In my previous post I already made mention of The Pavillion “Salamandre” as another surrealistic masterpiece besides Dai-Nipponjin. Strangely, this film has caused only a few ripples in the pond of independent Japanese film, despite the presence of heart-throbs as Odagiri Joe and Kashii Yu. Perhaps that is because the story develops rather slowly and only gradually reveals its madness. The way director Tominaga cuts his scenes also works a bit distancing. But the four Ninomiya sisters are certainly good-looking, the mystery is deep and there is interesting symbolism hidden in the 150 year old salamander Kinjiro, a national treasure, kept alive with huge subsidies from the Japanese government. Guess what it might be?
What is it about
The story centers on a 150 year old, giant salamander that was exhibited in 1867 at the Paris Expo on the order of the Last Shogun. It is now regarded as a national treasure and cared for by the “Salamander Kinjiro Foundation,” supported by huge subsidies from the government.
The foundation consists of the four beautiful Ninomiya sisters, who have no problem spending the subsidy money on clothes, accessories and a lavish lifestyle for themselves: Akino (Aso Yumi), Mihari (Kiki), Hibiko (Kitaki Mayu) and Azuki (Kashii Yu). There also used to be a father, Shiro (Takada Junji) in the foundation, but as a latter-day King Lear he has been kicked out and now only is on friendly terms with the youngest daughter, Azuki.
Rumors are spreading that the salamander is a fake and as the real one broke a bone at the Paris Expo, Daini Nokyo Chairman / gang boss Kagawa Morihiro (Mitsuishi Ken) approaches ambulant X-ray technician Tobishima Hoichi (Odagiri Joe) to put the salamander to the test under his machine.
Reason for this request (supported by a hefty some of money) is that the gang boss wants to marry the eldest sister, Akino. As recompense, she wants him to buy out the foundation and pay off her father’s debts. The two middle sisters Mihari and Hibiko object, however, as they do not want to give up their comfortable, subsidized lifestyle. So it would be convenient if the salamander can be proven to be a fake…
Meanwhile, father Shiro has suggested youngest daughter Azuki to secretly remove the salamander to a safe place “as bad guys are searching for it.” As a reward, he promises to bring her in contact with her mother, who eloped when she was still small.
On the night of its 150th birthday party, held at the Ninomiya’s Meiji-period residence, the salamander mysteriously disappears… and fate brings Azuki and Hoichi together… but that is only the beginning of a long story, for we still get the puzzling death of an actress and a visit to a Sicilian village in Shizuoka! The salamander Kinjiro undergoes it all stoically…
What did I like about it
- The mysterious nose of Kashii Yu
The four Ninomiya sisters are presented in glamourous shots, and although the vampish Mihari steals the show with her superior fashion, it is Kazuki aka Kashii Yu who is the most attractive thanks to her strikingly intense face - you may remember her at a younger age from Linda, Linda, Linda.
Azuki is like the salamander in that she speaks only little - a center of calm in the eye of the storm. Her nose has a mysterious aspect, as well… Odagiri Joe must have thought the same, for he has in the meantime proposed marriage to her.
- The manic quirkiness
When Japanese fantasy flows freely, there are really no boundaries to it - very different from the formulaic hackwork coming out of Hollywood. The Pavillion “Salamandre” is a feverish dream, a mindboggling paranoia, and that for the first feature-length film of its director - indie genius Tominaga so far had only made DV shorts.
- The philosophical salamander
The salamander does nothing, except emitting bubbles from his watertank and making Kazuki’s hands slimy. In the apt words of Mark Schilling: “[It] may have the personality of a blob, but has been paddling gaily about in the muck for a century and a half. It’s metamessage: Don’t worry, be happy.”
Links
Official website and note in English by the production company.
Official website of Odagiri Joe, his profile on Hoga Central and profile on Drama Wiki.
Profile of Kashii Yu on Drama Wiki.
Review by Mark Schilling.
Have you seen The Pavillion “Salamandre”? What did you think about it?
