Revolutionary Girl Utena

Kazutaka · Post by **Kazutaka** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 6:48 pm

I just watched the movie. Has any one else seen this?
If you have can you please explain the story to me. Im not sure if its because the movie is so short and the series is about 26 eps right? Im just a bit confused as to the story (especially at the end) It was a really good anime but the story was a bit hard to follow.

UncleMilo · Post by **UncleMilo** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 7:02 pm

The series is actually 39 eps, if I am not mistaken.

The movie is an abstraction of the series... It makes use of many metaphors, a lot of artistic representations and one of the best literary puns I have ever seen in an anime.

However... the story is complicated because it covers quite a few abstract concepts. On the surface, you can simply say that Utena wishes to rescue Anthy from the situation she is.

You could say how the two of them decide to escape the pretty lies which are safe, but still a cage... and face up to harsh realities which may be unpleasant, but are the only path to freedom.

Sadly, I have no time to discuss the series or the movie... but the movie is not a linear kind of story... (the TV show is a little more direct in its story-telling technique)

I have to run... I hope this was at least of a little help... but I know I didn't have a chance to say much.

-Uncle Milo

flammie · Post by **flammie** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 8:07 pm

If you have a chance, watch the movie again with the directors commentary as the audio selection. From what I remember, he sorta explains what the hell is going on. Of course, I remember disagreeing with what he said towards the end, but usually the director is right.

UncleMilo · Post by **UncleMilo** » Tue Aug 12, 2003 12:36 am

Actually... don't trust the director's comments on this one. I've heard him give a variety of differing explanations...

I think it's either because
1) His English isn't great
or
2) The idea is too complicated to explain in words... (Which seems more likely the case)

The only thing I'm sure of is that he knows in his mind what's going on... but with art like this... most artists are bad at explaining in words what their imagry is about.

-Uncle Milo

Nurd · Post by **Nurd** » Tue Aug 12, 2003 5:46 am

I either read or saw somewhere that the reason the director doesn't like to give one single explanation, is that there is more than one way of interpreting the movie, and he doesn't want people to downplay other peoples interpretations just because they aren't the "correct" one as explaiend by him.

Nurd