Rating  - A True Portrait of Japan Today
My girl friend introduced me to this movie quite accidently. Normally i go for the more historical or military flick. But there is actually a lot of history here although most viewers probably don't realize it.
This film can be seen on several different levels. The dreadful office life that our poor Belgium heroline endures can be seen as a universal element of work today. It can also be viewed as an indication of present day Japanese society. We often forget that Japan was never forced to own up to its many attrocities that were committed during WW2. For this reason Japan is still universally hated throughout Asia today. Unlike Germany which had its nose rubbed constantly in the dirt for its many war crimes, Japan never had to endure this purification process. American occupation was lenient and easy going for the most part. Japan was built back up to be a key part in the Cold War puzzle that was developing in the Far East after the war. This resulted in a curious mix of attitudes that persists to this day in Japan. The absolute respect for authority which goes back to the Middle Ages toward the emperor was translated into the militarists that ran the country during the war, and continues today with the businessmen and industrialists in Japan. The work place attitudes toward our Belgium protaganist reflect this cruel and savage outlook. This is a nation that never acknowlegded the many war crimes that it committed over 60 years ago. To this day Japanese children are hardly educated about the frightful history of their country during the 1935 - 1945 period. The result is a nation in complete denial of its past. This is not surprising considering Japan was forced to modernize so quickly in order to catch up with the West. The cruel and humilating attidues seen here in the work place are a reflection of Japanese society today. A society that never had to own up to its many war crimes, and which still feels superior toward others.
The fear and trembling one must show toward the boss today is a direct connection with Japan's past. Whether its the absolute authority expressed toward the Samurai War Lord, the Emperor or the head of Mitsubishi corporation (The same company who manufactured the famous zero fighter plane in WW2)the result is the same. We should be weary of Japan's place in the world today, and constantly remind her of the follies of her past. This film is a frightening example of what many aspects of Japan's society is today. Is there much difference between the Japan of December 7th 1941 and today? That is a question which this movie makes us ask.
Rating  - Wonderfully delightful entertainment. Also, some lessons concerning sensitivity to other cultures.
I thought the various characters in the film were well cast, and skillfully directed. I really was hopeful that Amelie would be able to survive her initiation and "challenges". Amelie met her challenges with courage and a sense of humor. However, she was not willing to surrender herself to the new culture she was immersed in. At the end of the story, I felt that some of her superiors were sadened at loosing her as a canditate for their organization. Some mentoring might have been helpful, but I do not know whether Amelie would really have been truly happy working in the company.
I really do not fault either Amelie or the work culture she found herself in. She was skillful with the Japnnese language, but not prepared to "let herself go" in their culture at work. Amelie was a very creative individual, and beautiful at many levels.
As a Westerner who worked for many years in mid-size American corporations (as an engineer). In my later working years I had limited options as far a company culture, if I wanted to work as an engineer. I felt unprepared for the cultural change going from a smaller organization to a larger corporation. I did not have a mentor, and felt very alone. I got raises, but I felt isolated after having a background where I could interact freely (as part of my job) with other departments. There was a protocol that was unfamiliar to me. There I was a Westerner in a Western Corporation.
Office politics can be difficult to negotiate in many cultures.
I plan to seek out the book form of this movie, as well as the writer's other book. I am also favorably impressed with the actors and the director.
Excuse me for riding on the "coat tails" of the other reviewers in my relying on their reviews to provide a synopsis of the story.
Rating - Dedicated to all who have been bullyed in office
Whether you are in Japan, Belgium, Malaysia or anywhere in this world, any worker can relate to this film. Whether you are the meek worker or the supervisor, the world of the corporate ladder is satarized in this flim.
Every worker has met the loud boss, the kind coworker, the office bitch... kudos to the producers.
Hey Hollywood, please remake this film. It should be great to the American context to this film.
Rating - Funny But With Multi-Layers
If you are looking for funny jokes of cultural differences, you may be 50% satisfied. If you want to understand Japanese culture from a westerner point of view, you will be 75% satisfied. (More on this later.) If you are looking for an "art film", this one may fail you. That is why I gave it 4-stars rating.
From a layman viewer point of view, one may find this film funny but a bit pretentious. From a art-film buff point of view, one may find this too naive. I have to say this film is not very successful to appeal to either world.
However, if you really have the time and mind-set to understand Japanese culture (not just those mentioned in a tourist guide book), this is pretty good point to start. The film used an exaggerated manner to examplified the deeper cultural structure of Japan. The film starts with the central character (a Japan born Belgian girl) introducing her position in a big Japanese company through a company chart-way: A is B's supervisor and B is C's supervisor and finally X is her supervior. And the film ends (not the actual ending but end of her career in that company) with she telling each of these supervisors, from her immediate supervisor to the managing director, her leaving and thier different reaction to it. If you use this structure as a guide to view this film. You may find this film worth more than what it looks like initially.
Good viewing and enjoy it. I recommend it to those who have the time and sensitivity toward other culture.
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