Yes, I know I wasn't planning to write anything anymore on this blog. But this film caught my interest that I had to write my thoughts somewhere.
Posssible Spoiler, IF YOU HAVENT WATCHED IT, STOP! I just wanted to share how I understand the message of the film, if there is any. I am actually interested on other peoples opinion on how they see the film, and I do believe that I don't need to watch the previous films and the series in order to understand the message of the film. I'm actually interested to read the original novel but I can't seem to find a copy available anywhere. So, without further adieu...
The Film shows 3 personas, namely: Mitsuko, Keiko and Izumi. I will try my best to explain together with the last part of the film on what I think really happened to them.
First let's tackle Mitsuko. From what you see Mitsuko was not your typical school girl. In fact she was eccentric. Why? In the bus scene. we can see everyone was having so much fun. They were laughing, shouting , throwing stuff at each other. Even the teacher and the driver has these smiles on their faces - these moments symbolizes that they are normal - they are all alike. What we should notice was Mitsuko was alone, she was writing a poem in her little notebook. Then, 2 classmates noticed her and well the other one is actually trying to tease her. Well, It's not that offensive but analyzing from her eccentric behaviour she was actually sensitive from teasing.
Moving on, the next events were the slicing of the bus were everyone was starting to die except Mitsuko. When she crouched down to get her pen, a gust of wind started cutting everyone on half. Making Mitsuko the only survivor. What actually happened, the last part of the film Mitsuko committed suicide. Everyone was dying but in reality she was the one dying, she felt alone, she felt different - she wanted an ending.
Second is Keiko. Keiko is a person who is bound to marry someone. The scene was simpler than the first one. This was the view of Keiko herself wherein everyone was so happy for her but in fact that was all front. She knows that behind those smiles and words of congratulations, that's not what most of them think of her. Maybe, they think of her as using her groom as an escape goat from poverty or it's just for the money or something, could also be forced or whatever.
The groom, was symbolized by a Pig. A dirty pig, that could mean that it only shows lust towards keiko.
Now again, what really happened. Keiko killed herself in front of everyone. The scene wherein they were fighting was what she wants to do with everyone, she wants to shout, kick, punch, kill everyone. But just like the first one, it was all in her mind - and as an escape she killed herself with a broken bottle.
The Third one was Izumi which I found the most common of them all. From the various scenes we see Izumi was a top athlete adored by everyone. But what was wrong? She was actually pressured, everyone was expecting too much of her - she was pushing herself to the limit wherein she was no longer happy and at the point she thinks that she can no longer lose or everyone will think differently of her. What happened, she died when she crossed the fence.
Now, what are the other things that we should consider important during the film that would help us support and understand these theories.
Aki = was the best friend - the friend - the conscience - the mind. She plays the biggest role here and I don't even think she even really exist. She was the one deciding on what actions they should do, in other words she was the one thinking - she was the mind.
The old man and the game - No, the story was not a game. The game symbolized something, have you noticed it was similar to Grand Theft Auto V wherein you "control" 3 characters in different events. Meaning, the film was based on 3 Persona having 3 Different Events - and that their life and actions has always been controlled by the judgement of people around them.
The old man - could be the devil. The title of the film was "Riaru Onigokko" - which also means "devil's tag".
The last part - the man on briefs and the male world. - Female's are pure, they are sensitive. The Male World where Mitsuko came in was the time where a female enters puberty or adulthood and meets people in the opposite gender. They like and fell, but in a wrong turn they can be treated like toys. The place was full of female statues or whatever are those shows that the Man was counting girls, using them and playing with them. The feathers symbolized Mitsuko's purity then it was stained with blood for she was about to lose here purity and she was about to be used. When she came in to here senses her final line was "Don't play with us like toys!"
The final line makes a clear message - Stop treating girls as toys.
In the end, Death became there escape and everything became surreal - having the quality of a dream.
