This is the central theme explored in “Confession” (“Kokuhaku”), a 2010 Japanese film directed by Tetsuya Nakashima, which was also Japan’s entry to Oscar’s best foreign film category (which unfortunately didn’t cut it). Confession is barely a mystery/thriller movie, as it gives you away the antagonists near the beginning of film. This is a drama movie, albeit a very dark one.
The story starts with a monologue containing an epiphany about life told by the teacher Yuko Moriguchi (portrayed exceptionally by Takako Matsu). The students were nonchalant at first, but then went shocked after she revealed something disturbing: about how the father of Manami, her daughter, got HIV and how Manami, which at first thought to be died from drowning actually murdered by two of her students. The students, dubbed A/Shuuya Watanabe (played by Yukito Nishii) and B/Naoki Shimamura (played by Kaoru Fujiwara) were the murderers. She then told them her personal revenge, as A and B will likely to escape harsh punishment due to Japanese juvenile law. She injected the HIV-containing blood from her daughter’s father to A and B’s milks, as it would give them time to repent and think about the meaning of life. Naoki then went psychotic from the thought of dying from AIDS. He refused to go to school and take a bath, as he equated smelly hair and body odor to being alive. Shuuya, the smart mastermind, kept on going to school, and all students but Mizuki Kitahara bullied him sadistically.
As the story unfolded, we were told about problems and motivations that gave rise to the murder. Shuuya, who was shunned by her mother, wanted to prove to her (and to the world) that he mattered, that he was talented. He tried his best to show his talent, but the world ignored him, choosing to talk about the sensational murder done by a teenager (you’ll be surprised by who is this murderer) instead of his winning in a national school science award. He then chose murder as his raison d’être, a method to be known by this world. Naoki, on the other hand, went on murdering Minami by throwing her to pool (as the attempted murder using electro-shocking wallet by Shuuya failed) as a gesture to validate himself to Shuuya, whom he thought was his only friend. I won’t give you the rest as it will spoil you the story, but the story goes to be more disturbing from the “confessions” told from the point of view of other characters (including Naoki’s mom.)
Confession is a movie about ambition. It tells us that ambition is dangerous; it makes you stronger, but too much of it will destroy your lives. Confession is also a story about dysfunctional society, be it a family, educational system, or legal system. It tells us that what you do and give to your kids will shape their future, and should you fail as parent, the consequence will be horrible. If you are too demanding of them and ignoring even their smallest achievement, they can be obsessed to you (as what is hinted by the Oedipus complex Shuuya). If you are too protective of them, they can grow up as antisocial (as what is hinted by Naoki.) It also tells us the dire consequences of the failure of teaching respect and morality to kids, leading them to grow up without a sense of discipline, remorse, or even compassion.
“Confession”, in my opinion, seems like a combination of “Dexter” and “Dogtooth” (“Kynodontas”), directed by Lars von Trier. The usage of slow motion montages to dramatize the scene reminiscing me of von Trier’s “Antichrist,” albeit overused. Its characterization is superb, especially the detached teacher played by Takako Matsu who is able to portray a cold-blooded avenger who tries her best to conceal her sadness. The kids’ acting also looks convincingly brutal. The choice of soundtrack (one of it is Radiohead’s “Last Flower”) matches the very bleak tone of the film.
Overall, this is one of the best Japanese films I’ve ever seen, on par with its predecessor in Oscar, “Departure” (“Okuribito”) which won the 2009 Oscar best foreign film award. It’s a shame that it didn’t make into the Oscar best foreign film nominations. Nonetheless, as revenge is best served cold, Tetsuya Nakashima also served “Confession” with a chilling, cruel notion of life and death.
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