By Mark Fields
Anime Saga of Revenge-Seeking Daughter Beautiful But Erratic, Unsatisfying
I must open this review with a personal disclaimer: I’m not sure that I truly understand anime, and in fact, some of its conventions (dialogue that always sounds shouted, wildly exaggerated facial expressions, and often inexplicable story elements) leave me cold. Nevertheless, Scarlet, a new anime adventure film by director/screenwriter Mamoru Hosoda, has several things going for it. An unexpected female heroine, a time-twisting plot, and echoes of Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
Set in medieval Denmark, a post-death landscape called the Otherworld, and also modern Japan, Scarlet tells the story of a sword-wielding princess who seeks revenge on her cruel and despotic uncle after the murder of her father. After her uncle kills her as well, Scarlet must continue her quest in the afterlife of the Otherworld. There she meets Hijiri, a paramedic from the modern world who helps Scarlet to understand that she has the power to end an endless cycle of violence and create a new world of cooperation and peace.
The screenplay’s approach to the subject matter is a large part of the problem with Scarlet. The dialogue is annoyingly metaphysical, especially when contrasted to the frequent scenes of bloody fighting. Often, the action of the plot grinds to a halt while some character ponders the infinite. Perhaps, this too is a characteristic of the anime form, but I found it distracting.
On the other hand, the photography and animated imagery of Scarlet is often stunning. The barren strangeness of the Otherworld is beautifully captured, though some narrative moments defy understanding. I also appreciated the many references to Hamlet in the character names and relationships, as well as the revenge element of the plot. I don’t know that I would call it an homage as much as an inspiration.
Hosoda keeps the action moving, mostly, so for those of us that are not anime devotees, the experience was still enjoyable. I expect that fans of the form will find more to appreciate than did I.
Official Trailer
