Tuesday, April 9, 2013
The Post-War World
Two films we have screened, Bicycle Thieves and Tokyo Story, are set in the years immediately after World War II, in countries defeated by the United States and its allies. What can we learn about the nature of the war from its aftermath? What do these films tell us about the costs of the war? Do we have any clues about the ascent of America and its culture in the post-war world?
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This is an interesting question to think about. At a somewhat subtle level, I would say that both of these films show the impact of World War II and, less directly, the ascent of American culture across the globe.
ReplyDeleteFirst let’s look at Bicycle Thieves. This film was released within half a decade of the war’s end in Italy, one of the nations that was hit the hardest by the conflict. As the Allies fought to reclaim the country from Nazi rule and the Axis powers struggled to hold onto it, the country was devastated economically and especially in regard to infrastructure. It took a long time for Italy to become prosperous again, and the mass poverty and struggling of its citizens is a major theme of the film, if not perhaps the predominant one. The movie’s opening moments show a crowd of men fighting to gain just one low-paying job, and then it quickly switches to the massive line of customers hoping to earn money from their belongings at a pawn shop. These two scenes, each occurring within the first five minutes of the picture, quickly set the tone of fighting to survive, as Maria thoughtlessly turns in the family’s bed-sheets to earn enough money to pay for Antonio’s bicycle and job. Post-war Italy was also a nation struggling philosophically, unsure what to ideals hang onto after its re-connection with the world of the West. Democracy or Communism? State-supported religion or secularism? These sorts of questions were an issue at the time and cleverly are worked by De Sica into the film. For example, the capitalistic side of the political debate is personified by the police officers by whom Antonio is rudely brushed aside. They clearly care nothing for him and thus cannot help him, exemplifying democracy’s failure. However, when Antonio visits his friends at a Communist gathering, he is very sympathetic but ultimately unable to help him find his bicycle; communists are well intentioned but inefficient, it seems. The church is another organization people turn to, though it is also shown to be flawed. Most importantly, Antonio’s immense effort to regain a simple bicycle also demonstrates the tough economic circumstances facing Italy after the war: any and every job counts and must be clung to as much as possible.
Evidence of living in a post-war world is also somewhat visible in Tokyo Story. While this film was made several years later, diminishing the impact accordingly, such a massive conflict definitely had an impact on the country and is thus visible in various ways throughout the film. The most tangible impact of the war is the fact that one of Shukichi and Tomi’s sons died in it, leaving behind a young widow Noriko. Their relationship with her is one of the cornerstones of the film, and the tension between their constant urgings that she remarry and her reticence to do so (never fully explained), is an important dynamic. While their son could have died in any way to make this plotline work, his death as a military hero adds to her situation, as she looks back longingly on the noble man he was. In this film all about families, one large factor is what can destroy them forever, including Noriko’s wedded bliss. Another effect of the war is the rapid modernization of Tokyo. As Japan entered the world stage, it became highly industrialized and it built massive metropolises accordingly. While it is never said how long ago Shukichi and Tomi last visited the city, it clearly has been a while, because they repeatedly discuss their amazement at the rapid growth of the city. “If we separate, we’ll never find each other,” they comment at one point. While perhaps not a direct result of World War II, the rise of modernism in Japan is certainly fundamentally connected to its rise as an international player, and this societal shift sets up a number of the family conflicts that emerge during the couple’s trip.
DeleteAs for the influence of American, both films feature it somewhat quietly. In Tokyo Story, the change is less hidden: the growing city feels very American in its model, Koichi’s son’s baseball regalia hints at the game’s transition across the sea to Japan, and the careful placement of a Bridgestone tire in one take. Shige’s hairdressing salon (the name of which translates to the very Western, “ooh lah lah”) also feels incredibly American and certainly unlike anything in traditional Japan. The country is Westernizing and feeling the influence of superpower American, this is impossible to deny or fully avoid. Bicycle Thieves also carefully drops hints about America’s rise. When Antonio is set to paste posters, they are not of any Italian movie star, but rather American Rita Hayworth. The city buzzes with modern cars and an increasingly modern landscape as well. Slowly but steadily, America is coming and cannot be stopped. Arguably the best evidence of the rise of the west is the fact that these two films’ directors are considered among the top director from their nation ever. De Sica was known as a founder of “Italian Neo-Realism”, while Ozu is known to some as the “most Japanese director”. Thus, since they both include American culture and references into their pictures, it is clearly unavoidable.
World War Two was the greatest war in human history; its consequences were devastating and far reaching. The nations that lost, like Japan and Italy, would have a long road ahead; Tokyo Story and Bicycle Thieves show opposite post war stories for their respective countries. In Tokyo story, the city is vibrant and fast paced and has recovered well from the devastation of the war. Everything is very peaceful and prosperous, were it not told that Noriko’s husband, the couple’s son, had died in the war, one might never know there had been a great war less than ten years ago. Japan is more western than ever. This increased influence, as well as the generational gap, is illustrated by the parents wearing more traditional clothes and living in a small town, while the children live in the big city and wear western clothes. Overall, Japan seems to have relatively gotten over the war and is today the technology capital of the world! Italy meanwhile, is a different story; there is widespread poverty and unemployment. The police seem corrupt and ineffectual, and even the church offers only limited support. Currency is also very inflated, to by back his pawned bicycle costs Antonio six thousand lira! In order to do this he pawns off the very sheets from his bed; they are stored in a large warehouse with other similar items, suggesting that many Italians are in the same position. The actor to play Antonio was deliberately picked off the streets and worked in a factory; ironically, he actually lost his job shortly after making the film and was forced into becoming a full time actor. Italy, unlike Japan, has not recovered well and is in much the same position it was before the war. It is interesting to note that whatever the situation, people will want to be entertained at the movies; even in dire straits, there are still movies being made and life goes on.
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ReplyDeleteMany post World War II countries struggled immensely from poverty and crime that destroyed many cities and communities during the years following the war. The aftermath of war on a country has many devastating effects that can last for many years after. In Bicycle Thieves and Tokyo Story we see this effect shown clearly through the characters actions and everyday lives. The cost of war is infinitely more than just putting a country in debt from materialistic items, but by causing mass destruction to its citizens lives through an economic and social crisis. As seen in Bicycle Thieves, the post World War II Italy struggles with mass poverty, which is ultimately captured through many crimes, especially Antonio’s stolen bike. The cost of his bike does not mean much at first until it is explained why it is so symbolic to him. Without his bike, he has no means of transportation to complete his job and therefore support his family. His search ends in vain as he looses his morals and ultimately never finds his bike. The symbolic loss signifies the loss of hope in many countries after war and the desperate realization that many people are willing to forego moral values to survive and get ahead in a time of struggle. We see basically the same transitions in Tokyo Story as money is mentioned with caution, and little details make one realize that even though life may seem fine, there is always a bit of a struggle. With Tokyo Story, we see more of an American influence than we did in Bicycle Thieves. The American culture take over is slowly making the “Old Tokyo” a thing of the past. We see baseball jerseys in frames on the walls, and many other references to materialistic possessions or desires are mentioned, such as attending a baseball game over staying with a family member after a death. These subtle details can almost go unnoticed, but are still there as a reminder that the American culture is still evident throughout the film.