"Sunshine Through the Rain"

In Kurosawa’s film Dreams the scene entitled “Sunshine Through the Rain” epitomized several beliefs inherent within Shinto worship. The primary concept is that of duty and dishonor. The young boy out of curiosity, decides to venture out into the woods while it is raining, despite of warnings of a ‘fox marriage’ that occurs during the time alongside a great warning of danger. While there, he witnesses a ceremony occurring. The wedding ceremony, occurring in the seclusion of the woods, was one that required a level of secrecy. As the young boy oversaw the processions without invitation or permission, he put himself in danger’s way. Upon his return, he is given a dagger and asked to commit suicide rather than face the dishonor of his actions. In the Bushido of the Shinto tradition, death is favorable over dishonor. Therefore, the boy is asked to commit “Hari Kari,” a ritual suicide, rather than face the dishonor of his almost unforgivable action. Furthermore, his mother prevents him from returning into the house because of his actions, especially since they violated one of the greater ethics of societal and familial harmony.

While traversing through the woods, there were a couple moments of observed grandeur and a sense of sublime awe within the beauty of nature as a whole. This parallels the Shinto belief of a connection between man and the powers of nature. Inherent within this union is an underlying spirituality uniting the various universal components. It appears that this type of concept is similar to the Brahman in Hinduism and even echoes beliefs of the much later-developing Transcendentalism of the American 1800’s.  The Kami present within nature is something to be observed, revered and respected. The tone of reverence is created in Kurosawa’s film by the silence and the stark contrast of a young, innocent boy in the vastness of the woods and nature as a whole. The young boy’s silence and slow movements can be a direct result of is awe of both the beauty and vastness of the scene before him The portrayal was a reminder of a similar fascination that William Wordsworth had with nature ever since a young age, which he reveals in his autobiographical poem, The Prelude. Nevertheless, both Kurosawa and Wordsworth ultimately portray nature in a sublime and enrapturing way full of an unspoken power and beauty.

Kurosawa makes a seamless tie between the respect of Kami within nature and the values of dishonor, death and societal harmony within the short scene – a very powerful film making skill. 

-Kunal Kapoor