Eiga Sai's 'The Bandage Club': a film review
by Samantha Anne L. Portillo
Posted at 08/20/2010 9:57 AM | Updated as of 08/20/2010 9:59 AM
MANILA, Philippines - The statement “Misery loves company” does not necessarily mean wallowing in endless sorrow with other people while waiting for the world to end.
At least, that is what the film The Bandage Club (2007; directed by Yukihiro Tsutsumi) strives to impart to its audience. Part of this year’s Eiga Sai Japanese Film Festival, the film follows the lives of a group of teenagers who call themselves The Bandage Club.
They run a website that receives requests from different people who want their emotional wounds healed They then wrap bandages around the particular location where these people got hurt, and upload a picture of it on their website.
The philosophy behind The Bandage Club’s advocacy is understanding other people’s pain and healing it even in their own little way. As the recurring line in the film goes, “If tying a bandage can change the world, that’s awesome!”
Delving deeper into the film, it explores the idea that everybody hurts; that we each have burdens to carry. The personal pains of the characters move them to seek bandage together, thus conceiving The Bandage Club.
Wara, a disillusioned high school student, accidentally cuts herself while preparing food. At the hospital rooftop, she crosses paths with a patient named Dino, who asks her if she plans to jump off. Wara’s bandage slips off and Dino ties it around the railings and tells Wara that in doing so, he has treated her heartache.
Wara does the same thing to her friend Tanshio, who is crying over a break-up while hanging out with Wara in the park swings. Wara ties a bandage around the swing, alleviating Tanshio’s heartache. As Tanshio uploads the picture of the bandaged swing online, a lot of people get touched by the gesture.
Gimo is one of these people, and he meets up with Tanshio. Tanshio and Gimo suggest putting up a website with the same concept to Wara. Wara seeks out Dino to ask for permission since the whole thing was his idea. Dino agrees, and The Bandage Club is formed.
Later on, Wara and Tanshio try to convince their former middle school friends, Tempo and Riski, to join the club. Tempo refuses, while Riski gives in after much persuasion. The Bandage Club enjoys moderate success, until someone tips them off to the cops for trespassing. What will become of The Bandage Club? It is best to watch the film to find out.
What else makes this film worth watching aside from its exploration of teen angst, friendship and human emotion? While the film is melodramatic and tear-jerking for the most part, the film’s treatment makes room for comedic moments. Dino’s self-destructive attempts and Wara’s deadpan humor is something to watch out for.
Also, the cinematography is impressive, given the presence of stills in between shots and aerial shots toward the end. The musical scoring coheres very well with the other elements of the film, as the recurring humming voice of a woman makes the audience feel every drop of pain and despair that the characters in the film experience.
A huge bonus is the film’s all-star cast. Japanese TV star Satomi Ishihara and Cannes Film Festival 2004 Best Actor Yuya Yagira topbill the movie as Wara and Dino, respectively.
In a nutshell, the film is very emotional, but not the kind that would leave the audience heavy-hearted after. It is very relatable, not only to teens but to every age group. It is not surprising that it enjoys rounds of applauses from the audience at the end of every screening. Simply put, it is a movie that moves.
*cross- published in http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/08/20/10/eiga-sais-bandage-club-film-review
At least, that is what the film The Bandage Club (2007; directed by Yukihiro Tsutsumi) strives to impart to its audience. Part of this year’s Eiga Sai Japanese Film Festival, the film follows the lives of a group of teenagers who call themselves The Bandage Club.
They run a website that receives requests from different people who want their emotional wounds healed They then wrap bandages around the particular location where these people got hurt, and upload a picture of it on their website.
The philosophy behind The Bandage Club’s advocacy is understanding other people’s pain and healing it even in their own little way. As the recurring line in the film goes, “If tying a bandage can change the world, that’s awesome!”
Delving deeper into the film, it explores the idea that everybody hurts; that we each have burdens to carry. The personal pains of the characters move them to seek bandage together, thus conceiving The Bandage Club.
Wara, a disillusioned high school student, accidentally cuts herself while preparing food. At the hospital rooftop, she crosses paths with a patient named Dino, who asks her if she plans to jump off. Wara’s bandage slips off and Dino ties it around the railings and tells Wara that in doing so, he has treated her heartache.
Wara does the same thing to her friend Tanshio, who is crying over a break-up while hanging out with Wara in the park swings. Wara ties a bandage around the swing, alleviating Tanshio’s heartache. As Tanshio uploads the picture of the bandaged swing online, a lot of people get touched by the gesture.
Gimo is one of these people, and he meets up with Tanshio. Tanshio and Gimo suggest putting up a website with the same concept to Wara. Wara seeks out Dino to ask for permission since the whole thing was his idea. Dino agrees, and The Bandage Club is formed.
Later on, Wara and Tanshio try to convince their former middle school friends, Tempo and Riski, to join the club. Tempo refuses, while Riski gives in after much persuasion. The Bandage Club enjoys moderate success, until someone tips them off to the cops for trespassing. What will become of The Bandage Club? It is best to watch the film to find out.
What else makes this film worth watching aside from its exploration of teen angst, friendship and human emotion? While the film is melodramatic and tear-jerking for the most part, the film’s treatment makes room for comedic moments. Dino’s self-destructive attempts and Wara’s deadpan humor is something to watch out for.
Also, the cinematography is impressive, given the presence of stills in between shots and aerial shots toward the end. The musical scoring coheres very well with the other elements of the film, as the recurring humming voice of a woman makes the audience feel every drop of pain and despair that the characters in the film experience.
A huge bonus is the film’s all-star cast. Japanese TV star Satomi Ishihara and Cannes Film Festival 2004 Best Actor Yuya Yagira topbill the movie as Wara and Dino, respectively.
In a nutshell, the film is very emotional, but not the kind that would leave the audience heavy-hearted after. It is very relatable, not only to teens but to every age group. It is not surprising that it enjoys rounds of applauses from the audience at the end of every screening. Simply put, it is a movie that moves.
*cross- published in http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/08/20/10/eiga-sais-bandage-club-film-review
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