Dolls — Module 01 questions and scene summaries

Questions for this day (pre-Summer 2013)

In terms of romantic values, did Matsumoto make the "right" decision when he returned to Sawako and took her from the hospital?

How are you reacting so far to this view of romance?

Scenes 1-7 summaries for Dolls

DVD Scene 1 (begins at 0:00;00)

Opens showing puppets of the bunraku theater, a man and a woman (no sound); getting read for a play: the chanter and musician appear on stage and are narrating the puppet play; the man is asking the woman to calm her heart: "Do not be a slave to such miserable feelings" I am to blame." "Should I be grateful; should I lament?" Narrator: She cries onto money, which then sparkles.

The play goes to another act. The man and woman seems deeply distressed and agitated. Narrator: Honor and glory become like dust, to be trampled.

Opening credits begin with a sad soundtrack; the two puppets are shown silently talking to each other, moving in slow motion (not manipulated by humans)

A young man and a woman are walking slowly through cherry blossoms, tied together with a red cord. Title is superimposed on them.

DVD Scene 2 (begins at 0:07;29)

People stare at this walking couple. The rope catches on a stump. People laugh. The man looks at the woman. Both are sound. "They are bound beggars" They walk again. Now children grab their cord from behind and tease them, calling them beggars.

A church. We learn that a woman named Sawako was to become a man named Matsumoto's bride, but Matsumoto is now going to marry the daughter of the boss of the company where he works. Two men talk about how this is an easy way to the top in one's career. (Thus the talk of money during the puppet play segment.)

Matsumoto's father and mother are talking to Matsumoto, pressuring him to marry the boss's daughter. He resists, saying there is someone he loves (Sawako -- quick flashbacks showing them happy together), but then it seems the marriage has happened, that he has reluctantly agreed. But a friend of Sawako has come to the wedding.

DVD Scene 3 (begins at 0:12;18)

Outside the church, the friends of Sawako tell Matsumoto that she has tried to kill herself; she has survived but lost her mind. He leaves the wedding and hurries to the mental institution where she is. (Flashbacks of Sawako's parents finding her, of her struggling at the hospital, of them together.)

In has car, driving to the hospital, his cell phone rings (the ring tone will be the theme song of a Japanese singer we will meet later). It is his rejected bride trying to call him. Those at the wedding are beginning to realize he has left and will not return. He arrives at the hospital.

DVD Scene 4 (begins at 0:17;06)

Shot of a butterfly, dead on a green lawn, then Sawako. Matsumoto arrives to the outdoor court when she is. She is staring at the butterfly. He sits next to her. No immediate reaction from her.

She is now in his car with him. She has not looked at him yet; he is driving.

A shot shot of the church at night; wedding definitely cancelled.

In a hotel room, Sawako sits quietly, looking at three porcelain cupids. Matsumoto leaves the hotel alone, gets in the car, drives away. Shot of him running over a butterfly, the same type as in the earlier scene.

He is at his apartment picking up things. He friend tells him the boss is really angry. He just asks if he could borrow money. Accepts it and leaves.

DVD Scene 5 (begins at 0:22;42)

She is staring at the cupid; trying to talk. He returns to the hotel. She is in the lobby, not the room, staring at the cupids. He brings her back to the room. He tells her she has to stay in the room. No answer. He says he will take care of everything. No answer.

She sleeps; he cannot. She goes out on her own again. She is staring at flowers in the lobby. Again she is trying to talk but no sound comes from her mouth. He finds her in the lobby, she has tried to take the flowers.

On the road (they have checked out of the lobby). He is on the phone trying to explain Sawako's condition. She is in a store picking up toys. He hangs up on his friend. She has tried to take things. When he tries to take them she struggles not to give them up. He pays for the toys.

She is staring at them in the car. He opens one for her an shows her how to play with it. But she can't do it (blowing through the toy.) Then she learns how and does only that. (It is night now and gets late into the night, then becomes morning--she continues to play.) She goes out to the road to pick up the ball and is nearly run over. the ball is crushed (like the butterflies.) She continues to try to play the game with the broken toy, crying.

DVD Scene 7 (begins at 0:32;06)

Opens with the broken toy on dried grass (same angle as butterfly on green grass). Living out of the car. His hair has grown, clearly time has passed. He goes through a trash can at a public restroom; she has wandered out into the highway and stopped a neon decorated truck because it was visually interesting to her.

She is back in the car; her is hanging clothes on a red cord. He thinks about the cord.

More time has passed. He has tied her to the cord. She is constantly trying the walk away but the cord jerks her back. He grabs her and says he is sorry.