I sat silently for a while after watching the last installment of Kara no Kyoukai (空の境界: The Garden of Sinners). Sometimes, I gazed at the screen in utter disbelief, other times, I felt shocked and dismayed. But my appreciation grew and I began to wonder about a variety of story elements.
Having read the novel twice, I knew the ending in the movie is happier in comparison. Despite whatever happened, the movie managed to squeeze out a happy ending. Actually, I had similar critique for the novel, except the novel described an unavoidable loss, a much stronger displacement or blank where the male Shiki (織) once existed. In addition, there is something about the current Shiki that Mikiya will never quite reach.
There is much blood and violence in the movie, not to mention one strongly sexually charged scene. It is nothing like eroticism; rather, it is like watching a butterfly caught as prey as it is being overwhelmed and at the same time, strangely fascinated by its helplessness in facing a certain death.
Indeed, much blood is spilt, much like in John Woo films where much shell casings and sparks fly and bodies tangle in the dance of death. As the blades cross, bite and scratch each other, one wonders for the similarities and differences between Shiki and the anti-Shiki, the latter seeking to find a companion in the world; anyone would do; anyone would do? Right?
Being a self-proclaimed Otaku (most likely just another geek in a geek culture), I struggled much as the antagonist had. Throughout the movie, the anti-Shiki seeks solace; he seeks salvation of a sort by his effort of trying to find and to seduce Shiki and others to his side. It is his belief that Shiki can go back to the side that he believes he resides; it is his downfall that Shiki is no longer the same Shiki four years ago.
However, as perhaps only the audience could observe and be sure of, Shiki was not the person the anti-Shiki wanted to be with four years ago, and after the events that followed, Shiki became something closer to a sense of believed normality. The novel hints at the acceptance of such as “the truth” but the movie forgoes the key conversation in the novel in favor of a gentler and more loving ending, perhaps to provide a crutch to people like me, who seeks normalcy in a world where its definition is becoming more and more blurred. But the fact remain is that I am still broken.
The novel seems to confirm that, as Shiki muses the lost of the male part of self and the conversation that affirms that musing. The movie doesn’t ignore it, but it is certainly portrayed in a more positive light. The male Shiki is the killer urge, thus as he is gone, it is better for Shiki, Mikiya and the world. But the loss is there. Both the novel and the movie come to terms with that fact, but somehow, I am slightly dissatisfied with the movie and the extension, the series. However, with the wonderful animation, superior voice acting, camera direction and music, the movies are masterpieces in emotional intensity and psychological quests of self-discovery in their own right.
Also See Mono no aware’s Review
Other reviews on the series Kara no Kyoukai 1 Review, Kara no Kyoukai 2 Review, Kara no Kyoukai 3 Review, Kara no Kyoukai 6 Review.
Comments
I can’t leave this uncommented-on! TBH, my own opinion is still a blurry jumble that I can’t straighten out just yet but that back-of-your-mind doubt hit me too. Unresolved plot threads? Yeah, partly. I did still pick up on that sense of loss though, as much as the movie played it down – the physical injuries are lasting reminders that both Shiki and Mikya made sacrifices to get where they were in the end. It wasn’t excessively happy, but it was a warm fuzzy type of conclusion that’s more in the cinematic tradition than is normal for the Nasuverse (in which endings are often a bit more bittersweet and conflicting than this).
I’m assuming you’re not working off an English translation of the novels? I’m still too scared to hope that such a thing has been released already…
I’ll try to say more about this at some point, but quite frankly it’s left me pretty much speechless. I don’t use the term ‘awesome’ lightly for a film like this, but that’s what it is.
@ Martin – The movie left some things unsaid. I suspect for most, that is enough. I personally think, without reading the novel, the 7th movie is probably the best of them all. But then again, I wonder how is it that Mikiya can be overdosed and yet leave the compound alive. There is something about him that neither the novel nor the movie even explained.
I recommend a second watch to get most of the things straight.
No, I was not reading the English translation. I was readin the Chinese one.
Okay, I’m just going to let it out. I’m very disappointed with this show. Maybe I’m just not the typical anime fan, but I HATE it when it’s the typical cliche where the tsundere girl who’s originally a total badass falls for a touchy feely guy who wants to save the world, and as a result loses their edge and becomes a total weakling. Also, what is it with Japanese people and split personalities?!? Just how many anime do you know where one of the main characters suffers from a serious identity disorder. Even it they added a little variation in this show, it’s still basically the same. One thing I did like was the gorgeous visual effects and the art, but that aside there were way too many dead spaces in between where nothing happened for 30 minutes or more. I mean, I appreciate some stillness to calm things down after some major action, but seriously, nothing happened for the majority of the show! By the way, I do not enjoy watching Shiki opening the fridge (which is filled with nothing but water?!?) and sipping the bottle 10 times in a row. Way too many WTF moments, which were really unnecessary. Still in shock after witnessing “anti-Shiki” chomping away at the corpse. A little over-the-top with how people died; humans do not spew blood like a fountain after getting decapitated or whatever, nor do they twist up like twizlers. I wanted to see more of Shiki’s character and her interaction with other people/situations which I think the 2nd movie did a good job of. Anyways, I’m just disappointed ’cause I didn’t think this would be so cliche. Some parts aren’t, but the majority is. Hope I haven’t seriously offended anyone.
I’d have to agree with you on many points. That said, have you seen John Woo movies?
Sometimes the blood dance isn’t going to be portrayed in a normal way. It is a stereotype in Japanese movies from the old that blood gushes like a foundtain. We all know in real life that’s not true.
As for split personalities, it can be a bad plot device if over used. I suspect you’ve seen too much of it in Japanese anime. Yes, that can be really tiresome. In this case however, I think there is a reason for it. Reading the novel may help to clear it up better. The movies are almost digests when it comes to the larger world behind everything.
In classic Japanese drama such as Noh, silence and stills are part of the overall setting to demonstrated the stillness in the cosmos. That said, you’re absolutely right that there are too many scenes stressing the emptiness of Shiki. We get it; we get it that she feels like she not here, we do! Thus, I do agree there. I didn’t realize that because I’m used to anime with that kind of imagry. Good fresh perspective.
At the end of day, for those of use who have seen everything, the entire movie series can be seen as cliched. After all, all of us has been through so much that the scenerios in the movie can seen contrived and weak. However, one must remember that the artistic points in an anime is usually much weaker than a full-on indie/art film. After all, Anime is not a strong artisic medium.
Oh, don’t be afraid of offending anyone. That’s what a good critic must do – offer fresh perspectives and challenge views. Thank you so much for offering a fresh view. An anime old-fart like me would never even bother to question many of the things that you questioned. I get so used to many of these things.