MovieChat Forums > Tasogare Seibei (2002) Discussion > The egg, and connections (spoilers)

The egg, and connections (spoilers)

posted 15 years ago by breen-1
3 replies | jump to latest

dsb_mac made some great comments about this briliant movie.

But what was the significance of the egg? Near the end when Iguchi is going to have to go and fight, his children go off to school, then his mother goes out into the yard and picks up an egg, saying the chickens have laied in in the wrong place. There must be some significance to this?

A really good movie will have scenes where somethign happens, that has a connection to some later events in the movie. I think that according to the director, he movie was about 'change', i.e. this was the end of the samurai period. So as dsb_mac pointed out, when Iguchi met his friend eraly in the movie, the people praciticing using rifles (muskets) in the background were indicating that the world of the sword was over.

Later on, Iguchi said that he had sold his sword, and he thought the world of the sword was over. Then the irony is, in the end he dies by being shot.

Another connection, I think, is the scene where Iguchi asks Tomoe over to help him with his hair, probably with the main aim of asking her to marry him, but also to help him prepare for his battle. This reflects the earlie scene where he had been shamed, because he had being unkempt. He had promised never to do it again, so now he had to make sure he was properly attired with his hair prepared, before he could go to fight for his clan.

[–] Manji318 15 years ago

You are def on to something with the egg, also asking Tomoe to help him get ready is sign of him still wanting to live and push onward. Not like the crazy one-sword man in the house because he has already given up life.

[–] Suzume-san 15 years ago

I've said this before, but I think the greatest achievement of Yamada-san's trilogy is the depiction of everyday life, ordinary events in an extraordinary time and place. We see such a wealth of domestic detail - you go to work, it's a bit dull but it pays the bills, there are your workmates and your boss, the well worn little jokes and habits that get you through the day. Women do the housework, look after children, visit the neighbours. You go shopping, go to the pub, visit your married sister, admire the new baby, go fishing with your mates. Relatives are something of a trial - grumbling old uncle, interfering busybody auntie, poor wandering old mum. Everything looks real, lived-in, a bit shabby perhaps; utterly convincing.

The egg scene is part of this; while Iguchi is preparing to fight for his life and his career, the children say goodbye and go off to school as usual, mother is pottering about the house and garden, ordinary life is continuing around him. Masterly.

Kambei of the Gormful Gumi.

[–] Hypatia42 13 years ago

I think there is suppose to be a subtle critique of family and samurai life not mixing.

His mother's comments throughout the film are a kind of Casandra like prophecy. She asks "who are you" when characters are behaving in inappropriate ways, or departing from themselves. While it may be her senility, it also points out to the audience that the people are forgetting themselves.

A chicken laid her egg in an area where it could be trampled under foot. The egg could be the next generation to the chicken or precious food to the owners. It is an important thing precariously placed. I think it's symbolic of Iguchi trying to raise his family, court Tomoe, and live simply like a farmer when he is in swept up in the politics and pettiness of the empire. His little home (his 'egg') is in the middle of so much danger. What a place to be when thinking of the simple life and love: in the middle of an empire tearing at its own heart.