The Promised Land

"Rakuen" is a movie that shows three people who are looking for paradise. Takeshi, the son of a refugee, is a person who says that there is no paradise, and Zanjiro, a beekeeper, is a person who thinks only a moment in the past is a paradise. And the main character, Tsumugi, is deeply involved in the incident between the two men and begins to find a way to paradise as she grows up.

One of the themes that appears frequently in Japanese films is the mechanism of the scapegoat, and this problem appears as the main theme in this film as well. The method of solving community problems by creating a scapegoat gives members the illusion that the problem has been solved, But in the end, the method itself was the seed of all the tragedy in this village.

The great thing about this film is that while it deals with the above-mentioned themes, it does not miss sight of the small sins of individuals and their sense of guilt. All the characters are somehow involved in the tragedy that has occurred in the village due to their own circumstances, and are engulfed in the guilt from it. However, it is a natural destiny for humans, and movie shows the process of breaking free from such guilt by the protagonist, Tsumugi. And it shows naturally that it is the way to paradise.

The visuals of the film are truly amazing. In the movie, the village holds a fire festival, and the majestic fire of the festival is a catalyst that reminds us many things (arson incident, longing, guilty, fear, hate, etc). In addition, the long take scene down the rice fields in a village are also excellent scenes that make you feel the scorching sun of the countryside.

It was a outstanding movie in which the difficult theme of "Where is Paradise" was successfully solved by using limited space of a rural village.