The Eiga Sai Experience 2012

For my third post on this blog, let me share about two films I have watched during this year's Eiga Sai (Japanese Film Fest).

Let me give a backgrounder first. Eiga Sai, organized by the Japan Foundation, is a yearly event, that happens every month of July. Since 2006, I have been a frequenter of the film fest. You can say that I'm one of those "Japanophile" who flock the Shangri-la Mall movie house, endure the hour-long, long line of moviegoers just to watch one of those interesting Japanese films.

This year, I was able to watch "Ninja Kids" and "In his Chart". These two films incidentally revolve on the same theme of pursuing one's goals. Let me give a rundown on these two films...or perhaps share to you some statements from themwhich struck me.

Ninja Kids
Year Released: 2011

This movie follows the (mis)adventures of a group of ninja apprentices at an "elite" ninja training school. Rantaro, the central character in the film, together with his other "ninja classmates" try to defend a schoolmate and his father against some rival ninjas. To save them, the little ninjas join a contest that ends with a race to ring a bell on top of a mountain.

Ninja Kids is a live-action adaption of the anime series "Nintama Rantaro" (Nintama actually means "future ninja"). It's an entertaining film, not only because it features cute, japanese eight-year-olds who portray slapstick acts; but because nuggets of truth/learning can be found in the film. The sensei here tells the group of nintama that "the important thing in life (especially for a ninja) is to have guts", and that "skill and strength is nothing without courage".

The film tells us that working towards our goal/s is not a walk in the park. In the movie, the ninja kids had to defend themselves against "caltrops, spikes, and shells" used by the enemy to hurt them. In life, we have to defend ourselves against trials which can discourage us from reaching our goals.

The film also warns us of the reality that there may be people who'll hinder us from reaching our goals. With their own, selfish ways, they'll do any means to keep us away from what we really want. "One will use any means to succeed (against us) because he (can be) desperate".

It also gives a lesson an aiming: "to stop the enemy, you must shoot". Not taken in a literal context though, but that statement means there is a need to toughen up...to defend oneself against adversaries. To reach for the goal, one has to stand his ground, focus, and "keep his eyes on the prize!"

Nintama Rantaro

Other cute Nintama!