MovieChat Forums > Maboroshi no hikari (1995) Discussion > Was her second marriage arranged?

Was her second marriage arranged?

posted 18 years ago by BruceUK
4 replies | jump to latest

I thought this was a beautiful film. As several others have commented, the cinematography is quite outstanding and the film's contemplative atmosphere and rhythm didn't worry me at all. I understand that the narrative is elliptic, but I was slightly puzzled about how the main character's second marriage came about. Judging by the age of the young boy when they move to the seaside village, about three years have elapsed since her first husband's suicide. The marriage appears to have been arranged by her neighbour, but it wasn't clear to me whether she would have ever met her new husband-to-be beforehand during those three years. I didn't think "arranged" marriages as such happened in modern Japan.

Does anyone have thoughts on this point?

[–] vyasvalmik 18 years ago

According to my interpretation after viewing this beautiful film, I would say that the 2nd marriage was arranged. She may not have seen the husband-to-be, and it might not be common in japan, but in this case it seemed to work out due to her understanding nature. Maybe others have thoughts on this.

[–] rupan777 18 years ago

Yes, it was arranged. There is both a reference in English (her mother thanks Ms. Ono for being the matchmaker) and Japanese to it, though it's not explicit. Arranged marriages and matchmaking are not uncommon in Japan but maybe not as common as, say, fifty or sixty years ago.

[–] masaty 17 years ago

I think that arranged marriages are happening less and less in Japan and Korea, but the type of arranged marriage isn't exactly what you're thinking of?

What I think happens, at least in Korea, is that your parents or a matchmaker set you up on a blind date with someone, and if you hit it off or go out on multiple dates, they pressure you to marry the person.

Not that I approve of the pressuring, but that at least seems better than marrying a COMPLETE stranger. I still really dislike how she married so soon after her husband's death, esp. if it was arranged.

[–] hweele 17 years ago

I just finished watching it before, and it does mention that it had been 5 years since his death that she decided to re-marry. So i guess it had been quite some time.