Stories with supernatural abilities are a dime a
dozen, especially in Western stories (with our extreme oversaturation of
superhero films). But the show of Sakurada
Reset, which takes place in the modern coastal (fictional) town of
Sakurada, features a population with special abilities that exist only within
the town borders. Instead of “cool action”, the setting offers intrigue through
some rather intricate abilities. Main characters Haruki (a high school aged
girl) and Kei (one of her classmates) both have abilities: Haruki can reset
time by looping it while Kei has the ability to maintain his memory even during
these reset moments. Through these characters, this show explores an intriguing
side of humanity that goes beyond what is ordinarily called “scientific.” It
encourages us to explore.
The first episode, entitled “MEMORY IN CHILDREN 1/3”, centers on Mari Kurakawa, a girl revealed to have died at birth during the performance of a C-section operation. On this description alone, one could reasonably understand the heavy emotions involved – a girl who should come into the world does not. However, the series takes advantage of its supernatural setting to establish a dead girl as a living one. (Presumably, there will be an explanation in the coming episodes.) This would suggest that the character of Mari is a fake.
The first episode, entitled “MEMORY IN CHILDREN 1/3”, centers on Mari Kurakawa, a girl revealed to have died at birth during the performance of a C-section operation. On this description alone, one could reasonably understand the heavy emotions involved – a girl who should come into the world does not. However, the series takes advantage of its supernatural setting to establish a dead girl as a living one. (Presumably, there will be an explanation in the coming episodes.) This would suggest that the character of Mari is a fake.
A string of
shots early in the episode track Mari running across the street while crying,
separated from her mother. Upon seeing Mari, Haruki tries to reset time but
fails based on the rules governing her ability. Despite Haruki’s glacial
response, Mari seems encouraged by the followup question of “Where did you lose
sight of her?” Mari then offers a curious explanation of being at the hospital
for a checkup. Here, there is a darker meaning that she is a soul (ghost) who
cannot find ease, consistent with the scenes of her wandering aimlessly. This
makes a difficult situation heartbreaking.
Undoubtedly, context matters – in the case of Mari, Haruki and Kei both agree to aid the young girl. But there is a difficult detail: though the girl is likely a lost spirit, she is treated earnestly as a character. Speaking to Haruki on the swings, Mari strives to learn what trust is, reflecting her childlike curiosity. This juxtaposition with her death is poignant because she will never get to, “as a living person”, experience that. And this contrast is even stronger when Mari discusses her love for her mother and for Haruki. Mari says that her mother likely does not love her, establishing her as a “fake” whose love is not powerful or tangible. For me, that is what struck deeply about Mari’s character, as she is a flesh-and-blood representation of the tragedy she faced.
As a writer, I wonder if I could create a Mari of my own – she is a powerful character in that she is a tragic character but not to the point of making empathy impossible. It’s hard to imagine that a little girl on a swing would face such a struggle unless presented in just the right manner. Maybe such a heart-wrenching character distracts from musings on how human life can play out. But it is clear to me that Mari stimulates my moral imagination of what such a life after death at birth might be like. Having seen Mari’s struggles, I hope for a peaceful resolution for her in the coming episodes.
Works Cited
Sakurada Reset. "MEMORY IN CHILDREN 1/3": David Production, 2017. Directed by Shinya Kawatsura and performed by Misaki Kuno and Kana Hanazawa.
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