Casey

Skeide Asian 144 Exercise #1 1/9/2012 The House of Himiko () Directed by: Isshin Inudo Release Date: August 27th, 2005 Scene Start: 1:54:48 Scene End: 1:55:59 Film Synopsis The house of Himiko is about the relationship between a retired Ginza Gay/Drag Queen club owner, Himiko, and his daughter, Saori, as he slowly dies of cancer. When Saori is introduced she is struggling keeping a float in society as a freeter. when Haruhiko comes to her work one day with a job proposal to work for Himikos retirement house of gay men, she reluctantly decides to go work for them. Though majority of the movie is about the complex triangle between the three main characters, it also addresses issues faced by gay men, particular those of the relatively unknown first gay boom during the 1960s in Ginza, Tokyo.

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Shot Description Analysis Editing: Cut straight from The solemnness of the previous previous scene to close-up on scene is passed on to this scene fire with the opening focusing on the stillness of the night and the Mise-en-scene: Crackling of fire, crackling of the traditional rush of slight breeze, Organ Obon pyre. music starts Editing: Pans from fire to pool with Obon lanterns floating, to balcony

 Casey Skeide Asian 144 Exercise #1 1/9/2012 Mise-en-scene/Sound: Music The meaning of the words of continues, singing begins of Als the song coincides with the die alte Mutter in Japanese. traditional meaning of Obon and the remembrance of Editing: A series of quick, Himikos legacy and memories perspective shots of balcony and made with the household. the household singing Haruhiko does not sing, a sense of regret and anguish on his Cinematography: Crane and face as he conducts the song. Wide shot of balcony on the line of music In the days long vanished Sound: Music and singing Revealing the song, Als die alte continues Mutter, a German lieder by Czech composer Anton Dvorak, Cinematography: Quick shot conveys the sense of trans- and Focus on sheet music that traditionalism. Meaning that Als reveals the title of the song die alte Mutter, a traditional being sung as Als die alte European song, often sung at Mutter funeral services, the icons of the traditional Obon festival, are not only traditional items that have to be celebrated or used during their intended time of celebration, but can be used in similar events or instances.

 Casey Skeide Asian 144 Exercise #1 1/9/2012 Sound: Music and singing continues, Haruhiko starts to sing Cinematography: deep focus on fire and Himikos open doorway with lantern in it, with Obon lanterns in the foreground of the pool. Haruhikos face faded as he continues conducting Haruhikos face in the foreground, blurred, with the Obon lanterns, pyre, seireiuma, and living room in the background creates a sense of transience that traditional Buddhism convents, especially Obon

Sound: Singing and music continues Cinematography: Focus on the Seireiuma (Spirit guides artifacts) on the ground and pan up the steps

The object Buddhist objects, seireiuma, are meant to help guide the deceased ancestors and other spirits to the spirit world so that they do not stay on earth to suffer. They may have been set out for not only Haruhiko who is about to die, but Ruby as well. Even though Ruby is not dead, his spirit in a sense has left him after his stroke.

 Casey Skeide Asian 144 Exercise #1 1/9/2012 Cinematography: Pan stops and focuses; Sound: Music continues, shot flashes to another scene Obon no butsudan or Buddhist alter is laid out with food for the spirits of those who have passed away. There is a conflict in this last shot with the scene outside on the balcony with Kaori missing from the household and Himiko in his room. This stresses the struggle in understanding between Kaori, HImiko, and Haruhiko.