Sacred

Author(s): Jeffrey (Long Island)
Sacred

Directed by Isao Yukisada
Written by Takehiro Nakajima

Kou Shibasaki as Shiori Yuu
Kôji Yakusho as Touma Yuu
Aya Ueto as Hitomi Sakaguchi
You as Namiko Sakaguchi/Ayako Sakaguchi
and Joe Odagiri as Yasu Sato

Tagline: If you do not enter the tiger's cave, you will not catch its cub.

Synopsis:

(2008) My name is Yasu Sato and I work for the Japan Times. The date is September 14th, 2008. It is 5:00 in the morning, and just a few moments ago a secret world was discovered by myself and a few of my co-collaborators. It is a world that was, for several years, drowned in fear and discrimination. No written records, just symbols telling a story; symbols that I know all too well from years ago in middle school. As I walk around a hidden town that was forgotten somewhere along the line in history, and I see the skeletal corpses dating back to the 17th century, I can feel the stories of those who suffered diffuse from rotting bones into my brain.

A woman appears from beyond the forest surrounding the abandoned town. She introduces herself as Ayako Sakaguchi, a descendant of a family from the town. She has extensive knowledge of the town's history. She sits me down and tells me a chilling story of her ancestors.

(1640) 17th century Japan. The Kirishitan are a group of Christians practicing in secret due to the government's ban on Christianity and all outside influences. Japan had isolated itself from the West, and in a way, a remote village had to isolate itself from Japan. Around 150 people in the village practiced Christianity underground, fearing every day that they might be discovered by a Tokugawa supporter.

The Yuu family is the richest of the entire village, with Touma Yuu being an entrepreneur of sorts. He runs a fishing business in addition to being an oral presenter of the Holy Bible (something that could never be written down in fear of its discovery). His daughter, Shiori, is in training to become a nun for the underground church service. Touma highly encourages Shiori to pursue this path; however, she is less than thrilled about it. Problems arise when Shiori's carelessness leads her to become pregnant.

The Sakaguchi family is also prestigious, a historical Japanese example of old money. The head of the family is one of the few men of the village who can freely leave and explore; this often leads to his wife Namiko caring for her children alone. One of her kids, Hitomi, is good friends with Shiori. She develops a plan to eradicate Shiori's problem once she learns of it. As they prepare for the procedure however, they are caught by a furious Namiko. When Touma finds out, he becomes abusive towards Shiori and convinces himself that she is carrying the devil's child. He holds an exorcism late one night in the church beneath his home.

The morning after her exorcism, Shiori is awoken not by Touma but by the sounds of deafening screams. As she steps outside to investigate the mayhem, she is introduced to the consequences of her faith. Samurai have come to maim any man, woman, or child they see. Somehow they've found out.

(2008) I am deeply engrossed in Ayako's story at this point. Unfortunately, I come to find that a story as complicated as this legend has an obligation to end. The ending is not a pretty one; I find myself horrified by her tales of the persecution that followed the night of Shiori's exorcism. The persecution that resulted from the village's discovery. People were beheaded, women were raped, and homes were razed. All because they were practicing Christians.

What The Press Would Say:

Dark, violent, and tragic are just some of the words to describe the new Japanese epic, which calls itself "Sacred". Directed by Isao Yukisada (who is known for directing Japanese hits Go! and Crying Out Love, at the Center of the World, the former of which he won numerous awards for), "Sacred" tells the story of a man who discovers, through a legend, the lives of hidden Christians in Japan from centuries ago. Yukisada's directing has never been better, and with the help of screenwriter Takehiro Nakajima (who wrote the mesmerizing film When The Last Sword is Drawn, another period piece) he constructs a bone chilling story of persecution and self-discovery.

Joe Odagiri plays a historical journalist writing an article for the Japan Times; when he comes across a destroyed village littered with rotting corpses and nearly destroyed relics, he knows that he has struck gold. Odagiri has a fascinating role as a young man who goes from ignorant to enlightened, with the help of a mysterious woman played by You (yes, she goes by You). The actress You might be familiar to foreign audiences for her role in the Japanese family drama Nobody Knows, where she plays a negligent mother who abandons her four children. You couldn't be any more perfect for the part of Ayako Sakaguchi: her voice captures the audience and keeps them invested in her tale. In an interesting decision made by Yukisada and Nakajima, You also plays one of her ancestors: Namiko Sakaguchi. Namiko is similar to Ayako in her mysterious and radiant presence on screen. If the audience wasn't that impressed with You as Ayako, they have to admit that as Namiko she effortlessly proves her acting ability.

The most well-known person involved in this production has to be Kôji Yakusho (remember him from Babel and Memoirs of a Geisha?), who plays a deeply religious father. Yakusho has by far one of the baitiest roles ever written. His religious fervor makes those watching the film tremble in their seats. His exorcism scene is sure to be considered an iconic film moment in years to come; people also will be impressed by his preaching scenes in the underground church. He gives the audience not only an ambiguous character, but also helps to give them an idea of the atmosphere of the film. His daughter Shiori is played by Japanese TV queen Kou Shibasaki, who has worked with director Isao Yukisada on numerous occasions and rose to national acclaim in Battle Royale. Shibasaki is the most focused-on character in this tale due to her moral tribulations and the emotional stress that her father puts her through. She is expected to become a nun; however there is a small part of her that hopes to live a normal life that doesn't involve faith and constant hiding. When her village is discovered, Shiori is in constant turmoil because of the brutality she witnesses occurring all around her (including the beheading of her father). Yukisada directed Kou Shibasaki to the Japanese equivalent of an Oscar in Go!, and with a wide release in the United States it looks like he may help her win the real deal for "Sacred".

Aya Ueto, who many people know from action film Azumi, plays her role as the supportive and naive friend with stunning conviction and realism. It is Hitomi's carelessness that leads to the discovery of Shiori's planned abortion. The character of Hitomi explores the themes of guilt and rebellion that are similarly seen in Shiori. Ueto's standout scene is her heart-wrenching revelation that she has let down not only her best friend, but also her mother.

Koketsu ni irazunba koji o ezu: If you do not enter the tiger's cave, you will not catch its cub. That is to say, nothing can be achieved without a risk. Sitting ducks are bound to be disheveled. This old, wise Japanese saying is very important in "Sacred" and is something brought up by You's present-day character in the film's final moments. A village stifled by fear and persecution finds itself inevitably destroyed.

A story such as Anne Frank comes to mind when speaking about "Sacred". Its captivating and uniquely told story is one to be remembered for ages. The films succeeds as a riveting family drama and a terrifying historical reenactment. The audience can easily embrace the emotions that the characters feel, from their fear to their undying devotion to Christianity. Not enough can be said about the importance that "Sacred" will undoubtedly have on cinema in years to come, but one thing can be stated with certainty: "Sacred", in any language, can do nothing but win come award season.

For Your Consideration:

Best Picture
Best Director - Isao Yukisada
Best Actress - Kou Shibasaki
Best Actor - Kôji Yakusho
Best Supporting Actor - Joe Odagiri
Best Supporting Actress - Aya Ueto
Best Supporting Actress - You
Best Original Screenplay