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CYCLE CINEMA #09
“Kramer vs. Kramer”
The moment I first rode a bicycle, who I was with.

There was a film movement called American New Cinema. It consisted of films released in the late 1960s to the 1970s such as “Easy Rider,” “The Graduate,” “Midnight Cowboy,” ” Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” and “Apocalypse Now.” Perhaps one of the reasons for the frequent use of young directors was the incorporation of messages or somewhat critical perspectives on society and politics, taking a different approach from traditional entertainment films. American New Cinema was enthusiastically supported by younger generations and had a significant influence on subsequent films.

“Kramer vs. Kramer” (1979) is also a product of the American New Cinema. The story revolves around a divorced couple and their child, with a simple narrative. The film begins with the lively music of Vivaldi’s “Mandolin Concerto RV 425”. Contrasting with this upbeat music, Joanna, played by Meryl Streep, wears a somber expression. She is on the verge of leaving, determined to leave the house without her son Billy (Meryl Streep’s performance, conveying emotions solely through expressions, is remarkable). Unaware of this, Ted (Dustin Hoffman) returns home from work, preoccupied with his job. Joanna announces her decision to leave Ted without giving a clear reason and walks out. Ted assumes she will soon return, but she doesn’t. Left to manage household chores he once left to Joanna, Ted struggles to balance parenting and work. He earnestly tries to be a good father, but Billy directs his loneliness from his mother’s departure towards Ted. Ted, exhausted both mentally and physically, faces mounting errors at work. Not only his job but also his relationship with his son deteriorates further.

One day, the two were in Central Park. Billy, astride a blue child’s bike, listened as his father advised and encouraged him on how to ride. Ted delightedly watched as Billy learned to ride the bike. Capturing the sight of his son riding a bike for the first time with a Nikon camera, Ted’s expression carried a poignant sadness, unable to share this happy moment with anyone. Sharing these moments of happiness is what defines a family. After this bittersweet yet joyous scene, Ted and Joanna begin their battle for custody of Billy.

“Kramer vs. Kramer” questioned the traditional family image of “men work, women stay home.” Even today, many can relate to it. This suggests that Japanese society may not have changed much since the younger generation questioned the old system during the American New Cinema era.

🎬CYCLE CINEMA STORAGE🎬
#01 “The Bicycle Thief”
#02 “Project A”
#03 “Shoot for tomorrow!”(origin title “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”)
#04 “The Kid With a Bike (Le gamin au vélo)”
#05 “Izakaya Choji”
#06 “Cinema Paradiso”
#07 “Kids Return”
#08 “PERFECT DAYS”
#09 “Kramer vs. Kramer”
#10 “E.T.”
#11 “Gachi-Boshi”
#12 “Yesterday”
#13 “Wadjda”
#14 “The Zone of Interest”
#15 “Anselm”
#16 “Otoko wa Turai yo”


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Text＿Hideki Inoue
I am from Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. I work as a writer and editor. My hobbies include hot baths, skiing, and fishing. Although I have no personal connection, I am independently conducting research on Shiga Prefecture. I prefer an active fishing style called “RUN & GUN,” which involves moving around actively instead of staying in one place. Purchasing a car to transport bicycles for this style of cycling seems like putting the cart before the horse.

Illusutration＿Michiharu Saotome

Post Date：2024.03.27

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#Aomori

#Aomori Museum of Art

#Besshi-Suiha Flower View Cycling Course

#E.T.

#Hirosaki

#Imabari-Dogo Sea Breeze Cycling Course

#Imabari-Saijo Hot Springs Cycling Course

#Ishizuchi Mountains Cycling Course

#Iyonada-Sadamisaki Seto Seaside Cycling Course

#Kokuhou

#Nebuta

#Neputa

#Okuiyo-Hijikawa River Cycling Course

#Ringo

#Shimanami

#Spielberg

#Uchiko-Nakaiyo Rural Cycling Cours

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#Yoshitomo Nara

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CULTURE
CYCLE CINEMA #15
“Anselm”
An Artist Who Explores Giant “Factories” by Bicycle

When you hear the words “painter” or “artist’s studio,” a certain image might come to mind: a chaotic desk cluttered with paintbrushes and tubes of paint, a large window flooding the room with sunlight, perhaps even a beautiful garden beyond. The film Anselm (2023), which depicts the German contemporary art giant Anselm Kiefer, takes the form of a documentary. However, it is directed by Wim Wenders—the renowned filmmaker behind Paris, Texas, Wings of Desire, and Perfect Days. In his hands, the film transcends a mere record of events, becoming a poetic visual experience where fact and fiction intertwine seamlessly. Kiefer is one of Germany’s most prominent […]

#Cinema
CULTURE
CYCLE CINEMA #04
“The Kid With a Bike (Le gamin au vélo)”
The boy abandoned by his father searches for hope on a bicycle.

“The Kid With a Bike (Le gamin au vélo)” (2012, directed by the Dardenne brothers) is, as the title suggests, a story centered around a boy and his bicycle. The protagonist is Cyril, a boy living in a Belgian foster care facility. One day, his cell phone with his father suddenly goes offline. When he contacts the apartment manager, they claim that his father has moved away. He can’t believe it. His father wouldn’t just move without telling him. Moreover, his precious means of transportation, his bicycle, is still in his father’s apartment. Cyril runs away from the facility and visits the apartment, but as the manager said, his father has already moved, and there’s no sign of the bicycle. Cyril has been abandoned by his father.

#Column #Cinema