Fantasy, redemption in your own world...

Delphine 2022-11-18 11:51:33

The world is different in everyone's heart, everyone fantasizes in their own world, or redemption...
The mentally retarded Xiaoliu thinks he is a tram driver and is happy in his own fantasy - Dodesukaden, Dodesukaden, Dodesukaden... A mother loves and grieves in the face of her child's happiness.
In addition to Xiao Liu's home, "Trolley Maniac" also shows the lives of a series of low-level people such as clerks, workers, brush makers, and beggars. The beggar's father builds an ideal home on the imaginary mountain. The little beggar is not only busy begging for food every day, but also willingly listens to his father's fantasy. After a food poisoning, before he died, he hoped that his father would build a swimming pool in that house...
The little beggar, Xiao Liu, and the children of the brush craftsman also live in Xiaoxu, but they have different happiness and yearning for life. The words and deeds of the adults around them who are immersed in fantasy and rice wine more reflect the helplessness of living at the bottom. They numb themselves through fantasies and rice wine, hoping for a moment of redemption...
Of course, life is not without hope. Akira Kurosawa used dazzling colors to reflect the inner sadness of the characters. As for the walls and glass windows of Xiaoliujia painted with brightly colored trams, it is not only to match the gray content, but also to highlight the love of Xiaoliu and his mother to life. expect.
Although that expectation comes from the director's inner world...

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Extended Reading

Dodes'ka-den quotes

  • Suicidal Old Man: [Haltingly, opening up to Mr. Tanba, who patiently listens to him] I'm fed up with everything now... Life is nothing but pain to me. When I get up in the morning and get ready for breakfast... thinking I have to do everything all over again, I just lose my strength. Food doesn't taste good. I lose my appetite.

    Suicidal Old Man: [continues, as Mr. Tanba listens silently] When I go to the public bath, I'm disgusted to see myself in the mirror. Naked, I look really disgusting and filthy. I can't stand myself. At this point... the only thing I want... is to die quickly. I want to disappear from this world.

    Mr. Tanba: [Mr. Tanba gets up and starts rummaging for some items, and prepares a powder which he gives to the man] This powder is used in engraving. It's a very strong poison, not sold to the public. You'll die without pain an hour after taking it. If you really want to die, take it.

    Suicidal Old Man: [the suicidal man eagerly takes the powder and pours all of it in his mouth, then drinks it down with water] Thank you. It's very kind of you. Goodbye.

  • Yukichi Shima: [speaking to his three guests] Let me ask you a question. Have you ever found a way to get rice from a rice store? I don't mean borrowing, I mean taking it right in front of their eyes.

    Yukichi Shima: [continues] You take a big pot and get it all wet on the inside, and have it filled at the rice store. Try to get it on credit and they'll refuse. You throw the rice out, but the pot is wet. So some rice remains stuck to the sides. If you repeat that three times, you'll get enough for a meal. Eh? Great, isn't it?