Friday, November 2, 2018
Mono No Aware
Mono no aware is the Japanese idea of the awareness of the transience of beauty and the ultimate sadness of life. After watching Early Summer can you better understand this concept? Where there scenes that evoked both feelings of joy and sadness, moments of beauty and tears? What were your emotions at the end of the film? What did you think about some of the images we discussed in class: the waves, the photograph, the child's balloon? Are there moments when you felt the sadness and the beauty of life?
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ReplyDeleteThe film Early Summer demonstrates both the beauty and the sadness of life, which demonstrates the idea of mono no aware. While celebrating the impermanence of life, the film highlights the happiness in the little things. The main characters are constantly appreciating little wonders. From stopping to admire a balloon floating in the air to enjoying a bride on her wedding day from a far, the calm wonder that stems from the innocent awe of life is a constant theme in the film. The saddest parts in life are those when happy times come to an end; however, new happy beginnings cannot form without endings. This film illustrates this idea beautifully. Noriko chases after her love, yet is torn since it will mean she leaves her family. Even though she knows she will be happy in the future, it is difficult to leave her family in such a happy time. She is sad that this chapter in her life is closing, but looks forward to a new happy chapter. Both chapters are filled with love, but the transition between the two is sad and upsetting. This film made me realize that this inevitable part of life will be happening to me very soon. Leaving behind my family to go to college will be hard. I know that both parts of life will be filled with good times, but it will be hard to leave this happiness I have known behind in risk of the unknown. This movie made me realize I need to appreciate the little things while I am still here, before my next life chapter comes with more new experiences. I must find the beauty in the family dinners and the joy in seeing my friends. Early Summer is a wakeup call to stop and smell the roses.
ReplyDeleteMono no aware is quite an interesting view on life. Although the phrase only seems to be a structure of words, describing a specific thing, it is so much more. One could translate it as “interacting with things and celebrating that you do”, while somebody else could describe it as “the connection of death, life and beauty and how these three balance each other”.
ReplyDeleteAs you may notice, it is very hard to put this concept into a boundary of words – maybe that is why Ozu tried to implement it in his film. One particular scene showing the importance of mono no aware pictured the two grandparents talking about the value of marriage in a park, when they see a balloon flying in the sky. Many phrases like “this may be the happiest time of our life” or “we mustn’t want too much” strongly remind of the concept of the beauty of life and its inevitable ending: death. When they admire the balloon flying towards the sky, the grandfather says “some child must be crying”, giving a hint that the beauty for one may be the opposite of beauty for one other. In this scene you can definitely feel the emotions the two have: they are old, but achieved many of the things they wanted to do. All their daughters are finally getting married, finishing up their task as parents. Their time of shaping younger life is over, and they now just wait for their life to vanish, seeing their seeds growing. This beauty of their creations came over time, they had to sacrifice time and energy to let their children be good citizens; they had to sacrifice time for beauty. This is a really wonderful aspect of mono no aware, perfectly captured in this very scene.
After watching and discussing the film Early Summer the concept of mono no aware and its implications in the movie are very clear. Director Yasujiro Ozu did an excellent job in getting the idea across. Mono no aware is the acceptance and understanding that life is not infinite and that’s what makes it beautiful, but at the same time we have to appreciate what we are given in life while it lasts. That idea is portrayed multiple times throughout the film. A moment when I realized this was at the end when they were watching the bride walk through the field, and they were just analyzing the beauty of the landscape around them. That resonated with me because taking the time to just relax is not something I often try to do, and the movie showed me that I should try and do that more often. Another beautiful moment of for me was when they took the family picture. Being able to get everyone together for those few moments in time in just pure peace and happiness was a beautiful scene and my favorite one in the whole film. My initial reaction to the film at the end was disappointed and a little uninterested because I did not yet understand the message behind the plot, and how the film was carried out. Now that I understand that Ozu wanted the film to portray the common life and how there is beauty in the simple things, I have a greater appreciation for the film. Before writing my own blog comment, I read Ally’s and in her post she talked about how we will all be soon leaving for college. I agree with her completely that being able to stop and take the time we have left here at Hawken is extremely important. Six years ago when I entered Hawken School I never thought the day would come when I would be graduating, and now that it’s here I can hardly remember where the time went. This movie reminded me that I have to find ways to slow down the time before this amazing chapter of my life ends and another begins. While it may not have been a packed action movie or a hilarious romantic comedy, this film is one I learned from and I will definitely appreciate the wonderful life I have while it lasts.
ReplyDeleteIn the film, “Early Summer” there are a few examples of the concept “Mono no aware”. As we talked in class, this film was not necessarily made to entertain an audience, but to give a more realistic (and possibly boring for some as a result) and meaningful story. While many films in today’s society are fast paced and filled with moments of thrill, horror, love, comedy etc. , Early Summer is noticeably slower in comparison and there are not many highly entertaining or emotional scenes. However, there are certain parts and pieces than can be broken down and when analyzed, show that this film has deeper meaning that what is solely on the screen. Also as briefly explained in class, the camera movement in the film is minimal; however, when there is camera movement, it expresses that the particular scene is of great significance. I believe that many of those scenes can be examples of “mono no aware”. For example, there is a high angle shot of the two women on the beach as they walk down a hill. While this scene did not have a large role in the story, it demonstrated the beauty of life. Many of the examples I can think of in the film of “mono no aware” have some form of nature to them. Nature has a peaceful yet quiet feeling when presented in this film, as there are not many scenes filled with action. Additionally, the fact that it is not a Hollywood-style film makes it more relatable and more personal for some viewers. It appears to have been an attempt to be like ordinary life.
ReplyDeleteIn Early Summer there were definitely plenty of scenes that evoked both joy and sadness. However, there were two scenes in the movie that stuck out the most to me. The first scene that fits both of these feelings is when both parents are watching a couple that have recently married out in a field with tall grass. The wind on the grass makes it look like there was waves running throughout the field. This scene seems to symbolize the waving goodbye of their daughter who has just married. It is a sad scene because their family is splitting apart and going separate directions but it is also happy because their child is going to gain new experiences. It also has a sense of beauty because marriage is often considered beautiful and full of love. It allows one to appreciate the here and now, while being within the company of one they love. The second scene that accurately depicts the meaning of Mono no aware is when the parents are watching a child’s balloon float up into the sky. This scene also has a depressing and joyful side to it. It is a depressing scene for the parents because they can’t appreciate what it means to be young anymore and it’s their children’s turn to grow up. The balloon floating up into the sky can symbolize that all things must come to an end and disappear. On the other hand, this scene can be joyful because the parents are relaxing and reflecting on life in the moment. There are only a few seconds of happiness, but they enjoy it while it lasts.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the film wistfully captures the beauty in ephemerality, closely following the Japanese philosophy of mono no aware, it is through this appreciation of the present moment that Early Summer finds value in the permanence of familial love. Throughout Early Summer, Yasujiro Ozu employs long unedited takes to immerse the viewer in the state of a blossoming summer. For example, between appearances by the characters, the camera often takes a pan of a field or a few seconds of the sun-dappled street outside the family’s residence. These scenes act as a simulation, creating the impression that the audience themselves are taking a second to appreciate the view of the world around them, the loveliness of a fleeting moment. Even the characters’ dialogue heightens this awareness of mono no aware. Upon seeing a child’s balloon escaping into the sky, Noriko’s and mother and father find the scene bittersweet, recognizing both amusement and the fact that “a child is crying somewhere”. In this brief conversation, Ozu reveals the dichotomy of passing time; just like a lost balloon, happy memories bring both nostalgic joy and sadness once they have passed – it is through the combination of both that they gain permanent value in one’s life. It is important to note that while Noriko’s parents are having this conversation, they are also grappling with the fact that Noriko is about to get married and leave the home. As they reflect on times past, they remember how enjoyable every moment with Noriko was, how much they treasured them, and ultimately, how steady their love is for their daughter. In fact, throughout Early Summer, in the moments where the film urges the audience to take a deep breath and appreciate the ephemeral, it simultaneously reminds the viewer of the constant support system of family. The photograph scene, in particular, experiments with the contrast between the temporary and the permanent. Although the photo can only capture a single frame, the image will last “forever”, much like the presence and love of Noriko’s family. The faces may age, the background may shift, but the symbolic presence of family will always remain. Early Summer reminds us that is in the little moments that we see that love in its strongest form.
ReplyDeleteThroughout Ozu's Early Summer the tatami level camera angle immersed me into another family. The beauty and sadness in life are connected in an inseparable pair ultimately ending with death. The concept of Mono no aware drives this film and Ozu's artistic choices throughout. When Noriko's uncle arrives she is encouraged more than ever to get married. Her uncle arriving was a reflection on the aging process and the various stages of life: childhood, adult, marriage, and old age. Noriko is aware of her own age but has refused to marry any man until Mr. Yabe's mom informs Noriko of his new living and working arrangements elsewhere. Noriko realizes that her friend from childhood would best suit her for a loyal and loving husband. Noriko's family knew that her decision to marry and move would create a divide in her family. She was a caretaker monetarily, emotionally, and physically for her family and without her they would loose this extra support. Choosing to marry and carry on with her life in another city, made me realize that change and uncertainty should be embraced and enjoyed even understanding that they are temporary. Every sit down meal and every morning or evening chat would be different without Noriko. Ozu pronounced this future change in the final tear jerking picture scene. For the final and seemingly first time, Noriko and her family were going to take a picture together. To capture the beauty , joy, and sadness of Noriko's marriage and departure, the family poses to remember all of the happy times they have shared. Prior to the photo Noriko's mother and father accept their daughter's decision and discuss how their lives together had seemed to fly but were filled with laughter and joy. All good things come to an end but they wouldn't be good if they didn’t.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Ozu Yasujiro's "Early Summer" dragged a bit more than my liking during times, there were a few key moments that exemplified the concept of "mono no aware" and struck an emotional response within me. In particular, the balloon scene where the grandmother of the family wistfully looks at a balloon floating away in the sky, unconsciously guessing that a child must be sad that he lost his balloon. The essence of “mono no aware” is really prevalent in this scene. For example, the sadness of a boy losing his balloon is juxtaposed with the happiness people feel from seeing a lone balloon drifting in the sky. This scene contains the duality of both misery and beauty in the same event which correlates with the concept of "mono no aware." Additionally, the reflection of the grandmother exemplifies her appreciation for the little things in life, even if she cannot be young again. Everybody must eventually drift away, like the balloon, but the ride is part of the enjoyment of life.
ReplyDeleteAnother scene that brings a calming sense of peace in me is when the grandfather goes out to buy birdseed. He ambles slowly with his cane, encountering an impromptu rest due to a passing train. The grandfather is not in a hurry or seems annoyed that his trip has been stopped, but her merely sits down on the curb, folds his hands atop his cane, and looks to the train rushing past him. Even when the gates lift up, the grandfather doesn’t move, head tilted up the sky with a wistful look across his face. The scene cuts to a beautiful extra wide shot of a ensemble of wispy clouds and we as the audience suddenly understand why he doesn’t decide to move. The metaphor is clear in this scene: life fly by as fast as a train at full speed, but it is important to sit down, rest, and enjoy the beauty of it. Life should not be about quickly achieving the goal, even if it’s something as exciting as buying birdseed, but rather it is important to stop, take a step back, and look up.
Personally, I think Early Summer really strikes a feel with me. Because it is very slow, it makes you think about what it has to offer. One of these things being mono no aware, or, remembering that life is not forever. This is concept is very similar to memento mori in Latin which literally means, “remember that you are going to die”. One prominent example of mono no aware, more specifically remembering the impermanence of life and the realization that everything has to change in Early Summer is the part when the parents are talking after all of their children move away. This part somewhat pulls onto my hard strings because it is a very low part after lots of life changing things happen within the movie. They sit together has husband and wife looking out, possibly into the future. They see that their future is bright because they did a good job raising their kids. That is what is supposed to happen in life. Kids grow up and become more independent at departs on different tangents, going out to live their own lives. They become adults and they learn to become self sustainable. Starting a family, being loved by a husband or wife. For a mother or father, you should be happy if all your children move away and everything has changed. It means you did a great job and prepared them correctly for the tough world that is out there. In the scene where they saw the child’s balloon floating in the wind, I felt that. It made me feel for that child because I have been in those situations before. I know how that feels. Overall, this movie generally makes you feel most emotions that you have never felt before. It really brings out the art palate that has all the emotions on it. The real question is, what kind of picture will you paint.
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ReplyDeleteAlthough the focus of the film was clearly about the transience of life’s moments, I cannot say that I better understand mono no aware because of it. In my opinion, Noriko’s journey of deciding on a husband and leaving with him was rushed and unrealistic. Her decision to leave her family did not reflect mono no aware, because the speed at which it happened simply was not something that would happen in real life. Now, there were emotional scenes that caught my attention... but they were all plopped into the end. It seemed like Ozu had a message about mono no aware that he wanted to deliver, but somehow didn’t realize that the plot had barely discussed it until the very end of production, so he tried to fix it by having the father say generic “life is short” phrases about five times in the last ten minutes. Because of this, though, at the end of the film I was much more emotional than at other points throughout the movie. I felt sad as I thought about how everyone grows up with one family, but then leaves to start their own, and then, eventually, their new family leaves them. That was one of the few obvious examples of mono no aware that I saw, but it was a very powerful one, for what it’s worth. The imagery was crucial to this realization of mine and, although I did not totally understand the imagery of the waves and the balloon, the photograph specifically stuck out to me. It was a moment in time, captured forever, that no one will forget. They are the physical equivalent to memories. You can remember the great times, but you cannot have them back to be lived again. The best ones are captured, and they’ll always be hung on the wall or on the front of your mind. That photograph moment resonated with me, more than any other scene in the film. It made me think about mono no aware, how everything has to end. We can try as humans to bring back the past, but we cannot do that. That’s why we live in the present and the common phrase, “don’t dwell in the past”, exists. The photograph of the family will not, ironically, show the whole picture. They remember the moment because it was fun, they were about to separate, and it was unique to their normal lives, yet, only the single frame of them looking at a camera is seen. It was really, really sad to think about how fast life flies by, and that even the small things we do to remember it cannot compare to the real moments.
ReplyDeleteThe moments in this film that best simultaneously evoked a feeling of sadness and joy in me were when the children disrespected adults and the adults enjoyed it. One example of this was seeing the happiness the great uncle got from being yelled at by his great nephews. The nephews were walking over and attempting to get his attention by yelling “idiot”. At first, he doesn’t hear them which aligns with our original description explaining how the elderly lose sensitivity to the world around them, but eventually he turns and the children run away. On one hand, the lack of respect the children showed for the man and adults in general throughout the film annoyed me, but on the other, after the children run away the great uncle smiles, laughs, and looks out in to nature contently depicting how he sees beauty in his posterity. There’s a sadness in seeing how the world has moved on from the great uncle, the view outside being large and expansive while he’s small and the children labeling him an idiot. There’s a beauty in how the great uncle’s joy has transferred into the exploration and amusement of the children around him, the way that even after all the meaning has left from his life he can still find significance in the kids. I also felt the mixture of joy and sadness from the end of the film, as I felt that there were very few characters who were truly satisfied with their future. Examples of this lack of satisfaction included the parents reluctantly accepting Noriko’s decision, Noriko feeling bad for leaving the family, and her new husband not seeming entirely happy about the marriage. All of these contrasted with the general happy nature of the ending with Noriko getting married emphasize the Mono No Aware theme.
ReplyDeleteTADJ ADAMS
ReplyDeleteI understand what Ozu was trying to do with the incorporation of his thematic elements and images. Many of the moments in the film are set up to display the fleeting nature of life and the things we cherish, as best exemplified when the grandfather remarks, “A child is crying somewhere,” when he spots a single balloon drifting away. However, at the end of the film I was left feeling irritated, for reasons irrelevant to this blog post. I know that the point of any work of art is to invoke an emotion, but I don’t think this was Ozu’s intention. Despite my feelings towards the movie, I do feel like I understand the concept of mono no aware much better after viewing it. To me, the main message of the film is the inevitability of change. The older generation constantly judges the younger generation and their shifting ideals (specifically Noriko’s decision to get married for love rather than security), But eventually Noriko comes out the victor. The family tries to hold onto itself, but eventually it’s fractured by Noriko’s decision. My favorite scene in the entire film was the moment where the family stands to take a picture. To me, this minute long scene summed up the entire film perfectly. A family shares a bittersweet moment laughing and joking as they prepare to take a picture together, possibly for the last time as a whole. While I may have not personally enjoyed the movie, I can certainly see how Ozu used the film to explore humanity’s status as a bystander to the passage of time.
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ReplyDeleteEarly Summer is about loss, age, and embracing the moment, all of which demonstrate mono no aware. The film revolves around Noriko’s marriage, specifically how it affects their family structure. Initially in the film, Noriko declines any notion of marriage. She claims that she must stay with her father, as he is old and ill. Her parents, relatives, and friends encourage her to accept marriage requests. Eventually, she caves in, but once she accepts the request from Tami Yabe to marry Kenkichi, her parents and brother are disapproving. The remainder of the film surrounds the adaptations within the family, filled with rejoice for memories and tears for separation. Mono no aware is the concept that beauty in life is temporary. The family realizes that Noriko leaving is a permanent change, and that happiness is temporary. They gathers to take a photo, which is one of the most entertaining scenes in the film. The children play around with their hats and we get several gags, but more importantly the family prepares for Noriko’s departure. The picture serves as closure, something to hold onto and remember. In my opinion, the message of mono no aware is about remembering the good old days, and embracing these moments while they last. In one of the final scenes, Noriko’s parents sit out on their porch. They observe a passing wedding while reflecting on their lives since saying goodbye Noriko. The message is this scene, reflecting on Noriko’s marriage, is parallel with the scene of a balloon floating in a sky. A pleasure such as the sight of a balloon floating away is delicate, but also indicates the sadness of whoever lost the balloon. When Noriko’s parents observe the wedding, they feel happy to see such a delicacy, but the wedding is at the expense of the bride’s parents who must say goodbye. Yasujiro Ozu, the director of the film, emphasizes mono no aware. The parents slowly lose youth, beauty, and their daughter to marriage. With age comes this deterioration of beauty, but it teaches us to cherish the rare moments while they last. Ozu portrays this message through film editing, where each scene occupies a large timeframe. At nearly ten seconds per cut, the setting is peaceful. Most of all, we slow down life to enjoy the good old days while we are still in them.
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