- How did what we saw in the film relate to what we learned about some of the traditional Japanese views of the afterlife?
- What memory would you choose?
- Also, the film mentioned the "Great Earthquake" a lot so you could do some research and what exactly that is and report on it in your response.
Alright ... COMMENT!
Well, connecting the dots from what I researched and what I saw in the film... the people may be dead, but they haven't quite moved on yet and still have something to fulfill, which is choosing a memory that they will forever carry with them into the after life.
ReplyDeleteOther than that, I can't find much more information from what I remembered and what I just researched to relate with. I found the process of 'Afterlife' very sad, as there were all these people having to choose one memory, out of every single moment that they have lived and have to keep it with them forever. I understand thats the good part, but I think it would just be... so hectic, so stressful to choose ONE memory. What if it was the wrong one? What if there a happier one? Is it good enough? Will I get sick of it?
Which memory would I choose.. the first thought that comes to my mind is Noah. Incredibly cheesy, I know. But he is my best friend in the entire world. He is the person who loves every single bit of me no matter what I say or do and wants to be around me even in my worst days, whether it be emotionally or physically.
It would probably be a memory from when he'd come over super early on a Saturday morning and crawl into bed and wait patiently for me to wake up. Then we ate breakfast that I made us and spent our whole day watching movies, kissing (Yeah sorry TMI I know but this is the memory I'd pick haha.), listening to music, surfing the web, crying (ok mainly me.) and talking about EVERYTHING - thoughts, feelings, films, memories. I feel like every moment that I am with him I am taking on the world and it's a great and happy memory and it's the ones with him that I thought about while watching Afterlife, and when I read the question.
This whole memory that lasted from like 8 am to 11:30 pm and I don't know if there's supposed to be a time limit...but oh well. It's the memory I want and shall get.
And I will answer the rest of this when it is not 1:46 am. :)
- Rose
Great detailed response and very personal response. Thank you for sharing.
DeleteI think it would be hard too to choose your last and only memory to keep. I keep thinking throughout the film. what would my memory be? I don't even know! It's a really hard decision. I think that one kid who refuses to pick one because it's too hard. We always talk about that at Life Line (for those of you who don't know, It's the rehab place I go to). We all took the easy way out but then we were miserable, happiness doesn't come easily. He's going to regret not picking one and that's a consequence of his avoiding tendencies (gotta love rehab, you can point out everyone's thinking errors). I like the response though. :)
DeleteCool way to look at the decision to not pick a memory. I find that character fascinating!
DeleteHey everyone, don't feel like you need to answer all of the questions I post. They are just there to get the conversation started. You just need to answer at least one of the questions or respond to something someone else has said and write at least three paragraphs.
ReplyDeleteFrom watching this film it made me realize how important the afterlife and getting there and being happy is very important to the japanese culture. I love the fact that what you did in your life effects your afterlife greatly. It makes you want to live a good life because if you don't your stuck with remembering something you did wrong or bad.
ReplyDeleteIf i had to pick one memory from my life so far it would probably be when I was little, still living in Italy. My Brother always took me walking around the busy streets. It was always really hot so we would go get ice cream from this little parlor down the street from our house then go sit by the lake and watch people in boats. It was SO pretty and always smelt like fresh bread and sea water, I miss that so much. (:
Cool response, Bree. Thank you for sharing your memory and for your insights into the afterlife. I too like the idea that we create our own afterlife for ourselves (rather than having some external source punish or reward us).
DeleteP.S.: give me one more paragraph next time :)
First off, I really didn't pay attention to the whole film. So I didn't get a lot of information I needed.
ReplyDeleteThis movie was an alright film. It wasn't one of those movies I would watch over and over because I am usually drawn to action and comedy and documentaries are at the other end of the scale. However, this movie had some parts i did like, example I found it very interesting that the workers were able to give the military man a video for each year of his life. The idea of someone actually doing that amazes me (yes, I know it's fake).
If I was put into that kind of situation, where I would have to choose a memory, I would probably have chosen a memory that was both complicated and brought some happiness to me. I would make it complicated because I would find it humorous to watch the workers attempt to film it.
Some of the things I didn't particularly enjoy were the long speeches and big pauses. I don't like waiting for something interesting to happen because I enjoy faster paced movies. (personal preference)Other than that this movie had a really well done plot.
Once again, good job pointing out specific reasons why you didn't like a film while also looking for redeeming features. I love that you'd pick a memory just to make things difficult for the social workers ;)
Deleteso speaking of it being sad to have to choose just one memory, i did some research on the great earth quake, what it was was a devastating and deadly earthquake in 1923 that was said to be the worst earthquake in Japanese history,
ReplyDeleteit was in kanto and was said to last 7-10 minutes the magnitude of the quake was 7.9, it devastated Tokyo. the quake was so powerful that in kamakura (37 miles away)it moved the great buddha statue, weighing about 93 tons 2 feet!
so what i think is that the perspective of this film was from the quake victims, after they had died. i think the people we saw were all victims in it was showing there journey to the after life if you will,
Thanks for the research. Good stuff to know!
DeleteWhat WOULD my memory be? Something to do with film. Probably just working on a film, writing, shoting, editing. All of that. It makes me feel so at peace.
ReplyDeleteI really think it's a cool story. It's very original and creative.
One question I asked myself while watching this is, what if they fall off a really high place or get stabed. Would they die? Because they're already dead. Would they just sit there bleeding? or would nothing happen? Would the knife just not sink in? No bones broken?
Also they all seemed happy or fine with beeing dead. No one cried about not being around their loved ones anymore but I think that goes with Japan's views of the after life. The afterlife is the good part. It's peacful and nice. But I can't help but think, wouldn't they miss their family? It would hurt me to think of what my family was going through when I died.
And what happens after they leave? Where do they go? I want to know what their afterlife looks like. Is it full of clouds or just black or what?
But I really liked the shots they used especially when they were talking to the dead, the "interview" process. I felt like all the colors were pretty pastel and not bright or stand out-ish. Hmm, wonder why. Maybe because they're dead or something?
I think they really set it up for a lot of questions and open ended-ness. I think that was a choice though, more intereasting for the audience.
Over all, Love it.
Sir Whovian, Out!
For my opinion about the motives behind the color choice, see my reply to "Jelte" up above.
DeleteYeah, it is an interesting view of the afterlife, isn't it. I suppose that since they are in a place between worlds (between death and living the memory forever), it is more of a purgatory than a heaven or hell so maybe a sort of drab, nowhere sort of place is appropriate.
ReplyDeleteYour memory sounds awesome!
This film made me think about all the specifics that would have to go into making people's memories. Like... What if they missed a significant detail that would mess up their memory? Or what happens in this dream world? Do they remember that they died? And what if your memory sucked? But if you died and that's all you remembered you'd be stuck in a boring memory forever!!! Is there some sort of re-do option? But if they don't remember can they even use the re-do? Is there a way they could choose their whole life instead of just a section? Also could you lie about your memory, and scam the afterlife people? Could you say that when you were 10, Bill Gates gave you all his money?
ReplyDeleteOne thing that I didn't really like about the movie, was that it seemed like they just sort of presented the idea of memory afterlife, but it didn't really seem like they pushed the idea as far as they should. There also didn't seem like there was any music anywhere. So the movie seemed to go a little slower than usual. But it still didn't bore me as bad as Barcelona.
If I would to die, my memory would be this last term of school. Since I'm in the 12 grade, this is my last chance to just act like some kid. All the new people i've met, and the projects I've been apart of. I haven't had this much fun being in a film class since my first year here.
I am so glad you're having such a great last term. Way to go out with some really great memories. That makes me really happy! I also really like all your philosophical questions. Maybe one or more of these questions could be the basis of a short (or longer) film ....
ReplyDeleteYes, I am pretty cool, and I'm glad I met you too :) The reason I thought they left things so open ended was becuase the afterlife IS such a mystery. I think they left a lot up to our own imagination. They let us fill in the gaps. I think it was more a stylistic choice rather then a lazy, "I don't want to figure it out" kind of thing. But I like the questions too. Maybe you should remake it with all the answers!
DeleteDon't forget your question marks!!! :P
Sir Whovian, Out!
I Somewhat liked this movie. I thought it was kind of odd how this was afterlife and they could still drink tea. They seemed like they were all still stuck in way, like how they were making movies about the peoples lives before.
ReplyDeleteIt sort of makes me think in the most logical kind of way on how they could do all of that. Like feel and express emotions, have working taste buds, or the need to pee or sleep. It's weird. It is like they are still 100% alive with the blood flowing through their veins but at the same time they're dead.. I dont know ahha.
DeleteP.S. Josh, what was the movie we watched yesterday called, again?
DeleteThe Middle of the World: http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The_Middle_of_the_World/60037317?trkid=4484960
DeleteThis film really made me view the afterlife in a very different way, a way that I had never even thought of before. I know that when you get into specifics about what you consider the afterlife to be, things usually turn religious. Which I have absolutely nothing against, I think that people having their own views and religious beliefs is great and usually really interesting to learn about. The problem is that people like me, who grow up without any religious influence, have no clear idea of what the “afterlife” could potentially be. It seems that many people in our culture fear death. So to see that Japan almost has an optimistic view on death is a refreshing way to see it.
ReplyDeleteIt would be so hard to choose just one memory from my whole life to watch forever, but if I had to, I would choose the day (or night, rather) that I learned how to ride a bike. I don’t know why this memory is so clear to me, but I don’t think I’ve had a more joyful moment since. I was behind our apartment building with my dad and brother. My dad had been trying to teach me how to ride a bike without training wheels all day and I couldn’t seem to get it. For some reason, after it became dark, it just clicked. It was such a good feeling and everyone seemed so happy.
-Ryan Ditta
PS- This was another film that I think I was only in class for one or two days of the showing (I can’t quite remember). So I watched this one at home as well. If it counts as made-up participation points that would be wonderful!
Thanks Ryan for sharing this very personal response.
DeleteI watched this film at home and I asked my dad a lot of questions about the Japanese culture sense he used to live there. He told me that they had a lot of different views of the afterlife, but he said that the two most prominent were reincarnation, or that there wasn’t one.
ReplyDeleteIf I had to choose one memory to take with me it would probably be when my youngest brother was born, it’s what brought like my whole family together. It was just me my mom sister and brother. We were in everything together. We are our own little family and just the day I held my brother and my mom was holding the tree of us in here arm it just felt like I was where I was supposed to be. And that is probable the only time I have ever felt that way.
That's great that you talked with your dad about the film even if it didn't yield much info on the afterlife that gave meaning to the film? Did he say anything else which DID help you understand the film better?
DeleteI like this movie a lot, I liked how I found out that the actors were not reading off anything when talking about what memories they would take. I think it's interesting that the guy who was working there was not able to choose a memory to live out and took that job instead.
ReplyDeleteI also thought the fact that you keep the body you had when you die, so younger people keep their younger bodies. or how you could watch your whole life to find a memory you wanted to choose.
I liked this movie very much even though it felt a little slow.
That's great that you enjoyed the film so much! What do you mean by, "the actors were not reading off anything when talking about what memories they would take"?
Deletehey, sup
ReplyDeletei thought that the concept of reliving only one memory for eternity was pretty interesting, considering how different our culture's view of the after life is. but i guess since japanese people are mostly buddhist and live their life's the best way that they can and try to make the best out of any and every situation that they are in it kind of makes sense that they might believe or would want to relive a certain moment in their life forever.
i definatly don't think that i could choose one moment to live forever though.
yeah-zak
Thanks for your response. I'm glad you're using the films to think about different cultures. One clarification: Japanese people don't actually believe that you have to pick a memory to relive for eternity. This is just an element of the film.
DeleteYou rock, Zak.