Monday, September 28, 2020

If Cats Disappeared from this World

 Lockdown Notes

"If there is one thing that will disappear in the world for you to live another day, what will it be?
If I were to disappear from this world, who would be sad?
I want to believe that the world that I existed and the world where I vanished are different
If cats would disappear from the world, how would the world change?"

Film "If Cats Disappeared from this World" an adaptation from a Japanese novel by Genki Kawamura dramatizes the importance of memories, time, life, connection with others and cats while still alive. It asks questions what a meaningful life is and how to cope with death.
Movie is a about a young postman portrayed by Takero Satoh who has less than a week to live. He encounters a subconscious (a devil) who trades with him a day extension for every matter important to him disappearing from the world.
As cellphones (relationship), movies (friend), clocks (father and time), cats (a personal pet who he shares with fondness with his mother symbolizing the self) disappear, so do the happy memories associated with them. Cats were not eventually traded for an extension.
While theme deals with death, it highlights the value of being alive; postman eventually realizes not to take for granted the people he loves and those who inspire him to be alive.
Movie closes with a memorable joyous moment when the postman's mother presents for the first time the infant to his father. Life and being alive are the ultimate barometers of humanity.
Initially viewed on Sky Cable Tagalized Channel 80. Trailer in Japanese with English subtitles lifted from YouTube. Viewed again 4 AM 29 September 2020

No comments:

Post a Comment