Reference
I enjoyed Dr. Takahashi’s lecture on the discriminations that Japanese people usually hold towards others during last Monday’s seminar, especially to the Zainichi Koreans. Although we almost have never heard or watched the news about the tensions between Japanese and Korean (or Chinese) here in the USA, I was in China last June when the Japanese right-wingers protested against Zainichi Koreans through TV news reports. Dr. Takahashi did a wonderful job in explaining who these Zainichi Koreans are, why they didn’t go back to Korea, and why Zainichi Koreans are discriminated. Ironically, many Zainichi Koreans are celebrities in Japanese show business and sports. I picked the DVD Linda Linda Linda directed by Nobuhiro Yamashita because there is a Korean exchange student in it. I was very curious to see if the social discrimination on the Zainichi Korean is addressed or how this is played out throughout the movie.Linda Linda Linda
It took me a while to figure out what was going on among those four high school female teenagers - Son (the Korean exchange student who is insufficient in speaking Japanese) was introduced to the band by Kei (the prettiest, the band leader), Kyoko (the bass player) and Nozomi (the drummer). They practiced day-and-night for the school festival that was just a few days away. The movie is not fast paced, it contains many silent moments. Although it is about the teenagers, the story is rather plain and simple, less energetic or excited. Son, the Korean exchange student is a bight character that reminds me the movie is not going to kill me by its dullness. Her language barriers and straightforward personality have created several fun scenes to watch - for example, the conversation with Kei at the bus stop; commenting on Kei’s ex-boyfriend; saying that she saw everyone’s underpants from below while climbing up to the roof. It was very awkward but also cute to see Son met with her admirer in the school facility room. The boy was trying hard to speak Korean language, while Son was responding in Japanese. (I agree that it would be helpful if the subtitle to show which language they are using, sometimes, it can be very confusing) With several eyes peeking through the windows, Son and that boy stood stiffly within a distance. To the audience, it is not romantic at all, but I must say, this actually realistically depicted the life. I think many people might have the similar experience in expressing their affections to others. Will you find it easier to say “I love you” in your native language or in a foreign language?
Depends on what you teach and whom you plan to show the movie to, I would recommend the following “homework” for your students.
Pre-Film:
1.Research what the “school festival” called in Japanese language; when it takes place, how long it lasts, is it a student-led activity or not, and what do Japanese high school students do during the festival.
2.Research Zainichi Korean’s social status in Japan
During the film watching -
1.How well do you understand the Japanese language? Have you picked up any words/expressions throughout the show?
2.How many English words have you picked from the movie?
3.Observe the Japanese school settings, make comparisons between Japanese schools and American schools.
4.Observe the relations between teachers and students; boys and girls, band members, etc.
5.In the scene that the little girl was reading a manga book, what kind of impression do you have from their conversation?
6.How Japanese students are different from American students? Are they more polite? Less energetic, less emotional? Any similarities?
7.What kind of the body languages that you define them as typical Japanese?
8.How the people in the movie treated Son, the Korean exchange student?
Post-Film -
1.Share the words/expressions that you learned from the film
2.Do you have any questions that you are still puzzled with?
3.What’s your views on the dress code - school uniforms?
4.How would you say “I love you” to someone you adore?
5.Survey - would you recommend this movie to others? If so, whom?
