Blessing Bell

How would you react to a film in which the last scene becomes its first scene ? Impossible,no no no,how can that be true ......These will surely be some of the most common refrains to be heard if a question like this is asked.However there is a surprise in store here.Blessing Bell directed by Sabu aka Hiroyuki Tanaka,one of the most talented Japanese actor cum filmmaker has made that impossible possible by using some of the most innovative yet down to earth techniques like no sound,black humor and minimalist film-making. He is ably supported in this endeavor by Susumu Terajima who has appeared in a couple of films made by great modern day master of Japanese cinema Takeshi Kitano.A lesson about life is to be learned as Blessing Bell has a good collection of scenes of daily lives which enable us to lead a life full of spiritual richness.Your VCR is at no fault if you find the repetitive nature of some scenes. They are very well the integral part of this film.

I think it's a shame how underrated this movie is. Its slow pace, little conversation, even less action and not specific topic doesn't make it easy to understand and "digest", especially not for people who are not used to art movies, but nobody should call this a bad or boring movie just because he didn't understand it.

SABU, director of masterpieces like Drive, Postman blues, Monday or Unlucky Monkey, didn't use so much of his famous dark, absurd and grotesque humor and of very sad and dramatic scenes either (which are typical for his other movies). This movie is very balanced, very harmonic, very peaceful. Susumu Terajima, who has small roles in other Sabu movies, is the main character here. I love him and his style and his very minimal but professional and essential acting makes the movie even better.

The story is about a man who goes to work, finds that the factory is closed down, therefore goes and wanders around for a day and a night, then goes back home. Some interesting things happen to him during this, but not very much compared to the time he spends sitting or walking or just standing and staring.

So what's this all about? No action, very little humor, very little drama, but why did someone make a movie like this? The answer is that it's REALLY very important that the movie is slow paced and only a few things happen. The main character says nothing during the 95% of the movie! He just observes, and then, if necessary, acts. He doesn't judge, doesn't interfere. He gains some money from someone who doesn't need it then he loses it. So what. He have had it and now he doesn't have it, and that's all. Accepting everything. That's the zen philosophy. Looking at the world as it is, looking at the pure form, at the real meaning of things. There is some scenes connected with sins and jealousy and money and sickness and death and love, but it's kept very simple. It's all about life but it's not direct at all, the thinking part is up to you, the viewer, nothing is explained, and that's why it works so wonderful and also why so many people don't understand it.

Very much worth seeing if you're into art movies or if you're keen on Sabu and if you're interested in Zen.