The shattering of ideals and the severing of sources of income forced the Xiaolin couple to return to the countryside and live a simple life. And the fate of yin and yang made Kobayashi, who was originally an elegant performer, take up a career he never thought of. There was no trace of indignation and complaints in Xiao Lin's expression, but more helplessness and heaviness that could not be poured out. He was not recognized by the people around him, and even his wife left because of learning about his occupation. When the cello piece from his childhood was played again, it seemed that only the chords in his hand could understand his sadness. And in order to support the family, even if it is as good as it is and it is not suitable for it, it is necessary to persevere. In addition, the hatred for his father's abandonment of himself and his mother has accumulated in his chest for many years and cannot leave. The black and white tones commonly used throughout the film suppress the theme of life and death.
Mika is his empathetic wife who always smiles. Whether it's when Kobayashi's band disbands, or when he decides to sell his beloved cello and go back to the country, she always supports him as if nothing had happened. However, when she learned about the true nature of his work, she couldn't understand it, and finally returned to her parents' home. Mika is a typical Japanese wife, considerate of her husband, polite and forbearing. After seeing her husband's work, she finally understood the comfort of the deceased's family. When Kobayashi's father died, she said loudly to the unqualified funeral workers that her husband was an mortuary, which also meant that she finally accepted his Work.
Xiao Lin's father abandoned his family and eloped with others, dying alone. And what he endured was also expressed by the eldest sister who worked with Xiaolin. He could no longer return to or even get close to his children, and chose to bear the consequences of what he committed in the past, even if he was hated for the rest of his life. A father's love for his children, no matter how appropriate, cannot be obliterated. When the round white stone that Xiao Lin exchanged with his father when he was a child appeared in his father's stiff palm, Xiao Lin knew that his father was thinking of his children silently. Forbearance and persistence.
From a broken musician to a cocooner who is not understood by ordinary people, this kind of strong professional gap can be seen, and Kobayashi is forced to accept it and gradually understand it. From the beginning of the first job where I vomited more than I could, I couldn’t even eat, to the joy of being sincerely thanked by my family, to winning the emotional understanding of my friends and wives and respect for my profession, so that I finally understood and forgiven through the burial. I hated my father all my life. It is said that when God closes the door, he leaves a window. Xiaolin, when the door closed, was not angry, distressed, or complaining, but saw that window and found the way to a paradise that brings confidence to himself and warmth to others.
I have to admit that Japan is a very resilient nation. In times of adversity, never complain, just fall with the wind, curl up and minimize losses; and in times of prosperity, use your strength in a low-key manner without any scruples, and do your best at that point. This is indeed worth learning.
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