In 1978, the same company that produced Hello Kitty, Sanrio, made a television film adaptation of the Japanese children's book, Chirin's Bell. Infamously known for its story that tackles the themes of revenge in a brutal manner, it has been seen as possibly the only Japanese shock film made for children. Some have even compared it to Bambi, although they've also stated to not really show it to young children. After watching the film myself, I did admire it for what it was, but I couldn't help but feel unsatisfied in some aspects.
The basic story revolves around a little lamb named Chirin, who seeks revenge on a wolf that killed his mother. Upon realizing that he must become like the thing he wishes to destroy, he is aided by the wolf to become a fearsome fighting beast. What's unique about this film is that it starts off as cute and sweet, but once the wolf comes in, the film takes a tonal 180 and becomes a grim tale of vengeance and the harsh realities of nature. Chirin acknowledges that he must become like a wolf if he wishes to destroy his enemy, which makes him develop into a fierce warrior whose innocence is taken away from him. However, the film also subtly speaks of the cautions of venturing away from home, as once you turn into something that you're not, you'll never be looked at the same way again. Once Chirin succeeds in killing the wolf, he thinks he can go back home, but all the sheep at the farm see him as nothing but a monster. All that Chirin has left is the bell on his neck, the one reminder of his once innocent life.
With all of that said, I think my biggest issue with the film is that I think it could've been longer than 46 minutes; maybe 75 or 80 at most. When Chirin vows to become the wolf's apprentice, there's never a moment beforehand that shows him contemplating wanting to do it. As the old saying goes, show, don't tell. That, and if you're trying to convey the idea that nature turns innocent lives into ferocious beasts, maybe have a few scenes where the wolf talks about his upbringing and how that affected him. That way, we can see multiple views of how nature affects animals, even those who are built to be predators. I'm not saying the film needs to be overly complex, but just a little more momentum would've fit well.
All in all, despite my personal issues with the film, I highly recommend watching Ringing Bell if you're looking for a family film that does not hold back in terms of tackling serious issues. A lot of family films today don't even have the guts to attempt that, so it's great to gain a breath of fresh air from the perspective of a film that tells us to never leave home, or else. Be warned though, unless your child can handle dark content, it's probably best to show them when they're about 8 or 9, no younger. One thing we cannot deny is how a company known for making kid friendly junk actually had guts in tackling subject matter this realistic.
The basic story revolves around a little lamb named Chirin, who seeks revenge on a wolf that killed his mother. Upon realizing that he must become like the thing he wishes to destroy, he is aided by the wolf to become a fearsome fighting beast. What's unique about this film is that it starts off as cute and sweet, but once the wolf comes in, the film takes a tonal 180 and becomes a grim tale of vengeance and the harsh realities of nature. Chirin acknowledges that he must become like a wolf if he wishes to destroy his enemy, which makes him develop into a fierce warrior whose innocence is taken away from him. However, the film also subtly speaks of the cautions of venturing away from home, as once you turn into something that you're not, you'll never be looked at the same way again. Once Chirin succeeds in killing the wolf, he thinks he can go back home, but all the sheep at the farm see him as nothing but a monster. All that Chirin has left is the bell on his neck, the one reminder of his once innocent life.
With all of that said, I think my biggest issue with the film is that I think it could've been longer than 46 minutes; maybe 75 or 80 at most. When Chirin vows to become the wolf's apprentice, there's never a moment beforehand that shows him contemplating wanting to do it. As the old saying goes, show, don't tell. That, and if you're trying to convey the idea that nature turns innocent lives into ferocious beasts, maybe have a few scenes where the wolf talks about his upbringing and how that affected him. That way, we can see multiple views of how nature affects animals, even those who are built to be predators. I'm not saying the film needs to be overly complex, but just a little more momentum would've fit well.
All in all, despite my personal issues with the film, I highly recommend watching Ringing Bell if you're looking for a family film that does not hold back in terms of tackling serious issues. A lot of family films today don't even have the guts to attempt that, so it's great to gain a breath of fresh air from the perspective of a film that tells us to never leave home, or else. Be warned though, unless your child can handle dark content, it's probably best to show them when they're about 8 or 9, no younger. One thing we cannot deny is how a company known for making kid friendly junk actually had guts in tackling subject matter this realistic.