All films have the potential to provoke thoughtful discourse, even if they're awful. Awful films beg questions about the spirit of the times, about the social climate in which they were developed. The point is that too often in my generation, as soon as the credits roll, there is no discussion. The experience is locked away as a temporal event, not considered or reflected upon, forgotten. Some of this has to do with the "haunting" possibility of a spoiler. We need to protect those who haven't seen a particular film from ever knowing a single detail about the film as if a single conflict, a general brush stroke carries the essence, the entire importance of the film. I would first like to highlight how ridiculous this is. Sure, awful films where hardly anything happens, with mundane characters and a big obvious twist may be hurt by knowing that twist in advance. But with good films, I'll have to mention a suitable cliche, "The destination isn't as important as the journey." I don't care what the major conflict of the film is. I care about how each character creates or encounters that conflict and how they attempt to resolve it. Given that, I don't give a damn if someone spoils the ending of a film to me, if I know it's going to be good, I'll still spend the time to drink up every detail, every nuance that leads up to that ending.
The other reason for silence is the idea that movies are purely entertainment, a temporary escape from the norm. When the credits roll the norm returns and there is nothing to be said. As much as I sympathize with people too busy to reflect, I could never empathize with them because it's the reflection that nurtures growth. Watching films without a follow-up discussion is missing an opportunity to learn, to mature, to be a better person. A lack of reflection is the simple acceptance of stagnation as an individual which is and has always been a widely ignored epidemic of the human race. There's nothing more dangerous than a person unwilling to accept new ideas.
Now why all this discussion leading up to a few words on Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter? I say the above because this is a film that would be very easy to dismiss without a word of reflection because the premise is absolutely ridiculous. A premise this ridiculous is sure to make a good number of people question the importance of the film. It may have even caused a whole lot of people to walk right out of the theater well before the credits. But, as I said above, people focused on the major conflict of a film have missed the journey, and that is precisely what this film is about. Kumiko expresses very charmingly that no matter what your goal is, it's incredibly important to seek that goal passionately and not let anyone slow you down or prevent you from attaining it. Kumiko understands very well how short life is, how tedious the people currently surrounding her are, and how the treasure she seeks will bring her a better life. This is a film that will easily win you over if you're open enough to let it. Of course if you're closed to the new and strange, if you'd rather stagnate in self-importance with pride in an unchanging identity, steer clear of this film, also steer clear of me.
5/5
