Clik here to view.
Yu Aoi (Towako) won Japan Academy Best Actress for BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO.
My Destiny,
Written by
Jude Bautista
Towako (Yu Aoi) was surprised when Mizushima (Tori Matsuzaka) showed up on her doorstep even though she scheduled the meeting. Mizushima’s tall, with chiseled good looks and a hip, mop top hair. His suit was a stark contrast to the humble and cramped apartment. From his case he pulls out a small table and lays out several watches on the display asking her to choose from them.
Her reaction surprised him, “None of these look like my watch. Why couldn’t you just find me one that looks like it. Is that too much to ask? Why don’t you just get rid of these and my broken one too.” He immediately apologizes. Then she starts to sob uncontrollably. Clearly there was something wrong far more than just her old watch. She didn’t realize how close he had gotten. He felt drawn to her vulnerability. He kissed her, then pulled back afraid she would get mad. Her hands pulled him closer as she kissed him deeply. Just then her phone beeps, a text from Jinji (Sadao Abe). They both sigh, he asks her to drop by the watch shop.
Clik here to view.
Yu Aoi (Towako) and Tori Matsuzaka (Mizushima); Catch BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO.
How would you know if someone really loves you? How and why do we choose the people we decide to love or even just have sex with? These are questions that most if not all of us grapple with. The everyday part, being with someone isn’t necessarily pretty it can even be disgusting. This movie includes all of that, doesn’t take anything away or sweeten it or hides the awful unlivable parts but rubs it in your face. In that sense it becomes the ANTI LOVE story.
Clik here to view.
Yu Aoi (Towako) won Japan Academy Best Actress for BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO.
Ambiguity of Real Life
BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES is a Japanese movie currently airing on RED by HBO. Based on a novel by Mahokaru Numata, directed by Kazuya Shiraishi and adapted by screenwriter Taeko Asano. Mahokaru Numata is identified with ‘iyamisu a subgenre of mystery fiction which deals with grisly episodes and the dark side of human nature’ from wikipedia. The novel was a solid bestseller in Japan. In my mind, BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES is not strictly a mystery or an anti-love story, it falls in between. That’s what makes it so realistic. It is able to portray accurately moral ambiguity, even ambiguity in relationships because that’s what often happens in real life. Not everything is clear cut especially when emotion is involved.
Clik here to view.
Yu Aoi (Towako) and Sadao Abe (Jinji); Catch BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO.
In the beginning we find Towako an attractive, fresh faced 30something living with Jinji, an unkempt, slob construction worker 15 years older. There’s a certain amount of ambiguity between their relationship, him wanting it to be romantic while she basically uses him for money. Towako pines for her former lover Kurosaki, younger far better looking but was both physically and verbally abusive to her. She seems to perpetuate that cycle by berating Jinji. Sometimes she also gets physically hurtful towards him as well. Things change when she meets charmer Mizushima and sees an opportunity to dump Jinji.
Clik here to view.
Yu Aoi (Towako) and Tori Matsuzaka (Mizushima); Catch BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO.
Award Winning
Not surprising, BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES earned a lot of honors, Yu Aoi won Best Actress from the Japan Academy, Hochi Film Award and Nikkan Sports Film Awards. Blue Ribbon Awards gave Kazuya Shiraishi-Best Director, while Sadao Abe won Best Actor.
Trailer
Ingenious Transition
The directing of Shiraishi and adaptation of Asano becomes critical as we only get snippets of Towako’s previous life. We see Towako struggling, emotionally distraught without knowing exactly why. Which is ironic considering she seemed to have so much fondness and love for Kurosaki. The story telling isn’t linear with a clear beginning, middle and end.
Clik here to view.
Yu Aoi (Towako) won Japan Academy Best Actress for BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO.
This is where the directing, visualization by Shiraishi becomes critical. Personally, I’m glad that I saw the movie instead of reading the novel, in this case. He was able to reveal or not reveal details in the best way possible creating that incredible crescendo in the end. That’s not an easy feat and credit also belongs to screenwriter Asano who was able to preserve the well written dialogue.
Shiraishi was also able to use editing to flit back and forth from Towako’s memories and current reality. For example, after years of not having any contact, out of the blue she decides to call Kurosaki from their crappy apartment. The small light on her face slowly changes. The color of the background shifts into bright daylight. When she lifts up her head she sees him in a tropical beach and she’s there with him. This was achieved all in one cut, one shot. Because it was executed so smoothly you wouldn’t even notice the transition. But you would feel it. You understand that the mere thought of him, takes her away to that fantasy of her past relationship.
Clik here to view.
Yu Aoi (Towako) and Yutaka Takenouchi (Kurosaki); Catch BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO.
Excruciating But Enlightening
To be honest, I almost didn’t even watch it on RED by HBO. Luckily, it was aired immediately before IP MAN with Donnie Yen. This is where cultural differences become apparent. In the Philippines BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES, based solely on the title, sounds like a gay comedy and its working title: The Birds She Never Knew. It’s also not exactly clear to me why that title was chosen, other than the climactic ending. But that’s still quite open to interpretation.
Clik here to view.
Yu Aoi (Towako) and Tori Matsuzaka (Mizushima); Catch BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO.
IP MAN was a thoroughly enjoyable action blockbuster that spawned 3 more sequels. BUT I was even more impressed with BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES. Some may say its not as entertaining, but for me it was able to challenge (my own) preconceived notions of love, relationships and personal sacrifice. For some it can be excruciating to watch. It’s the least entertaining film and that’s the point, its not supposed to be but what it does is enlighten you by challenging your beliefs of what love and romance really is.
Clik here to view.
Yu Aoi (Towako) and Sadao Abe (Jinji); Catch BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO.
Sacrificial Love
Author Mahokaru Numata was able to inhabit the mind of someone who experienced traumatic abuse. Then use that as context for her current and future relationships. From there we discover it’s not a guarantee that she learns from the life ‘lesson’. We also find out WHY she doesn’t learn from it. This is where the questions about human memory comes in. Sometimes we do unconsciously suppress those memories.
Numata is able to go into these subjects deeply. How and why do we determine the people we love romantically? Is it all just about physical attraction or the need for an easier life? Even human memory comes into question. How and why do we choose to remember events in our life, whether painful or happy?
Clik here to view.
Yu Aoi (Towako) and Yutaka Takenouchi (Kurosaki); Catch BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO. (10)
When was patience, kindness, self-sacrifice ever considered sexy or attractive? When will you ever hear that love is in the everyday experience of someone just being there? Cooking for you, waiting for you, when was that on the top of anyone’s list as being most attractive?
REAL love and sacrifice isn’t pretty, nor does it catch the eye and inspire passions. Sometimes we only realize that when it’s too late. Sometimes we never learn or experience that at all. This movie makes you go through the muck, the tragedies even the anger so maybe when you’re lucky enough to experience it, you’ll know enough to hold on.
Clik here to view.
Catch award winning BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO.
Clik here to view.
Yu Aoi (Towako) and Sadao Abe (Jinji); Catch BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO. (12)
WordPress:
http://judebsports.wordpress.com/ , http://judebfood.wordpress.com/ ,
http://judebphoto.wordpress.com/ , https://judebgallery.wordpress.com/
, http://judebautista.wordpress.com/
Clik here to view.
Yu Aoi (Towako) won Japan Academy Best Actress for BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO.
Clik here to view.
Shu Nakajima (Kunieda); Catch BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO. (14)
tumblr:
http://judebautista.tumblr.com/
Clik here to view.
Yu Aoi (Towako) and Sadao Abe (Jinji); Catch BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO.
Clik here to view.
Sadao Abe (Jinji); Catch BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO. (16)
flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14686025@N00/
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14686025@N00/
http://judebautista.tumblr.com/
Clik here to view.
Yu Aoi (Towako) and Tori Matsuzaka (Mizushima); Catch BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO.
Clik here to view.
Yu Aoi (Towako) and Tori Matsuzaka (Mizushima); Catch BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO. (19)
WordPress:
http://judebsports.wordpress.com/ , http://judebfood.wordpress.com/ ,
http://judebphoto.wordpress.com/ , https://judebgallery.wordpress.com/
, http://judebautista.wordpress.com/
Clik here to view.
Yu Aoi (Towako) and Yutaka Takenouchi (Kurosaki); Catch BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO.
Clik here to view.
Yu Aoi (Towako) and Yutaka Takenouchi (Kurosaki); Catch BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO. (21)
WordPress:
http://judebsports.wordpress.com/ , http://judebfood.wordpress.com/ ,
http://judebphoto.wordpress.com/ , https://judebgallery.wordpress.com/ ,
http://judebautista.wordpress.com/
Clik here to view.
Catch award winning BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO. (22)
tumblr:
http://judebautista.tumblr.com/
Clik here to view.
Yu Aoi (Towako) and Sadao Abe (Jinji); Catch BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO.
Clik here to view.
Sadao Abe (Jinji); Catch BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO. (24)
flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14686025@N00/
Clik here to view.
Yu Aoi (Towako) and Tori Matsuzaka (Mizushima); Catch BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO.
Clik here to view.
Yu Aoi (Towako) and Tori Matsuzaka (Mizushima); Catch BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO.(26)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14686025@N00/
http://judebautista.tumblr.com/
Clik here to view.
Yu Aoi (Towako) and Sadao Abe (Jinji); Catch BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO.
Clik here to view.
Yu Aoi (Towako) and Sadao Abe (Jinji); Catch BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO.
Clik here to view.
Yu Aoi (Towako) and Sadao Abe (Jinji); Catch BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO. (29)
WordPress:
http://judebsports.wordpress.com/ , http://judebfood.wordpress.com/ ,
http://judebphoto.wordpress.com/ , https://judebgallery.wordpress.com/
, http://judebautista.wordpress.com/
Clik here to view.
Yu Aoi (Towako) won Japan Academy Best Actress for BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO.
Clik here to view.
Yu Aoi (Towako) and Tori Matsuzaka (Mizushima); Catch BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO.
Clik here to view.
Yu Aoi (Towako) and Tori Matsuzaka (Mizushima); Catch BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO. (32)
WordPress:
http://judebsports.wordpress.com/ , http://judebfood.wordpress.com/ ,
http://judebphoto.wordpress.com/ , https://judebgallery.wordpress.com/
, http://judebautista.wordpress.com/
Clik here to view.
Yu Aoi (Towako) and Yutaka Takenouchi (Kurosaki); Catch BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO.
Clik here to view.
Yu Aoi (Towako) and Yutaka Takenouchi (Kurosaki); Catch BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14686025@N00/
http://judebautista.tumblr.com/
Clik here to view.
Catch award winning BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES on RED by HBO.
WordPress:
http://judebsports.wordpress.com/ , http://judebfood.wordpress.com/ ,
http://judebphoto.wordpress.com/ , https://judebgallery.wordpress.com/