Reflection on Winter Days by Yori Norstein

Reflection on Winter Days by Yori Norstein

At first time, this story makes me feel that it is a two monks’ story. The color is more brownish which can lead viewers go back to the past. Also the scenes are vague and sublime because the background such as trees, branches are blurry. Honestly, I didn't notice that the first character appears on the screen is poet Basho until I saw the greenish hat and kimono at the second time. It’s a little bit distracting for me because it is hard to grab both: scene or subtitle. So I am trying to look at the scene instead of words. For me, it is more like a non-linear story. Blue monk is a little naughty and full of energy, he jumped one tree to other to listen to the trees. The other monk with yellow kasaya seems full of knowledge and mature.

After I read the interview article about Yori Norstein, I found this story is adapt by Basho’s poetry. The background scene (the poetry appears and the camera panning) reminds me the Along the River During the Qingming Festival by Zeduan Zhang. In addition, it is not a monk story. One is a Chikusai which means he/she is not a real doctor just a charlatan. They do know some tricks but no one will looking for them if they ill. The other is a wanderer and his bamboo hat and kasaya was tore by the strong storm. The character design of Chikusai is interesting. He was set with a buffoonery personality. That is why he has a big nose and a smile mouth. He helps wanderer scratch his back and replaces his better bamboo hat from him which makes character fullness. At the last poetic scene, the winter is coming, the wind bending the braches, running the hats, rolling the leave, there is other poetry occurred to me –

江雪

柳宗元著

千山鸟飞绝,

 万径人踪灭。

孤舟蓑笠翁,

 独钓寒江雪。

a River Scene in Snow

Authored by: Liu Zongyuan   Translated by: Longwind

Birds vanish from the surrounding hills,

footprints disappear from the winding trails;

Clad in leaf cape and hat in a boat alone,

an old man is fishing on a river in snow.