man. But he keeps trying, chatting the boy up. He asks why he, Kano, joined the militia. "To have the right to kill." says the beautiful boy. They continue to dance around one another. Finally, he perseveres. But not the way he hopes; Sozaburo claims to be in love with him.
Further, though deeply disturbed by this, you can see the man is a little attracted, and that only grows.
The trip to the geisha house is a disaster. Yumazake gets him there, and after some sake, leaves. He finds out the next day, Sozaburo created a horrible scene, calling out for him and refusing to talk to the girls. Finally the Mama-san had calmed him down, and put him to bed. She suggests the Sgt. should take him to bed. You can see that the Sgt is disturbed by the idea, possibly by the appeal of the idea. The Mama-san, using her social skills turns it to a joke, but you can tell she thinks that Sgt Yamazuke is fool for passing this chance by.
Then Yamazuke is attacked on the road at night. He manages to drive off his attacker, but he find he dropped a knife.
The knife turns out to be Tashiro's. It is decided that he killed Yuzawa, and attacked Yamazuke out of jealousy over Sozaburo.
It is decided to kill Tashiro. Kano is to do it. Captain Hijikata is shocked by his commander's cruelty, and wonders if he too might be enamoured of Kano.
Sozaburo accepts the assignment without hesitation.
As the Captain and a Lt. hide and watch, Kano attacks his supposed lover Tashiro. Tashiro's reaction makes Hijikata reexamine all that has gone on. He thinks, "Sozaburo has always been used by men. An evil spirit has creeped into the boy." And as he contemplates everything that has happened, he draws his katana, and in one move fells a cherry tree in bloom. The end.
A little analysis to follow this abrupt end. One, Sozaburo kills several people within the course of this movie. He executes a traitor. He fights spies. And he murders two men. The first, Yuzawa, the homely jealous suitor with whom he was having an "affair." And Tashiro, who was accused of the crime. I do not believe he intended to kill the straight Yamazuke; just to set up the damning knife, and draw a clear motive for the attacker, jealousy over himself.
Remember, he refused to cut his bangs, he refused to sooth Yazawa's jealousy, and he chose the most unlikely target for his affections, Yamazuke. I do not believe Sozaburo was gay. I think he wanted to kill, and he chose gay men as his victims. He uses his youth and beauty to weave a trap that killed two men, and disrupted the entire militia.
And in this light, realizing how he and everyone had been manipulated by this lovely viper, Captain Hijikata's decapitation of the cherry tree takes on an entirely new and chilling light.
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