CHACHA: not so much of a review, but at least there are clips?
I cried and cried and cried.
I saw expressions on Taka-chan that I had never seen before, even though at times I was reminded that the "old Wao" was still in there.
I was afraid that this movie would have a lot of court drama that I wouldn't understand, but actually it didn't. At all.
All Chacha is, at heart, is the story of a woman with pride and a strong sense of self; the story of a mother who wants nothing more than to protect her children and her home.
It's beautiful, and it's really difficult for me to cut it to pieces when I think this film is best viewed as a whole. But, well, here goes.
Welcome Home, Dear ~ A short scene, but it's cute. <3 Even though Chacha originally married Hideyoshi with the thought of killing him, she couldn't do it -- and once their first child was born, something grew between the two of them. Here Hideyoshi comes home from battle hoping to unwind with his playthings O-Ma and Tatsuko... but finds Chacha waiting for him instead. They share a moment.
Loss ~ Actually this comes right afterward, so I could have left the clips together. Chacha receives word that while staying at their former residence of Yodo Castle, three-year-old Tsurumatsu suddenly took ill and died. Heartbreaking scene of denial and accusations in the rain. Chacha flees back to Yodo Castle and mourns her loss. Her younger sister (who was sent off to marry some lord many years previous) comes and asks if there is anything she can do. Instead of accepting her comfort, Chacha chastises O-Go for parting from her family even for a moment. "Mothers should not not leave their children."
Yodo-dono and Ieyasu ~ Eventually Chacha (also known as Yodo-dono) had a second son, Hideyori, but now her husband Hideyoshi is dead. O-Go was sent to marry and bear an heir for a new husband -- Tokugawa Ieyasu. Chacha asks that this child, her niece Sen, be placed under her care as a companion for her son. When they reach adulthood they will marry, creating a bond between the two houses that Chacha wants Ieyasu to promise not to break. This does not sit well with O-Go, who does not want to give up daughter -- but Chacha is delighted to have two children around. The look on her face at the end of this scene... It's one of my favorite moments of the movie.
Not clipped:
Chacha's maidservant kicking ass!
The iconic Chacha In Armor On Horseback bit!
The final scene, which I also love very much and blubbered quite a lot over.
PLUS the bonus DVD has lots of little interview segments and other fun "making of" things. <3
But I'm leaving it there for now. *curls up to sleep with stuffed Wao clock*
I saw expressions on Taka-chan that I had never seen before, even though at times I was reminded that the "old Wao" was still in there.
I was afraid that this movie would have a lot of court drama that I wouldn't understand, but actually it didn't. At all.
All Chacha is, at heart, is the story of a woman with pride and a strong sense of self; the story of a mother who wants nothing more than to protect her children and her home.
It's beautiful, and it's really difficult for me to cut it to pieces when I think this film is best viewed as a whole. But, well, here goes.
Welcome Home, Dear ~ A short scene, but it's cute. <3 Even though Chacha originally married Hideyoshi with the thought of killing him, she couldn't do it -- and once their first child was born, something grew between the two of them. Here Hideyoshi comes home from battle hoping to unwind with his playthings O-Ma and Tatsuko... but finds Chacha waiting for him instead. They share a moment.
Loss ~ Actually this comes right afterward, so I could have left the clips together. Chacha receives word that while staying at their former residence of Yodo Castle, three-year-old Tsurumatsu suddenly took ill and died. Heartbreaking scene of denial and accusations in the rain. Chacha flees back to Yodo Castle and mourns her loss. Her younger sister (who was sent off to marry some lord many years previous) comes and asks if there is anything she can do. Instead of accepting her comfort, Chacha chastises O-Go for parting from her family even for a moment. "Mothers should not not leave their children."
Yodo-dono and Ieyasu ~ Eventually Chacha (also known as Yodo-dono) had a second son, Hideyori, but now her husband Hideyoshi is dead. O-Go was sent to marry and bear an heir for a new husband -- Tokugawa Ieyasu. Chacha asks that this child, her niece Sen, be placed under her care as a companion for her son. When they reach adulthood they will marry, creating a bond between the two houses that Chacha wants Ieyasu to promise not to break. This does not sit well with O-Go, who does not want to give up daughter -- but Chacha is delighted to have two children around. The look on her face at the end of this scene... It's one of my favorite moments of the movie.
Not clipped:
Chacha's maidservant kicking ass!
The iconic Chacha In Armor On Horseback bit!
The final scene, which I also love very much and blubbered quite a lot over.
PLUS the bonus DVD has lots of little interview segments and other fun "making of" things. <3
But I'm leaving it there for now. *curls up to sleep with stuffed Wao clock*