Tomie: Toxic Femininity Explored

Kathryn joins Melvin to discuss Tomie, another early Junji Ito live-action adaptation! The two talk about the film’s varying quality, constantly curious ideas, and toxic-femininity; something they’ve rarely seen explored in film. 

Topics:

• (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 24-minutes discussing about Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil movie teaser trailer as well as responding to the surprisingly divisive online reaction. (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
• Kathryn & Melvin have both read the Tomie manga, but only Kathryn has finished reading it, and the two share their thoughts.
• Kathryn, “[Tomie] is a good highlight reel of Tomie the manga.”
• Tomie is playing with a lot of ideas, but very few feel fully realized.
• Perhaps the main idea explored in Tomie, which is inherent to the character, is toxic femininity, and a woman’s ability to use their feminine power for their own desires.
• Toxic gender ideologies deny the truth of image-bearing; that both man AND woman bear God’s image when in healthy relationship (platonic and/or romantic).
• Talking about Tomie as a character.
• Talking about flowers, and the choice to reveal Tomie’s face later in the film.
• Trying to understand the ending, which introduces some complex ideas to an already full film.
• Cross-examining Tomie and Tsukiko; what they share, how they differ, and forgiveness (or, the lack thereof). 

Recommendations:

• Black Paradox (2007-2008) (Manga)
• Hauntress (Zashiki Onna) (1993) (Manga)

Tomie is Not Rated. It features Miho Kanno, Mami Nakamura, Yoriko Dôguchi, Tomorô Taguchi, Kôta Kusano, Kae Egawa, Kae Minami, Kenji Mizuhashi, Yôichi Nukumizu, Rumi, Ikkô Suzuki, and Junji Ito. Directed by Ataru Oikawa. Tomie is available here.

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Melvin Benson is the Founder, Editor-In-Chief, and Lead Host of Cinematic Doctrine. Whether it’s a movie, show, game, comic, or novel, it doesn’t matter. As long as it’s rich, he’s ready and willing to give it a try! His hope is to see King Jesus glorified as far as the east is from the west!

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