Most
films about teen bullying are horror movies, but this is something completely
different. Probably the most mature and sophisticated film to address bullying
since it became a high-profile media issue happens to be an anime adaptation of
Yoshitoki Ōima’s hit manga series. Any adult or reasonably empathetic teen will appreciate
the drama and artistry of Naoko Yamada’s A
Silent Voice, which opens this Friday in New York.
Shōya
Ishida bitterly regrets his elementary school years. He was hardly the only
student who bullied Shōko Nishimiya, a deaf girl, who briefly attended their
school, but he would be the first to admit he was the worst offender. When
things really got ugly he took the fall. As a way to save face, his classmates
blamed him for everything and shunned ever since Nishimiya withdrew from their
school. All but giving up on redemption, Ishida plans to commit suicide, but
first he makes a final attempt to make amends with Nishimiya.
Much
to her surprise, the remorseful Ishida has even learned sign language. It is an
awkward meeting, but she does not completely give him the Heisman. Once Ishida
convinces Yuzuru, Nishimiya’s tomboyish little sister and self-appointed
gate-keeper of his honorable intentions, he starts to meet her often. However,
communications problems and their mutual low self-esteem constantly sabotage
the potential romance viewers are rooting for. Meanwhile, two additional former
classmates re-enter the picture: Sahara, the only student who genuinely
befriended Nishimiya and Ueno, the queen of the mean girls.
The
way this group of students are constantly drawn back together might sound
contrived, but life really seems to work that way. Regardless, Silent Voice is not a pat and
predictable afterschool special. This is an emotionally sophisticated film that
never lectures its audience. Frankly, there are several logical junctures where
Voice could have started wrapping
things up and letting its characters off their hooks, but instead the film just
gets even messier.
One
point that jumps out of Voice is just
how much damage Ishida’s bullying does to his reputation and his self-image.
For years, he has to live with being that guy. It definitely distinguishes the
film from other more conventional anti-bullying films. Visually, it is also
quite appealing, sort of representing a stylistic cross between the mostly realistic
Your Name and the graceful pastels of
Doukyusei. In fact, Yamada has a keen
eye for visuals, incorporating a number of striking water motifs. Yet, more
importantly, Ishida, Nishimiya, and many of their classmates are unusually
complex and well-developed characters, who cannot be reduced to mere victim and
tormentor stereotypes.
No comments:
Post a Comment