バルトの楽園 & ベートーヴィん No. 9 Op. 125

Last night my neighbors and I went to see the movie バルトの楽園　Baruto no Gakuen. It was the first movie in a movie theater I've seen since Linea and I watched "Pirates of the Caribbean" before we almost missed our ferry from Hokkaido to Honshu. And before that, I can't remember the last movie I've seen on the big screen. Sad but true!

I'll admit it, the movie made me cry! I had tears in my eyes by the end. I'm a sucker for these cross-cultural flicks with happy endings. This movie takes place in a Japanese POW Camps during WWI on the island of Shikoku in Japan. German POWs are being held there, but they have a pub, printing press and bakery on site. They can play soccer in the courtyard. And with permission, they can leave the grounds and walk around the town. They are free to come and go. They even go on field trips to the beach. It's not a prision, it's just a holding area until the war ends.

When the war finally does end the prisoners prepare for their farewell. Unlike saying good-bye to some horride retchid place, they have made friends, established relationships, and will miss this POW camp they called home for several years. To celebrate and say good-bye, they decide to preform Beethoven's 9th Symphony (The Ode to Joy), but with a limited orchestra and a limited choir (only men). It was the first time this symphony was played in Japan, but not the last! It started an 'Ode to Joy' obsession! It's no wonder the soldiers decided the Beethoven's 9th was appropriate when you read the translation of the fourth movement is below.

Without knowing anything about the movie before hand, I left the theater very skeptical that it could be based on a true-story. I didn't think a POW camp in Japan could ever be or ever was so lush! But in fact, it's based on a true story. Camp Banto, as it was called, is now open to the public and can be toured. You can Visit Camp Banto and take a tour of the barricks and German bakery they had on site. This camp was run by General Toyohisa Matsue. He had very unique and humane ideas about how a POW camp should operate. If only all generals were so humane!

Maybe my excitement about the film was just seeing it on a big screen (a rare event these days). Or maybe it's because I could relate to the cross-cultural moments the characters shared. Or maybe it's because I have a hard time believing that prisoners and locals could ever live so cordially together, but apparently they did once upon a time. But regardless of my personal reasons for enjoying it, I recommend watching it. I'm not sure if it'll be released in the US or maybe it already has, but try to see it! It's a feel good kind of movie. Here are links to the Introduction (in English) and the Story (in English) . It's a bilingual movie, both in German and Japanese. Without English subtitles, I know I missed a lot of it. Although it's also the kind of movie that doesn't really need subtitles.

And if all those other websites are too much to get through, spend a few minutes and read this really cute version of the story written by children, The Symphony of Friendship, it's a picture book online.

As for Beethoven's 9th....
Every December, there are literally hundreds of groups performing Beethoven's 9th Symphony. Since WWI it has gained tremendous popularity all over Japan and there is even an annual 5,000 member choir that has been performing it in the Tokyo Sumo Stadium for over 20 years. Beethoven's 9th has become an annual event adopted by Japan, but started in a German POW camp in Shikoku. I'm sure the 9th symphony has reached far beyond Beethoven's wildest dreams!

This December 17th, JP & I will join in the fun. We've become part of the masses of choirs and orchestras performing the 'ode obession' during the holidays. Tickets are on sale!

ベートーヴィん　No. 9　コンサート
コラーレ、　カーターホール
12月17日　日曜日　　　　
１４：００時
３０００円

Text of the fourth movement
(English translation, taken from Wikipedia)
Oh friends, not these tones!
Rather let us sing more
cheerful and more joyful ones.
Joy! Joy!
Joy, thou glorious spark of heaven,
Daughter of Elysium,
We approach fire-drunk,
Heavenly One, your shrine.
Your magic reunites
What custom sternly divides;
All people become brothers
(Schiller's original:
What custom's sword separates;
Beggars become princes' brothers)
Where your gentle wing alights.
Whoever succeeds in the great attempt
To be a friend of a friend,
Whoever has won a lovely woman,
Let him add his jubilation!
Yes, whoever calls even one soul
His own on the earth's globe!
And who never has, let him steal,
Weeping, away from this group.
All creatures drink joy
At the breasts of nature;
All the good, all the evil
Follow her roses' trail.
Kisses gave she us, and wine,
A friend, proven unto death;
Pleasure was to the worm granted,
And the cherub stands before God.
Glad, as his suns fly
Through the Heavens' glorious plan,
Run, brothers, your race,
Joyful, as a hero to victory.
Be embraced, you millions!
This kiss for the whole world!
Brothers, beyond the star-canopy
Must a loving Father dwell.
Do you bow down, you millions?
Do you sense the Creator, world?
Seek Him beyond the star-canopy!
Beyond the stars must He dwell.
Finale repeats the words:
Be embraced, ye millions!
This kiss for the whole world!
Brothers, beyond the star-canopy
Must a loving Father dwell.
Be embraced,
This kiss for the whole world!
Joy, beautiful spark of the gods,
Daughter of Elysium,
Joy, beautiful spark of the gods