MomoのKokoro

Today, Senpai and I finally went to watch this movie, Wednesday being Movie Day and all, which means a ticket price of 1000yen (as opposed to 1800yen usually).

The movie was brilliant. One of those movies where you come out of the cinema, shell-shocked at the message that you have just received, while marvelling at the vision of the producer.
The movie has a haunting soundtrack. Superb acting from Ralph Fiennes as the flustered, gentle diplomat who becomes influenced by his wife's passion for justice.. very nuanced acting. Rachel Weisz is absolutely radiant (despite being heavily pregnant) and captivating as a human rights' activist. This is the kind of movie that makes you think a lot, even long after the credits roll.

(Spoilers)

One thing that really bothered me was Justin Quayle's death at the end. Was it a necessary death, considering that he needn't have chosen to wait for his killers to find him? He could have returned to London and had the incriminating letter sent straight to the press. I guess he was perhaps tired of a life without his wife, and of the corruption that was so entrenched in his workplace. The scene of Justin sitting on the rocks by the edge of the salt lake, calmly waiting for his death, is deeply disturbing.

On a lighter note. We headed into Pontocho for a light dinner, and I got the chance to enter 梅花, a cozy dining bar which seats only about 12 people. It's one of Senpai's regular Pontocho places, and I was glad to go because only regulars are welcome at such tiny places.

It was decorated with fans bearing the names of the various geiko and maiko that work in Pontocho and Gion, and we had some really oishii grilled fish, braised nasu and some cold, tart seaweed dish. The proprietor and his wife chatted with Senpai like they were old friends (turns out she has been frequenting the place for eight (!) years). Apparently the really super-exclusive places start at 30,000yen a person, excluding drinks, and excluding the mandatory cost of engaging the services of a pair of geisha to entertain the guests. Ah well, expense accounts..

Posted in: Kyoto on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 at