Reflections on the movie "Radiance"

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For people who see movie viewing as a mere source of amusement, “Radiance” may not be very appealing. It is somehow inadequate if entertainment is what movie viewers are looking for. It is not even emotionally engaging, not initiating laughter or drawing tears, or sending chills down your spine. As I see it, it is more like a literary piece with a faint touch of romance, one you would enjoy reading for the mere sake of its artistic value and for its pacifying effect on your mood amidst the disturbances of daily life. However, the film does arouse some positive thinking about the attitude towards life and on life itself.

Nakamori (Masatoshi Nagase) is among the “viewers” in a panel supervising the first draft of a movie commentary text Misako reads out aloud to be evaluated about its effectiveness as verbal support for the visually impaired audience. Once a professional photographer, Nakamori is particularly critical of the verbosity of Misako’s text. With the eyes open, he wants to prove to himself and to the others that, though semi-sighted, he is capable of watching the movie being screened. He still keeps his camera and makes attempts to take photos of some kids. He gropes his way along the streets, bumping into obstacles and once even slipping over a pool of vomit. This is all due to his refusal to accept his gradual sight loss. Towards the end of the movie, however, he is seen enjoying the movie with the eyes closed, allowing himself to be guided along by Misako’s commentary. He uses a walking stick, too, pacing up and down the streets with greater confidence.

We viewers are thus inspired that nothing in life is permanent. And when something is slowly disappearing, be it health or love, what is left for us to do is come to terms with the loss and try to move on in life with renewed energy and confidence.

This concept about everything in this world being temporary is also implied in a key line of the movie: “Nothing is more beautiful than that which disappears before our eyes”. It appears several times in the movie, hence some sort of a guiding ethic. Misako also talks about her futile attempt to run toward the sunset and capture the light for keeps. We thus understand that something is beautiful mainly because of its brief existence and the peak of its beauty is the moment when it is disappearing. Therefore, we are to treasure it while it lasts so that we will not later lament its loss.

As the name “Radiance” suggests, there are a lot of focuses on light presented in various scenes. Having seen the movie, I realize that it is a blessing that we can still enjoy light in its various beautiful forms and that we should not take our power of sight for granted. I am also grateful that I can watch this thought provoking and reflective movie without the help of an audio commentary.