Kenkichi seemed pretty somber about the whole prospect of marrying Noriko. Quite unlike his mother, who seemed to regard Noriko's marriage agreement as a veritable gift from God. Maybe it's because Kenkichi had his mind pre-occupied with his upcoming transfer away from Tokyo to a provincial town? How do we interpret his reticence?
No he didn't, did he? He knows his boss (the doctor in the household) had arranged another marriage with the older bachelor. So he knows he is going against his boss's wishes which makes him uncomfortable. Also I understand it is a bit of a family status issue (from a Japanese friend); the household Noriko belongs to is higher status than him, so it makes him feel uncomfortable that he may be perceived as trying to marry above his own status.
shareNo he didn't, did he? He knows his boss (the doctor in the household) had arranged another marriage with the older bachelor. So he knows he is going against his boss's wishes which makes him uncomfortable. Also I understand it is a bit of a family status issue (from a Japanese friend); the household Noriko belongs to is higher status than him, so it makes him feel uncomfortable that he may be perceived as trying to marry above his own status.
shareInteresting points. It is certainly more complicated than the random and haphazard style of 'mating' that goes on in the West, isn't it?
I saw this film in Japanese Film class. The same question was asked to the professor who was also teaching Japanese Studies. He said that in Japanese culture, men are expected to be stoic, and show little emotion to events affecting them. It would be similar to his boss telling him that he will be transferred, and accepting that, whether he wanted it or not, without complaint to his superior.
I watched that scene again in a recent viewing, but this time I noticed at the very end, before the scene change cutaway, while his mother was looking away he gave about a one second smile before the break.
Good observerations. His mother did tell him not to be stoic about it. But good catch on the smile.
I think it's not really Yabe's film so we don't necessarily get to go into his head.