In recent years, movies featuring nomadic tribes and indigenous peoples often delve into the effects of urbanization on individuals. Typically, these stories depict young people leaving their ancestral homes, the passing of elderly community members, and the resulting conflicts, shifts in mindset, and feelings of inevitability and helplessness as urbanization looms.
"Harvest Moon" gently and thoughtfully explores the theme of "leaving." The film portrays young people who have already departed, teenagers who remain in their hometown, and the presence of the deceased elderly father, setting the stage for the narrative early on. Interestingly, the camera in this film often centers on two lonely male characters, abandoned by women. Beneath the moonlit expanse of the grassland, these two figures are portrayed with a warmth that is rarely associated with men of the grasslands.
Humans are the Link Between Heaven and Earth
There are many low-angle shots in this film, with the characters becoming ladders linking the sky and the earth. As the characters cut grass with their poles, the grass becomes lower and lower, and the area of the sky becomes larger and larger. For the male protagonist, this indicates his gradual enlightenment from the loss of his father and the realization that his lover had a son earlier than expected. In repetitive actions, the weeds represent his emotions, gradually smoothing out this emotional wasteland that he has not been able to pay attention to and take care of in time. In the latter part of the film, when it is revealed that he is a chef, the culinary skills he uses in his profession correspond to emotional cooking. The rough operation of cutting grass reflects the subtlety of his emotions.
In "Harvest Moon," characters are not just used as mere plot devices; they also serve to connect various elements in the story. The narrative includes a significant scene where the male protagonist constructs a wooden tower atop a mountain, symbolizing the act of establishing connections. Firstly, this action resonates with the film's opening, where a boy on horseback raises a long pole to signal for communication, indicating a desire to connect with the outside world. Secondly, as a city dweller, the male protagonist brings a sense of technology and progress to the rural setting. His leadership in constructing the "electric tower" on the grassland tribe's hillside rekindles hope for the young boy and fulfills his longing for external communication. Lastly, this endeavor provides meaningful employment for two idle adults who often cause trouble for the boy, reminiscent of characters from French comedies. This solution effectively resolves the boy's predicament once again.
Possibility of Portraying Father-son Relationship
In previous movies, we often see a man and his stubborn father clashing, struggling to express emotions, and ultimately one of them leaving, leaving the other alone and reflective, marking the growth of a silent man. However, this film quickly breaks away from this traditional imagery of father-son relationships. Instead, it focuses on how a man who has lost his traditional image and the male protagonist rebuild their relationship after meeting a boy. Although there is conflict between the man and the boy, their reconciliation is swift. The boy's initiative in reaching out dissolves the man's stubbornness, even though there may not be a clear reason for his actions. The emotional development that follows feels natural.
When the boy gets upset, the man takes the initiative to talk and seek forgiveness. The boy thinks he has grown into a mature adult but still stops to look at toy stalls when passing by. These details are noticed and fulfilled by the man, making him seem like a magic fairy godmother who can instantly understand the boy's needs and satisfy them. Every time the man actively faces his emotions and communicates with others, it aligns with modern understanding. For a pure grassland person who only wrestles on festivals and herds sheep and horses on weekdays, it goes against tradition and has an extraordinary personality. In silence, it strengthens the "urban atmosphere" and is not a traditional man of the grasslands. It is precisely because of this man's uniqueness that he can provide an emotional outlet for a little boy who gives advice to adults with a leadership style and pretends to be sensible while suppressing his emotions.
As they rode their horses to the children's wrestling competition, a flock of migratory birds stood by the beautiful lake. The man asked if they could pass by, but the boy said it would disturb them. However, when the boy showed his fear in reading, he spurred his horse and galloped across the lake, startling the birds. This tension in emotions led to a release in their relationship. Being too close would disturb me, but being far away was just right. But people have attachments, dreams, and ideals. So the little boy fantasized about keeping the man as his father to gain love, while the man couldn't make promises and could only offer peace from afar.
The father-son relationship was shaped twice between shepherding sheep and horses, forming a connection with nature. Neither could control the other, but they leaned on each other for warmth in loneliness. It was a psychological compensation for the reality of their relationship or an idealized version of it. The boy pursued an idealized father, and the man responded to this desire, shaping himself into an ideal figure.
Towards the film's end, the boy watches the harvester swiftly cutting hay, and his initial disappointment transforms into anger. He mimics the main character by whipping two adults, symbolizing his loss of peace and happiness in front of the haystacks. Once again, he becomes a lonely figure in the camera's frame. Aware that his dream must end, he watches as the man departs, and he runs away, eventually embracing and crying. This scene revisits the theme of "leaving," but this time, the departure is no longer filled with sadness and self-torment. Instead, the beauty of companionship is solidified in their embrace and tears, leaving a prolonged black screen for the audience to process their emotions. "Leaving" transitions from a theme on screen to a deeply felt experience in the hearts of the audience. As the audience must also leave the theatre, their hearts remain in the story.
The seamless integration of characters and scenes is one of the main reasons I hold this film in high regard. While the grammar is simple and the structure is ordinary, the director's expression and emotional scene creation are charming. The intimacy between the characters is deeply moving. Even after watching the movie, the image of the two riding horses lingers in my mind. Departure is inevitable, so we should cherish the present and the moments that are still with us.
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