Customer Reviews

A Dedicated Life

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`A Dedicated Life' is a documentary depicting the life of a now obscure Japanese author, Mitsuharu Inoue. As a simple story about an arrogant, mid-20th century, second or third tier writer of dubious moral character, this film is a rather joyless affair. In director Kazuo Hara's hands, it becomes something a bit more interesting and important, especially when viewed through the prism of today.

Many written references to the subject Inoue mention that he was a member of the Japanese Communist party, that he was a nominee to a high literary prize in Japan, that he was revered by Japanese readers, that he changed the face of post-war Japanese literature, and on and on. In the end, though, Inoue was a man full of his own significance; smart, for sure, but shallow. I even suspect he was a Communist because it was a cool thing to be if you were in the intelligentsia--an all too common trait even in today's celebrity world.

But, here's where Kazuo Hara's deft and visionary hand at documentary making becomes important. He can make vapid, disagreeable subjects come alive in the same way that a few of today's reality show producers can make our own shallow celebrities interesting. In fact, Hara's work here is a precursor to today's reality TV in the same way that his other documentary, The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On was likely an inspiration to the Michael Moore school of gotcha journalism.

Like today's reality shows, Hara's camera captures the real (and some staged) moments of the day-to-day happenings of Inoue, albeit with a single camera. But, this "reality show" becomes intensely personal toward the end as the camera captures Inoue's slow death from cancer. What would motivate him to allow this intrusion? The same reason today's reality show subjects allow the intrusion: an immense ego and a self-perception that they are the center of the universe.

Promotional literature describes `A Dedicated Life' as "powerful" and "moving". Moving, at times, perhaps; powerful, no. Unless you are student of contemporary Japanese history or have an interest in the evolution of modern media into its current sorry state, you'll want to pass on this one.