Just some thoughts on Gozu

Hi.

I am fascinated by the idea that (at least one aspect of) the film is a depiction of our long-time-virgin/low-level-yakuza hero's fears of female intimacy, and the intimacy of a family.


[SPOILERS]


He has one good friend, another male Yakuza, whom he calls Brother. Though the relationship is not homosexual, he feels quite intimate with Brother because of how well they know each other.

However, after his worst fears are proven, and he loses that important relationship, he is surprised to encounter a female claiming to be Brother.

This "female Brother" is a symbol for the possibility of a relationship with a woman, that has, over time, become as intimate as his old one with Brother. A woman he feels strongly for, and who feels strongly for him. Something that he has, according to character statements, most likely never experienced.

The thing that scares our hero now is that since this intimate relationship is with an actual woman, it has a whole new sexual aspect to it, of course, and he is terrified of making love to someone who, by their knowledge of who he himself is, are effectively a substitute/replacement for Brother.

Thus, the vivid encounter with Brother-birthing, etc.

There's also some angle of the new Brother being birthed being a distant child that could potentially know him as well as his long-lost "Brother" once did.

That's a regular bucket of ice water for our hero who probably just wants to get laid!