Ocean liners in films

 On a certain summer day, I watched the film Brooklyn on the subscription channel and found myself deeply impressed by it. As television screens have grown larger, opportunities to view films at home have increased, and internet‑based streaming services have likewise become more convenient. These developments are undoubtedly welcome for film enthusiasts. Yet, just as some readers prefer physical books to digital formats, there remain viewers who value the experience of watching films in a cinema. In the region where I live, the local movie theater that once operated has since closed, and the casual pleasure of stepping out in Geta to see a film has disappeared—an absence I find particularly regrettable. "Stepping out in Geta" means walking distance or around the corner in Japanese. 

Brooklyn was produced in 2015 as an Irish–British–Canadian co‑production and released in Japanese theaters in 2016. Set in the 1950s, it depicts the youth and emotional turmoil of a young woman who emigrates from Ireland to the United States in search of work. Although it did not win, the film was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay at the 88th Academy Awards. The protagonist, Eilis, is modest and unassuming. At the urging of her older sister—who worries about their younger sister’s limited employment prospects and unsuccessful attempts at marriage—Eilis leaves her small Irish town for New York. She initially suffers from homesickness as she adjusts to life in an unfamiliar environment, but gradually assimilates into the sophisticated culture of New York. What awaits her when she returns to Ireland after receiving sudden tragic news about her sister is left for the viewer to discover. The present discussion instead focuses on immigration to the United States and the transatlantic shipping routes.

Immigration restrictions during President Trump’s first term became a major political issue, with executive orders repeatedly overturned by district courts. Trump himself is a descendant of German immigrants, and in a society often described as a “melting pot,” the contributions of immigrants have been indispensable. Brooklyn likewise portrays immigrants from various countries; notably, the man who captures the heroine’s heart is of Italian descent. The scene in which immigrants aboard a steamship cheer upon seeing the Statue of Liberty as they arrive in New York is also well known from the 1972 film The Godfather. The narrative of an Italian immigrant boy who eventually becomes a mafia don broke box‑office records and won the Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Despite criticism for its violent content, the film and its sequels continued to receive numerous accolades. In the film, the young boy is suspected of having tuberculosis and is quarantined; the image of him gazing at the Statue of Liberty through a barred window foreshadows his future. Brooklyn includes a similarly striking scene at the immigration office, where the opening of a door symbolically reveals “America.”

The vessels that carried immigrants from Europe to the United States traveled the transatlantic route. Scheduled sailings by sailing ships began in 1818, requiring as long as forty days. The era of wooden steamships commenced in 1838. By the 1910s, massive passenger liners—reaching the 50,000‑ton class—had appeared, reducing the crossing to under five days. One such vessel, then the largest in the world, embarked on its maiden voyage on April 14, 1912, only to collide with an iceberg in the North Atlantic late that night and sink in the early hours of the following morning. This tragedy later became the basis for the 1997 blockbuster Titanic. The disaster had been adapted for film numerous times before; I recall a black‑and‑white version depicting the musicians who continued playing on the tilting deck until the end. The 1997 film, employing extensive CGI, vividly portrayed the suffering of the many immigrants confined to the third‑class quarters deep within the ship, in stark contrast to the luxurious decks above. However, the film contains significant fictionalization, and the hometown of a crew member depicted as firing at passengers was inaccurately represented, prompting strong protests and an eventual apology from the studio.

Transatlantic liners carried not only immigrants but also a wide variety of other passengers. The 1957 film An Affair to Remember depicts a man and woman who meet aboard a ship and promise to reunite at the Empire State Building. Many viewers likely recall Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr accompanied by the film’s memorable score. The film was a remake of the 1939 Love Affair, directed by the same director. Having never seen the earlier version, I watched it online and found that the plot and dialogue were nearly identical, starring Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer. This earlier film later inspired the 1993 production Sleepless in Seattle, starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. In one scene, Meg Ryan watches An Affair to Remember on television with a friend. Near the end of the film, she arrives at the Empire State Building after the observation deck has closed and explains her situation to the attendant, who responds, “Ah, Cary Grant. My wife loves that movie,” and allows her to enter. In 1994, the story was remade once again as Love Affair, starring Warren Beatty and Annette Bening, notable as Katharine Hepburn’s final film appearance.

In 1954, Sabrina was released, starring Audrey Hepburn, who had risen to stardom with the success of Roman Holiday. Sabrina, the daughter of a wealthy American family’s chauffeur, recovers from heartbreak by studying in Paris. In contrast to Brooklyn, in which a modest Irish girl becomes a stylish New Yorker, Sabrina portrays an ordinary American girl who acquires French sophistication and returns home transformed. The contrast between the two narratives is noteworthy. The bestseller Lessons from Madame Chic, written by a young woman who experienced cultural shock while staying with a French family after growing up in the land of jeans and T‑shirts, similarly evokes Sabrina. The final scene of Sabrina depicts her on the deck of the ship she was meant to board alone for France, receiving a message from Humphrey Bogart asking her to “straighten the brim of his hat.” In this way, Europe and America exerted profound mutual influence through the passengers who traveled across the Atlantic.

The 1998 film The Legend of 1900, released in Japan the following year, tells the story of a child born aboard a transatlantic liner in 1900, named “1900,” who spends his entire life on the ship as a pianist. The film skillfully reconstructs the enormous engine rooms of steamships of the era. With the development of air travel, regular transatlantic passenger services gradually disappeared, but in recent years, transatlantic cruise voyages have gained popularity among travelers seeking a leisurely journey. Depending on the route, such cruises may stop at the Canary Islands, Morocco, or even Iceland.

Not all transatlantic liners were operated by British or American companies. The Île de France was an exceptionally luxurious French liner known for its numerous rescue operations, earning it the nickname “the Saint Bernard of the Atlantic.” After thirty years of service, it was sold to Japan. The film The Last Voyage was produced using this ship. Released in 1960, it was filmed not on a set but on the actual vessel shortly before it was scrapped, with shooting conducted in Osaka Bay. The film starred Robert Stack, known for his portrayal of Eliot Ness in the television series The Untouchables. The film includes scenes of fire and explosions, and because the ship was scheduled for scrapping, it was destroyed quite dramatically. There is also a scene in which a crew member shouts, “It’s another Titanic!”

To conclude, I would like to return once more to Brooklyn. I recommend watching the subtitled version to appreciate how the protagonist’s Irish‑accented English gradually shifts toward American speech. Her changing hairstyles and clothing are also noteworthy. The color palette of her outfits in America resembles that of West Side Story, which depicted conflicts between Polish American and Puerto Rican immigrant youth. These two films illustrate that, during a particular period in the 1950s, two distinct forms of youth culture existed in neighborhoods separated by the East River in New York. When the homesick protagonist is encouraged by a priest to volunteer at a shelter for the poor, she encounters many Irish immigrant men who had worked on the construction of America’s buildings and bridges. Their inability to return home and their resulting poverty symbolize the darker side of American society. Witnessing this helps her overcome her homesickness. There is even a moment that will bring a smile to film enthusiasts—something involving Gene Kelly—but that, too, is best discovered by watching the film.

 (This article was originally written in Japanese and translated into English using Co-Pilot.  So, please, note that certain nuances may differ from the original source.)

IMDB  Brooklyn   The Godfather  Titanic  An Affair to Remember  Love Affair
             Sleepless in Seattle  Love Affair   Sabrina  Roman Holiday  
             The Legend of 1900   The Last Voyage   West Side Story
 

The Andromeda Strain

 

🎬 Reviewer's Take on “The Andromeda Strain” (1971)

Robert Wise’s The Andromeda Strain is a cerebral, elegantly executed science fiction thriller that still resonates, more than 50 years after its release. Directed by the genre-hopping maestro behind Citizen Kane (as editor), West Side Story, and The Sound of Music, Wise brings his clinical eye and artistic restraint to a story that unfolds with scientific precision and apocalyptic dread.

📖 Literary Origins and Crichton's Vision
Based on Michael Crichton's debut novel, originally published as The Andromeda Strain, the film is a model of speculative fiction grounded in biomedical realism. Crichton—a polymath who studied anthropology and later medicine—crafted the novel in his late twenties with such academic depth that Harvard later awarded him an honorary M.D. for its rigor. It’s a rare specimen: a novel cloaked in the format of a peer-reviewed medical paper, bristling with citations yet pulsing with suspense.

🔬 Plot Summary and Scientific Intrigue
Set in the desolate village of Piedmont, New Mexico, the narrative begins with the catastrophic recovery of a fallen satellite. Its contents unleash an alien microorganism that instantaneously coagulates blood to powder, killing nearly all life in the vicinity—save for a curiously immune alcoholic and an infant. This anomaly kicks off the Wildfire protocol, a top-secret government initiative tasked with containment and analysis. The core of the film revolves around four scientists navigating a multi-level subterranean lab to decode the nature of the pathogen they dub “Andromeda.” But when containment fails, a nuclear sterilization sequence is accidentally set in motion—raising the stakes to extinction-level urgency.

💡 Themes and Intellectual Depth
Crichton's contribution lies not only in his plot mechanics but also in the provocative questions he poses:

• The plausibility of alien life as microbial rather than humanoid
• Biohazard protocols influenced by lunar sample handling post-Apollo 11
• Psychological profiling like the “Odd Man Hypothesis,” which favors single men in crisis decision-making

Indeed, the selection of Dr. Hall—a single surgeon—as the only team member entrusted with the lab’s failsafe cancellation mechanism echoes this theory. Though later questioned as fictional, the hypothesis sparked wide interdisciplinary discussions about team dynamics and decision-making under duress.

🧠 Medical Anomalies and Ethical Echoes
The film presciently brushes against concepts like photosensitive epilepsy, as seen in Dr. Leavitt's near-catastrophic seizure—triggered by blinking lights—a phenomenon later echoed in real-world cases involving video games. The mislabeling of epilepsy in Japanese subtitles as mere “seizure” speaks volumes about past social discomfort in translating medical terms.

🖥️ Computational Brilliance and Early CG Inspiration
Visually, The Andromeda Strain was ahead of its time. One scene, featuring a rudimentary but compelling 3D wireframe of the lab’s architecture, would later inspire a viewer to recreate medical CT visualization using PC-9801 machine code and BASIC—a testament to how art can catalyze innovation.

🌌 Legacy and Lasting Impact
Crichton’s philosophical and scientific ponderings echo throughout real-world space exploration, influencing NASA’s quarantine strategies and deepening our cultural engagement with bioethics and extraterrestrial life. His speculative concepts found further life not only in later blockbusters like Jurassic Park, but also in quietly revolutionary ideas about virtual diagnosis and remote treatment—once a novelty, now mainstream.

🧪 Final Thoughts
The Andromeda Strain may wear the aesthetic of a slow-burn procedural, but its questions cut sharply and its tension never relents. With a blend of medical realism, cosmic dread, and timeless human drama, it remains essential viewing—not just as science fiction, but as speculative cinema at its most mature.

If you’re curious how two seemingly incompatible survivors defied death, I won’t spoil it—but let’s just say the answer lies in the microorganism’s biochemical preferences. Intrigued? Then go seek it out. The book and the DVD are still within reach.

 **Film Review: "The Citadel" (1938)**

In 1938, MGM brought to the silver screen *The Citadel*, a black-and-white adaptation of A.J. Cronin’s acclaimed novel published just a year prior. Directed by the distinguished King Vidor and filmed in the United Kingdom, the movie garnered significant critical acclaim, winning Best Picture from the National Board of Review and the New York Film Critics Circle. Despite four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, it ultimately left the ceremony without a win — a near-miss that speaks more to the competition of the year than to the film’s inherent quality.

**Synopsis**  

The story follows Andrew Manson, a young, idealistic doctor portrayed with heartfelt sincerity by Robert Donat. Upon graduating from medical school, Manson is assigned to a struggling mining town in Wales. With earnest dedication, he engages with the miners and townsfolk, confronting the harsh realities of public health and labor conditions.  

The film's first half is a vivid portrait of youthful passion clashing with systemic indifference; Manson’s growing suspicion regarding the miners' chronic cough leads him into conflict with entrenched interests, ultimately forcing his departure from the community.  

The second half depicts his descent into complacency and moral compromise as he pursues success in London’s medical establishment — a Faustian bargain that leads to a profound personal reckoning. Although the film remains largely faithful to Cronin’s original work, the inevitable abridgments leave certain nuances of the novel regrettably unexplored.

**Cast and Performances**  

Robert Donat’s nuanced portrayal of Manson captures the idealism and subsequent disillusionment of the character with remarkable grace. Although not a household name today, Donat would later receive the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in *Goodbye, Mr. Chips*.  

Rex Harrison, who appears as Dr. Frederick Lawford — Manson’s morally compromised former classmate — was then only 30 years old, making one of his earliest film appearances. Harrison’s later triumph as Professor Higgins in *My Fair Lady* (1964), for which he earned an Oscar, would cement his place in cinematic history.  

Rosalind Russell brings strength and intelligence to her role as Manson’s wife, crafting a character reminiscent of Maureen O’Hara’s miner’s daughter in *How Green Was My Valley* (1941). Ralph Richardson also offers a memorable supporting turn as Dr. Denny, foreshadowing his later role as Alexander in *Doctor Zhivago*.

**On the Novel and Its Legacy**  

For decades, Cronin’s *The Citadel* has been revered as essential reading for medical professionals — a Western counterpart to Japan’s *The White Tower* (*Shiroi Kyotō*).  

Yet, for years, Japanese readers had limited access: after translations by Nōzō Nakamura (1955) and Michinosuke Takeuchi (1983), the novel fell out of print.  

A new, long-awaited translation by physician-author Sōsuke Natsukawa (*God’s Notebook*, *Spinoza’s Consultation Room*) was published last year, restoring this medical and literary classic to modern audiences. Given that Cronin himself was a doctor-turned-writer, Natsukawa’s translation feels particularly well-matched.

**Personal Reflections**  

My own father, dispatched from university to a mining town in Hokkaido in 1950, surely found resonance in Manson’s story. Amid the vibrant, booming mining industry, he devoted himself to improving public health — a mission no doubt inspired, at least in part, by *The Citadel*. Later, after relocating to Osaka following my mother’s illness, he established his own practice, perhaps seeing in Manson’s journey a mirror of his own.

**Conclusion**  

As contemporary Japan grapples anew with issues such as the uneven distribution of doctors and profit-driven medical practice, *The Citadel* remains as relevant as ever. Both the novel and its film adaptations offer timeless insights into the moral challenges faced by medical professionals.  

The original 1938 film can be found online (search *The Citadel 1938*), though regrettably without Japanese subtitles. A 2003 color adaptation, faithful to the spirit of the novel, is also available.  

The latest Japanese translation, published by Nikkei BP, is currently in print and available in both physical and Kindle editions — a fitting opportunity for new generations to discover a classic that has endured for nearly a century.

"Men In White"

 Do you know the movie *Men In Black* (1997)? It is a thrilling comedy sci-fi film in which actor Tommy Lee Jones, who became widely known for playing strange aliens in a canned coffee commercial, teams up with Will Smith to face off against evil extraterrestrials. The term "Men In Black" does not refer to men dressed in black suits as the phrase might literally suggest, but instead refers to officers who are assigned to protective or security duties and wear black suits as uniforms. For example, in *Roman Holiday*, there is a scene where black-suited officers, dispatched from the home country to search for the missing princess, get off a plane in a large group, causing the princess's military attaché to lament, "I told you to come quietly." During a shipboard dance party at Castel Sant'Angelo, the captain finds the princess, but a big brawl ensues. In *The Matrix*, all the agents, including Agent Smith, played by Hugo Weaving, are also dressed in black suits. While I mainly focus on introducing Western films, I should also mention the Japanese film *SP: The Motion Picture* (2010), which was later adapted into a film and starred Junichi Okada. Fans might reprimand me if I don't mention it. Also, since I’m only talking about male characters, I should point out some female characters as well. *Men In Black* was so successful that two sequels were made, and a spinoff, *Men In Black: International* (2019), was released, featuring a female protagonist, Agent M. In Japanese cinema, there is also *Straw Shield* (*Wara no Tate*, 2013), in which Nanako Matsushima plays an SP escorting a dangerous criminal.

Sorry for the long preamble! Let me get back to the main topic. In this series, I have been focusing on films related to medicine. In the *Doctor Zhivago* post, I mentioned that there are not many films directly titled with terms like "doctor" or "physician." That led me to think that I might find something if I searched for *Men In White*, so I gave it a try. And I found several films, one of which was *Men In White* (1934). It’s an old black-and-white movie with the Japanese title *The Knight in White Coats*. I watched it online for the first time, and it’s a fascinating film, so I’d like to introduce it. The protagonist, a doctor, is played by Clark Gable, and his love interest, his fiancée, is played by Myrna Loy. At the time, Gable, at 33, was already starting to rise to stardom after his debut nine years earlier. He would later reach his peak playing Rhett Butler in *Gone with the Wind* and was dubbed the "King of Hollywood." Gable captivated audiences with his wild, masculine looks but his real popularity came from the fact that he was more sensitive than he appeared—he read Shakespeare and played musical instruments, showcasing a more sophisticated side. This role in *The Knight in White Coats* is said to have added an intellectual aspect to his persona.

The story was groundbreaking for its time, influencing many subsequent medical dramas. Themes like hospitals struggling with finances, cutting-edge medical equipment, the role of chief residents, romantic relationships between doctors and nurses, generational gaps among doctors, and the lives and inner struggles of interns can be seen in this film. These elements are common in later shows like *Ben Casey*, *Dr. Kildare*, *Gannon the Surgeon*, *ER*, *Grey’s Anatomy*, and *New Amsterdam*. There are even devices in the hospital where doctors can be summoned no matter where they are, and the work of telephone operators is integral to the plot—these things seem incredibly modern, especially considering this film is almost 90 years old. There’s also an alert system in the hospital for emergencies that was ahead of its time.

Here's a rough summary of the story: Dr. George Ferguson (Clark Gable) is a brilliant and promising surgeon. He works at St. George Hospital under the renowned Dr. Hochberg and plans to study further in Europe before returning to continue his work under Hochberg. He has a beautiful fiancée, Laura Hudson, whose father is a wealthy sponsor of the hospital. Laura feels neglected by George, who is absorbed in his work. One night, after a heated argument, George ends up in a relationship with Barbara (Elizabeth Allen), a young nurse who admires him. To save the hospital from financial ruin, the management asks Laura’s father for further investment, with the condition that George be given independence. George reluctantly agrees, much to the disappointment of Dr. Hochberg, who had hoped George would stay on as his successor. As their wedding approaches, Dr. Hochberg arranges for Laura to observe George perform a surgery, but ironically, the patient is Barbara, who is undergoing a difficult childbirth. Laura overhears their conversation and learns of their relationship. Barbara, accepting her fate, asks Laura not to hate George, and she dies despite George’s efforts to save her. What happens next would spoil the ending, so I’ll leave that for you to discover by watching the film. You can find the full movie online.

By the way, Tommy Lee Jones, whom I mentioned at the beginning, won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Deputy Gerard in the film *The Fugitive* (1993). It's surprising that an Oscar-winning actor was used in Japanese commercials for so long. In the TV series, the role of Deputy Gerard, played by Barry Morse, was quite different from Jones's portrayal. Speaking of *The Fugitive*, there was also a 2020 two-part TV drama aired by TV Asahi for their 60th anniversary, starring Ken Watanabe as Dr. Richard Kimble and Etsushi Toyokawa as Deputy Gerard. Recently, Hulu also produced an original TV drama titled *Doctor Fabulous* (2022), which is based on a comic. The story of a man on the run, accused of murdering his lover and continuing to fulfill his duty as a doctor while evading capture, bears a strong resemblance to *The Fugitive*.

In this post, I shared how searching for "White" led me to discover an incredibly significant film that seems to have roots in medical-themed movies and dramas. I also found another film titled *The Man in the White Suit*, which is not about doctors, but rather about a chemist. It was starred by a young Alec Guinness, who later became famous for roles like in *Doctor Zhivago*. But I’ll stop here before I digress even more!

Crick poster to the full movie

Is Totoro a “Rabbit” or an “Owl”?

 Is Totoro a “Rabbit” or an “Owl”?

Among the New Year’s cards I received January 2023(Zodiac sign was a rabbit) , there was one with Totoro printed right in the center. Perhaps because I’d been staring at pictures of rabbits for a long time, I started wondering if Totoro might have some “rabbit-like” qualities. There’s a popular theory about Totoro’s true identity. In an interview, director Hayao Miyazaki revealed that during the production of My Neighbor Totoro, the staff nicknamed the large Totoro “Miminzuku” (a type of owl), the medium-sized one “Zuku,” and the smallest one “Min.” This led to the widespread idea that Totoro is based on a “miminzuku,” or owl. However, Totoro has no wings, can’t fly on its own (though it rides a spinning top), has teeth instead of a beak, and features whiskers, hands, and a round tail. This leaves some people scratching their heads, wondering, “How is this an owl?” On the other hand, the parts that look like Totoro’s ears might actually be the “feather horns” (tufts of feathers) seen on owls, not real ears. These points have fueled another theory: that Totoro is based on a rabbit—specifically, a chinchilla rabbit, which some consider a strong candidate due to its appearance. If you search online, you’ll find photos comparing Totoro to rabbits, so it’s worth checking out. Interestingly, the Japanese kanji for “miminzuku” is “木菟,” where “菟” means “rabbit.”

Meanwhile, Studio Ghibli’s official Twitter shared an illustration drawn by Miyazaki for this year’s New Year’s card. It featured a light brown rabbit named “U-chan” alongside Totoro and some Soot Sprites. Ghibli commented, “A rabbit drawn by Miyazaki. Its name is U-chan,” adding, “It seems it has a twin named Fu-chan too.” This suggests that, in Miyazaki’s mind, Totoro and rabbits might be distinct entities. In the end, whether Totoro is a rabbit or an owl remains a mystery, and it’s fun to let your imagination run wild with the possibilities.

The Origin of Totoro’s Name

There are several theories about where Totoro’s name comes from. In the film, when Mei tells Satsuki she met Totoro in the forest, Satsuki asks, “You mean the troll from the picture book?” This “troll” refers to the creature from Nordic mythology, leading to the idea that Totoro’s name stems from “troll.” Another theory suggests it came from a little girl Miyazaki knew who mispronounced “Tokorozawa” (a city in Japan) as “Totorozawa.” However, in an interview published in the film’s original pamphlet, Miyazaki said, “No one knows Totoro’s real name,” making it hard to pin down a definitive origin.

The Real-Life Model for “Shichikokuyama Hospital”

Many fans remember the destination sign on the Cat Bus that Satsuki and Mei ride, which reads “Shichikokuyama Hospital.” This is modeled after the real-life Shinyamate Hospital. According to the hospital’s website, “Founded in 1939 as Hoseien Tuberculosis Sanatorium, our hospital is adjacent to Hachikokuyama Greenbelt. Its quiet, lush environment has long supported local healthcare and served as the model for the hospital in the animated film My Neighbor Totoro.” 

Back then, it was known as the largest sanatorium in the East. Hachikokuyama Greenbelt lies at the center of the Musashino Plateau, spanning southwestern Saitama and northwestern Tokyo, and is named for the eight provinces—Kouzuke, Shimotsuke, Hitachi, Awa, Sagami, Suruga, Shinano, and Kai—whose mountains are visible from there. “Shichikokuyama” (Seven Provinces Mountain) is a playful twist on this name. In the story, Satsuki and Mei’s mother is hospitalized in a suburban tuberculosis sanatorium, and the family moves from the city to be near her as she prepares for discharge. The white house they live in is also based on a home built for tuberculosis patients’ recovery. 

Tuberculosis and Director Miyazaki

Director Miyazaki's mother was forced to undergo treatment for spinal caries (a type of tuberculosis) during his childhood. This experience is said to have influenced the production of My Neighbor Totoro. The film emphasizes the importance of nature, fresh air, and emotional healing for tuberculosis patients.

Connections to Other Miyazaki Works

In Miyazaki's films, tuberculosis and infectious diseases sometimes appear as central themes. For example:

"The Wind Rises": The protagonist's wife, Nahoko, suffers from tuberculosis and is depicted spending time in a sanatorium. This storyline is inspired by Tatsuo Hori's novel and the real-life figure Ayako Yano.

Thus, not only in My Neighbor Totoro but also in other works, deep and meaningful themes are interwoven.

Conclusion

Reflecting on Totoro's true identity or the origin of its name reveals a character born from the fusion of Miyazaki's rich imagination and real-life experiences. Do you think Totoro is a "rabbit"? Or an "owl"? It doesn’t matter which one—feel free to enjoy your own interpretation of Totoro.

"Captain Corelli's Mandolin"

 Captain Corelli's Mandolin

I’d like to introduce a film that isn’t very well-known: Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. Directed by John Madden, who also helmed Shakespeare in Love, and starring Nicolas Cage and Penélope Cruz, this movie was released in 2001. It’s a shame that the film didn’t receive high acclaim, especially since its source material is a novel by Louis de Bernières, published in the UK in 1993. The book became an instant bestseller, with one in twenty people said to have read it. In the final scene of the movie Notting Hill, Hugh Grant’s bookstore owner is seen reading this novel on a park bench while Julia Roberts, playing a pregnant character, rests her head on his lap. Over seven years, it sold more than two million copies and was published in 26 countries. Coinciding with the film’s release, a Japanese translation was published in 2001.

The Story

The narrative is based on a real event during World War II on the Greek island of Kefalonia, where 117 Italian soldiers were massacred by the German Wehrmacht after Italy’s surrender. The war encroaches upon the rustic, pastoral island of Kefalonia, entangling the life of Pelagia, the daughter of the island’s doctor, Iannis. Her fiancé, Mandras, a local fisherman, goes off to war and loses contact. Greece surrenders to Germany and Italy, and when Mandras returns, wounded but alive, he has lost his former innocence, now consumed by a fierce hatred for the enemy. Pelagia’s heart drifts away from him.

Eventually, Axis occupation forces arrive on the island. Captain Antonio Corelli, leading the Italian troops, carries a mandolin on his back. Despite the wartime setting, Corelli and his men never forget their love for life and music, and their cheerful demeanor gradually wins over the islanders. Corelli and Pelagia are drawn to each other. Fearing that the surrendered Italian troops might join anti-Nazi guerrillas, the Nazi German forces attack. In a harrowing scene, captured Italian soldiers are gunned down by German troops in the town square. All perish except Corelli, who is saved by his men’s sacrifice. He is taken to Iannis’s home, where he recovers under Pelagia’s care, before disappearing to evade the Germans.

After the war, peace returns to Kefalonia. Pelagia studies medicine under her father’s guidance, but a major earthquake strikes the island. Previously little-known in Europe, Kefalonia has since become a popular tourist destination, thanks to the book and the film.

Challenges of Adaptation

Since the original novel is a sprawling epic, the film adaptation required alterations and omissions, making some of the story’s settings harder to grasp. To shed light on this, let me tell you about Pelagia’s father, Iannis. He is a doctor who has served the island for years and earned the islanders’ trust—yet he lacks a medical license. One might think of Black Jack, the unlicensed genius doctor, but Iannis is no prodigy. He’s a stubborn, straightforward man who dreams of recording the island’s history but struggles to make progress. When the Italian army orders the islanders to provide lodging due to a shortage of barracks, Iannis fiercely resists but eventually agrees on the condition that they supply scarce medical resources, showcasing his tenacity.

He hopes to train his daughter as a licensed successor, but education on the remote island is limited. Worse still, she seems to be falling for the Italian captain billeted in their home. Many can empathize with his struggles. One standout scene features Iannis earnestly explaining to his daughter—now deeply in love with Corelli—what love and affection truly mean. This moment, brought to life by John Hurt, is not to be missed. Hurt, a seasoned actor known for roles in Oscar-nominated films like Midnight Express and as a crew member in Alien, also played Ollivander in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

The Cast

Nicolas Cage, whose uncle is the famed director Francis Ford Coppola, has starred in numerous films. With his father of Italian descent, he was an ideal fit for Captain Corelli. In the movie, his unit even forms an opera chorus dubbed “La Scala.” These Italian soldiers—drinking, eating, singing, and embracing life despite the war—gradually win the hearts of the occupied islanders. The reason Corelli survives the German machine-gun fire in the square is revealed later in both the film and book, so pay close attention, or you might miss it. For those planning to watch, take note of the scene where bones are uncovered after the earthquake. When Corelli later revisits Greece to see Pelagia, he hesitates upon seeing her with a child but visits the island to lay flowers in memory of a man who died protecting him.

Another key figure is Irene Papas, who plays Mandras’s mother, Drosoula. Born in Corinth, Greece, she rose to prominence in Hollywood in the 1950s and is regarded as one of Greece’s iconic actresses. Fans of The Guns of Navarone or Zorba the Greek might recall her striking, thick eyebrows. In the novel, despite being the mother of Pelagia’s former fiancé, she becomes a trusted confidante—a significant role. Sadly, in the film, her character disappears early on, which is a pity.

Beyond the Tourist Image

Our knowledge of Greece often centers on its ancient ruins and the origins of the Olympics, with little awareness of its later hardships. Toward the film’s end, scenes of modern Greece capture the vibrant lives of its youth, moving beyond its tourist image. These exquisite shots reflect the director’s vision—something to look forward to when watching. In the afterword of the Japanese translation, the translator attributes the book’s UK popularity to romanticism tied to Greece since Lord Byron, the poet who fought in the Greek War of Independence and died there, as well as a longing for Southern Europe’s sunshine.

A Broader Impact

Many have read the novel after watching the film, and it has played a vital role in raising awareness of the tragedy between former allies Germany and Italy. For those yet to see it, I urge you to watch the movie and then dive into the half-century-spanning epic of the original story.

"Vivien"

 "Vivien"

When you hear the name "Vivien" in a movie context, who comes to mind? Most people would think of Vivien Leigh from the classic "Gone with the Wind." Some might even think of Vivien Hsu. However, the focus here is not on a woman. It's on a man named Vivien Thomas.

You may be familiar with actor Alan Rickman. He played Professor Snape in the Harry Potter series and gained worldwide recognition. I first knew Alan Rickman from "Die Hard," where he played the villain falling backward off a building. As I was researching Alan Rickman, I came across his role as Professor Alfred Blalock. Intrigued, I searched for more information related to medical films. I found several interesting websites and, to my luck, discovered the full version of the movie "Something the Lord Made" on YouTube.

Vivien Thomas' mother wished for a daughter and even picked out a girl's name while pregnant. When a boy was born, they named him Vivien anyway. The spelling is Vivien, so the pronunciation is between "a" and "e." Vivien attended agricultural school but had to drop out due to financial difficulties and became a carpenter. With his skilled hands, he became proficient in woodworking. When a professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine was looking for a research assistant, Vivien was recommended. The professor was surprised to see a black man instead of a woman and ordered him to do menial tasks like cleaning and taking care of experimental animals. Despite feeling like a mere errand boy, Vivien accepted the job to not disappoint the person who recommended him. The irritable professor often complained about trivial matters and easily became upset, but Vivien endured it. One day, while cleaning the library, he came across a book on anatomy. This discovery changed his destiny.

Upon learning of Vivien's study of anatomy, the professor asked him to repair laboratory equipment. Using his knowledge, Vivien improved the apparatus and even made new ones, including a canine respirator. One day, the head pediatrician asked the professor to examine a blue baby and suggested performing surgery to save them. Vivien and the professor argued fiercely and repeated surgeries on dogs until they finally developed a bypass procedure for patent ductus arteriosus. When the professor saw Vivien's surgical skill, he muttered, "It's as if God sewed it." This phrase became the title of the movie, "Something the Lord Made." The professor, who successfully performed surgery for congenital heart vessel abnormalities, received numerous awards.

However, Vivien was not invited to the awards ceremony. Disappointed, Vivien confronted the professor, who replied, "It's not because you're black, but because you don't have a medical degree." A public surgery with invited physicians from inside and outside the hospital was scheduled. On the day of the surgery, the professor, having washed his hands and entered the operating room, suddenly rushed out to search for Vivien. Persuaded that the surgery couldn't proceed without him, Vivien agreed to help. The doctors sitting in the tiered observation seats saw the professor performing surgery while listening to Vivien's advice standing behind him like a cloak.

After the professor fell ill and passed away, Vivien continued to work for 33 years and trained many surgeons as a leader in cardiac surgery, sending them across the United States. In 1976, a university-sponsored commendation ceremony was held for him. He was awarded an honorary doctorate, and his portrait was hung in the university hall as one of the contributors to the university. You can still see the portrait next to Professor Blalock's.

I later learned that this movie has been re-evaluated as a document for the advancement of African Americans. Also, the name of the female pediatrician is Helen Brooke Taussig. Although not mentioned specifically in the movie, she entered Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1923 because she was not admitted to Harvard, where she wanted to attend, possibly due to being a woman. So, unwittingly, this movie is also connected to the history of the struggles of women who aimed to become doctors at the time. She left her mark with the Blalock-Taussig shunt.

By the way, there is an interesting episode about the scene of Hans Gruber, played by Alan Rickman, falling. That surprised and fearful expression was not acting but real. Rickman, who challenged the 12-meter high set without using a stuntman, was supposed to fall on the count of 3. However, he was dropped on count 1.