Gojira Themes
Given the cultural, historical, and economic background surrounding Gojira, what are the main themes that the movie explores, and how does Honda make use of these to make his movie compelling?
Gojira is set in the early postwar period, released in 1954 the movie emerged four short years after the departure of the American occupation forces. A striking feature of the movie is the economic prosperity of the country. Compared to previous films such as Doctor Akagi, or even Stray Dog; the characters in Gojira, lead at least at outset far better lives. The nation has complex technology, shown in the very first scenes of the film, where complex radio machines are used to communicate with ships. Even the middle class as exemplified by Ogata, can afford to have a telephone in his house. He and Emiko can attend pleasant parties on boats by Tokyo Bay. Electricity is ubiquitous throughout the land, and most …show more content…
This dimension is presented subtly but forcefully throughout the film: when the Diet first realizes how dangerous Gojira was to Japan, a well-dressed politician suggested, that the truth should be hidden from the people. He felt that the society was to ‘fragile’, to embrace the truth, and that public knowledge would hurt the national interest. This is ironic, as keeping the people ignorant of reality, seems to have been a longstanding practice of the Japanese government. During the war year all news was practically propaganda. Also the presence and un-questioned use of a well-equipped army by Japan’s rulers, seems very much at odds with Article 5 of the Japanese constitution, which prohibits Japan from using force. Again the country’s rulers have skirted the constitution and a mere five years after WWII, they have assembled a modern powerful army. These concerns are never resolved only put to a side once Gojira is
Gojira is set in the early postwar period, released in 1954 the movie emerged four short years after the departure of the American occupation forces. A striking feature of the movie is the economic prosperity of the country. Compared to previous films such as Doctor Akagi, or even Stray Dog; the characters in Gojira, lead at least at outset far better lives. The nation has complex technology, shown in the very first scenes of the film, where complex radio machines are used to communicate with ships. Even the middle class as exemplified by Ogata, can afford to have a telephone in his house. He and Emiko can attend pleasant parties on boats by Tokyo Bay. Electricity is ubiquitous throughout the land, and most …show more content…
This dimension is presented subtly but forcefully throughout the film: when the Diet first realizes how dangerous Gojira was to Japan, a well-dressed politician suggested, that the truth should be hidden from the people. He felt that the society was to ‘fragile’, to embrace the truth, and that public knowledge would hurt the national interest. This is ironic, as keeping the people ignorant of reality, seems to have been a longstanding practice of the Japanese government. During the war year all news was practically propaganda. Also the presence and un-questioned use of a well-equipped army by Japan’s rulers, seems very much at odds with Article 5 of the Japanese constitution, which prohibits Japan from using force. Again the country’s rulers have skirted the constitution and a mere five years after WWII, they have assembled a modern powerful army. These concerns are never resolved only put to a side once Gojira is