Movie Digest
Political unrest ruled 14th-century Japan during the Muromachi period. Three hundred years ago, the Heike clan was annihilated during a horrible civil war between two powerful families known as the Genpei War. Despite the impending fear of war and the lurking peril of old ghosts, artistic culture flourished during the Muromachi period, giving birth to distinctive forms of Japanese art such as noh dance and drama. A little boy with unusual physical traits was born around this time – Inu Oh. The adults who saw him were appalled after they saw him. They decided to cover every inch of his body with clothing and hide his face under a mask. This movie follows Inu-Oh’s journey as he finds his true self as a performer and finds solace in the companionship of Tomona, a blind Biwa player.
The Feel-Good Part
It was fascinating to see such a beautiful re-imagination of the past. Filled with music and stunning performances, Inu-Oh is such a beautiful, painful, and magical story, all at once. The animation is first-class but even the art style is very appropriate for the storyline. The characters are very lovable and endearing. Although they may not be relatable in the most conventional sense, you still resonate with their struggles on a deeper level. At the core of it, the film is about the underdogs of society who create their own niche and break the social barriers.
The Disappointing Factor
There are no direct factors about the film that can count as a disappointment. The only thing is that the themes the film deals with are not something everyone may be interested in watching. The film breaks the ceiling of conservatism in every form. A lot of the themes may be very heavy for some people but if you are someone who can deal with this kind of cinematic portrayal then I am sure you will love this movie from the depth of your heart.
In-Depth Analysis
Inu-Oh combines graphic styles and animation techniques to create a roaring cacophony of rock music, complete with exhilarating performances reminiscent of what Bohemian Rhapsody aimed to be. At its core, “Inu-Oh” is a film about the power of narratives to preserve the past. While Yuasa’s (the Director’s) colourful and dreamlike storytelling can be hard to understand at times, this always becomes unforgettable in a way that serves the film’s ultimate goal.
Star Power
Firstly, this film has a fantastic director. Masaki Yuasa’s reputation and fame were among the most significant selling points of this film’s pre-release. His previous projects like “Ride Your Wave”, “Lu Over the Wall” and “Life is Short, Walk on Girl” among others, have won numerous awards at Fantasia, Annecy, and the Ottawa International Animation Festival respectively. The voice actors Mirai Moriyama and Avu-chan have also worked on notable works previously. Both of them have done a great job with their voice-acting.
Overall Opinion
Inu-Oh is every bit artistic storytelling from its music to its animation. Everything about the film transmigrates (metaphorically) you to another parallel universe. The film is messy, it’s painful, and it’s mesmerizing – it is every emotion wrapped into one. If you are in the mood to watch something which will make you think and dream then Inu-Oh is a must-watch!
