水
29
12月
2010
“Villain” by Shuichi Yoshida
This is a writing by co-reviewer, Mei Kanata：Having reviewed my reading record in 2010, the most recommended one was ”Akunin”, titled “Villain” for English edition, by Shuichi Yoshida . This noble caught attentions this year because its movie version became a hit with the news that its female lead, Eri Fukatsu, won the best actress award at the Montreal World Film Festival.
Villain
At one night in the winter, Yuichi, a young male constructor, was waiting Yoshino, in his car. Yoshino was a young female insurance agent whom he had gotten to date through an online dating website. However, at the meeting place, he realized that she stood him up and got on the car of Masuo, a guy whom Yoshino warmed up to. Yuichi was so upset as to chase the car and finally found that Yoshino had been kicked off from the car by fickle Masuo on a mountain pass in the dark. She took it out on Yuichi and they got into a fuss. Upset Yuichi strangled her to death. Then, Yuichi returned to his daily life and started to meet Mitsuyo, whom he also had known through an online dating website. Having opened up each other, Yuichi confessed his murder to Mitsuyo. Then, they started to run away to nowhere by the time when the police would reach them.
I was drawn to this noble because it is more than a murder mystery noble. It is obvious that Yuichi is the criminal. However, the noble posts a question.
Eri Fukatsu (Left) from the Movie "Villain"
Who is the real villain?
Everyone has a desire to realize that he or she is a valuable person needed by somebody. To relish such a feeling, people could be selfish and evil sometimes. The noble shed light on such wickedness that everyone could have in his or her mind. Yoshino felt herself as a valuable person when she was busy for screening men who contacted her through an online dating website and gave short shifts to them including Yuichi. Mitsuyo felt that she was a person necessary for somebody when she bound down her boyfriends. The noble also describes other characters including Masuo, Yoshino’s colleagues and Yuichi’s mother with great subtlety and silhouette such deep psyche in their mind.
Readers could project themselves onto these various characters to a greater or lesser extent. Then, they also might find their own wickedness hidden inside their mind. That is why “Villain” fascinates us.
コメント: 5
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#1
Kanata-san, I am a big fan of "Villian" as well, though the book forces you to confront the villian inside each one of us and question its capabilities to commit the unspeakable. I've always admired Shuichi Yoshida for his 'verbal paintbrush'---he is meticulous when it comes to scene-setting, describing everything from the signs in hotel hospital hallways to the pieces of garbage washed up on the wharf--a genuine Pissarro-esque wordsmith. "Villian" is so striking because the contrast between what could only be described as the 'true villians'(those who put on an act of decency and goodness while dark thoughts obsessively inhabit their hearts and minds) and the pure-hearted protagonist (who is now a murderer) is jarring and bizarre. This book/movie will make you think, what is good, and what is evil? Those out there who enjoyed 'Wicked' the musical (and book) are sure to enjoy 'Villian.' I for one cannot wait until it hits US independent theaters.
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#2
Chizuru-san, Thank you for your comment. I believe Kanata-san will put her response to your comment about "Villian" sooner or later; thus I would like to write about "Wicked"! I also love it! Three month ago, I wrote it to other blog:
http://tanoshiku-eigo.jimdo.com/2010/10/16/%E3%83%9F%E3%83%A5%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B8%E3%82%AB%E3%83%AB%E3%81%AF%E3%81%8A%E5%A5%BD%E3%81%8D%E3%81%A7%E3%81%99%E3%81%8B/
My best song is "For Good". What song would you love? -
#3
Fabulous! I will check out your review for Tanoshiku-Eigo, Shimizu-san. Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth both really shined in "Wicked" I started watching "Glee"(Menzel had a recurring role) and bought the DVD for "Pushing Daisies" (Chenoweth's quirky song and dance routines are always a pleasure to watch again and again) after being mesmerized by "Wicked"---my favorite song is the soaring "Defying Gravity" that features both Menzel and Chenoweth.
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#4
Takamine-san and Shimizu-san, thank you so much for your comments. It was my great pleasure to have them!!
As Takamine-san pointed out, I am also impressed by Shuichi Yoshida's 'verbal paintbrush', which makes his nobles realistic. He also wrote script for the movie version. But I am more drawn to the noble because of his excellent and beautiful 'verbal paintbrush'!
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#5
Chizuru-san and Mei-san, thank you very much for your comments. I reprinted them on my blog. In addition of that, I also love "Defying Gravity"! "Wicked" is great!
Tanoshiku Eigo
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