Mono No Aware
Mono no aware is the Japanese idea of the awareness of the transience of beauty and the ultimate sadness of life. After watching Early Summer can you better understand this concept? Where there scenes that evoked both feelings of joy and sadness, moments of beauty and tears? What were your emotions at the end of the film? What did you think about some of the images we discussed in class: the waves, the photograph, the child's balloon? Are there moments when you felt the sadness and the beauty of life?
ReplyDeleteIt’s one thing to read about a concept and say you understand it, but often times it is completely different to see it being played out. Early Summer helps drive home the true meaning of “mono no aware” in that it is meant to show true appreciation of life and all it has to offer. Apart from the film, the general concept of mono no aware sounds significantly sadder than it really is. The movie still incorporates the inevitable sad moments in life (parting from family, failed attempts at relationships, etc.), however it balances them with the more joyful aspects as well (childhood innocence, peace, or beautiful landscapes like the beach). In essence, Early Summer is a gorgeous example of mono no aware, portraying a realistic story while heightening it with the impermanence of beauty and sadness.
The ending of Early Summer is a picture perfect image of Mono No Aware, demonstrating the bittersweet thing that is life. Throughout the movie, we see the family simply living. Sure, there are larger plot moments; the family pressuring their daughter to get married, the kids running away, but there the movie wasn't driven by a linear plot. The whole movie was structured in a way to reflect real life, not a Hollywood adaptation of life full of love and sorrow, but true life. This is meant to set up for the punch at the end. The punch that I am referring to, of course, is the ultimate split of the family. The family's split would be nowhere near as impact if the family wasn't believable. But why have such a punch? Why spend the whole movie leading up to one singular action? Because this is true Mono No Aware. The split of the family is meant to show that while life is wonderful, it is so because it ends. The family would love nothing more than for them to continue their day to day lives, but sadly, this is not how the world works. And if it did, would the day to day life mean anything? Would life itself retain is magnificence? The ending of Early Summer asks all of these hard questions that come with Mono No Aware. It is not an easy topic to explore. In order for Early Summer to do so, there needed to be an entire movie of framework portraying a real family as they journey through life, and even that is barely enough to make all the points that come with Mono No Aware. Even still, the ending of Early Summer gives us a glimpse of the complex issue.
ReplyDeleteThe bittersweet ending of Early Summer truly epitomizes the concept of mono no aware. The majority of the movie is a happy story about Noriko’s journey to find a husband. Along the journey, Noriko believes that she is at her happiest self when she does not have a husband, so she is in no rush to get married. She is so happy that she smiles with just about every word she speaks to anyone. However, the ending of the movie is bittersweet in the sense that Noriko finally fulfills her family’s wish and finds herself a husband that will make her happy; however, this husband is not who her family expected her to marry and they do not know how to react. Not only is Noriko’s future husband 40, but he already has a child and is planning on moving far from Noriko’s family to pursue his career. This makes Early Summer idealize mono no aware because while Noriko’s family is thrilled that she finds a husband who she believes will make her happy, they are torn to hear that Noriko will have to move all the way to Akita to be with him. Her family obviously wants to be around her and the dynamic with Noriko living in the house created such a happy and complete family, and now, that will be torn apart. Noriko feels awful for tearing the family apart, but she knows that she has to jump on the opportunity to marry the one man she loves. The ending is very upsetting because the happy family is torn into shreds because of Noriko’s departure, but her departure is also beautiful because she gets to be with the person she loves most, making this movie an epitome of mono no aware.
ReplyDeleteBefore watching Early Summer, I assumed that mono no aware was very similar to the mindset of memento mori because of observing how there’s themes in the concept of aging and losing beauty with time. However, I now realize that there is nuance to mono no aware because it also revolves around the idea of change over time, especially with regards to an appreciation for youth. For example, the great uncle demonstrates this idea of mono no aware when he points out that Noriko is at the age where she needs to find a husband because she needs to take advantage of her youth while she still has it. Additionally, we, as an audience, see ideas of how we need to appreciate youth while we still have it through the perspectives of Isamu and Minoru. Despite how they will cause trouble at times, from kicking the bread around to when they run away, they are still able to get away with their antics because of their ages. This scene compilation shows the idea of mono no aware that the younger we are, the more we are able to get away with things because of the beauty we have while we are young. Where the movie really drives home the idea of mono no aware is with the end where it depicts the family being broken apart after Noriko moves away because the split reminds the audience that life is finite and the family symbolizes the time we have in our lives. Additionally, when the final scene shows a wedding occurring, it reminds me that even though nothing lasts forever, it’s important to appreciate the beauty and the positives of major life points. Realizing this, all I could feel were chills running down my spine and a small lump in my throat; the ending gave me every and no emotions at the same time because of how realistic it is, yet so beautiful in regards to mono no aware.
ReplyDeleteMono no aware is a prominent influence throughout Noriko’s pursuit for a husband. As she approaches the typical age of marriage, she is pressured by family and friends to seek a man with whom she can envision spending the rest of her life. Noriko’s entire journey seems to be a race against time, as she recognizes the impermanence of her youth. The close intergenerational relationships between Noriko and her family also serve as a constant reminder that time is fleeting as well as innocence and youth, so Noriko feels compelled to seize the present moment in finding a husband. When Noriko ultimately finds the man she would like to marry, she and her family are overwhelmed by conflicting emotions surrounding the impending changes. Noriko’s family initially expresses some reservations concerning her fiancé, but much of their hesitation likely stems from their yearning to cling to the present moment and their current relationship with Noriko. Ultimately, her family recognizes that Noriko is confident in her decision, and they decide to support her wishes, although they do attempt to preserve the family’s final moments of togetherness through taking a photo. The family’s split prompts Noriko’s parents to nostalgically reflect upon their lives and parenthood, taking great pride in their success in raising such wonderful, prosperous daughters. Ironically, Noriko’s parents recognize the beauty in raising a family as their work comes to a close. These moments of reflection and introspection are made possible by the ephemerality of all things in life as expressed in Mono no aware. If all of the beautiful moments were not moments, but a constant state of being, we would become desensitized to the beauty of life. While moments such as Noriko’s family’s split elicit great sadness, they also draw attention to the moments in which beauty was at its peak. In fact, the conclusion of the most beautiful things in life typically evoke the greatest sadness.
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ReplyDeleteThrough the Japanese idea of Mono no aware, Early Summer portrays the bittersweet and nostalgic feeling of the eventual split and loss of family, showing us the evanescence of life. Throughout the movie, we are shown bits and pieces of a happy Japanese household. At the beginning of the movie, we are shown the value of life, being held in post war Japan. One son had been lost in a war, causing the mother of the household to lie in wait day after day for his return in longing, never giving up hope that he may come home. The impermanence of life is what makes living so beautiful. According to Mono no aware, if everyone were to live forever, the dynamic between the family would eventually be lost, since there would be no fear that someone we love would one day cease to exist. Like the Japanese cherry blossom that only opens one week per year, the impermanence of human life is what makes life beautiful. In the movie, one of the most touching dynamic was the splitting of family. With the use of tatami shots, the viewer is on the same level as the rest of the characters, making the story all more reminiscent, almost like it was our own family. In one once sense, our new family desperately pleaded for sister Noriko to get married, but at the same time they knew that it would split the family. But this begs the question, should the family try to keep together, or let Noriko leave with her future husband? According to the movie’s Mono No Aware, the family cannot stay together for all time. Since life was temporary, the parents instead will treasure the happy times the family had together and be aware of how beautiful they once were in their youth. As Noriko’s parents stated, “they tried their best, even surpassing most other families in how long they stayed together.” If the family were to stay together forever, would it still be beautiful? As explored in Early Summer, the answer would be no. At the end of the film, even though I was not part of this family, it hit me with pangs of sadness. This happy family blessed with cheerful children may never see their sister again, and the parents are aging as well. Noriko may never eat another cake with her sister, so we must treasure and be aware of the sweet memories we made together. In one sense, if this movie were to last forever perhaps I would not feel this way. But because it was temporary, I was able to feel a sense of nostalgia for it.
ReplyDeleteThe Japanese concept of Mono no aware, in its most basic state, says that there will be both ups and downs in life, but the most important thing is to remember that there is beauty in all of it. I think that Early Summer’s depiction of mono no aware is hard to see at first, but if you know what you’re looking for, it is very easy to find. The most prolific example of mono no aware in Early Summer is the ending scene. In this scene, the parents of our protagonist look out and see a new bride and groom making their way across a field on horseback. The parents talk about how their family will soon be splitting apart and how things will never be the same again, which they are both deeply saddened by. The father then remarks that they have done a very good job with all of their children over many years and should be proud of how all of their kids have turned out. He understands that it was only a matter of time before the family split apart, but the important thing is that they had a beautiful life while they were all together. I believe that this is the perfect example of mono no aware in Early Summer and that it is equally as fitting that this example comes at the end of the film. This scene perfectly ties the entire story together and gives the viewer an emotional but happy ending while also depicting something that is so important to Japanese culture.
ReplyDeleteThe ending of Early Summer paints a perfect picture of what Mono no aware is. Throughout the beginning and middle of the movie, it is a happy story about Noriko and her family. During the film, it is deeply expressed that it is a cultural norm to get married. Noriko is the only one in her family who hasn’t been married yet, but she is not sure if she wants that life. Noriko is truly in no rush to get married, even though she has multiple people who would be willing to marry her. Noriko acts happy no matter what happens and is just a loveable character. Towards the end of the film, Noriko finally decides to marry and fulfill her family’s wish. She finds herself a husband that makes her extremely happy, but he is not the person that her family wanted her to marry. The problem with Noriko marrying this man is that he is 40 years old, and he already has a child. Not to mention that he is planning on moving far from Noriko’s family in order to pursue his career. This scene right here makes Early Summer idealize Mono no aware because while Noriko’s family is extremely happy that she found a husband, they are hurt to hear that she will be moving to Akita to be with him. Noriko leaving means that the house will not have that same happy dynamic with her there. Noriko feels like this decision is necessary in order to advance her life and start a family of her own. The ending of Early Summer is bittersweet because the family is torn apart, but it is also lovely because she finally gets to start her own family, making this film the essence of Mono no aware.
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