Did anyone else want to slug that Father?
Man, what a cold fish. He never once smiled through the whole picture. His wife was obviously afraid of him. It might have even been an arranged marriage. He was so authoritarian, it hurt.
Well, it's a portrayal of a fairly traditional family in Japan back in those days. The original manga this was based on was supposed to get readers nostalgic about the 60s. And back then, even more children had families where the father had a lot of authority over the family like that.
That being said, the Father wasn't a horrible person. He obviously had a lot of affection for Taeko (seen by his little nickname for her). In the manga, he is unable to sleep after hitting her.
That's good to know but they could have shown that in the film.
I grew up in the 1960's but my parents never slapped me.
Okay, but were you in a traditional Japanese family?
You have to take culture and time period into perspective.
From my perspective, it was a bad thing to do that he should rightly feel guilty for - but he isn't abusive. The father probably had the same thing happen to him as a child.
Both American and Japanese cultures were more authoritarian back then, so your question is moot. Hitting anyone is always abuse, especially hitting a child.
sharePretending there's no cultural differences between American and Japanese families is pointless.
Personally, coming from an Asian cultural perspective, I found this scene completely believable.
Authoritarianism is authoritarianism in any culture. That was my point, which you deflected.
Hitting a child is abusive, no matter what the culture.
Your point that "hitting a child is abusive, no matter what the culture" says something about your mind set. It says something about your culture. To the Japanese back in the 60s it wasn't considered abusive. You find it abusive, the father did not. That is a clear cultural difference.
I am not trying to defend hitting a child, I will never hit a child. I am just trying to point out how it is in fact a cultural difference the way you interpret it.
A father smacking his child isn't always abuse. Ever heard of discipline? It was just the randomness of the act, and that it came after she stepped outside without shoes. Seemingly, he overreacted, and he most probably did, but she'd been being a brat for awhile, and I think the hit came from her general attitude rather than the situation at hand. Either way, people smack their kids all the time. Doesn't make them abusive. I was more pissed at the ignorance of the mother and bitch of a sister. Maths aint her thing, doesn't make her retarded.
sharevery good point
shareIf it was meant to be disciplinary for her general attitude, he should have explained that much, he didn't bother so you can't say its not child abuse since she believes the slap was just for accidentally stepping outside in socks
Like strawberries and cream
It's the only way to be =P
Just because he didn't explain doesn't make it necessarily "child abuse." Some of you people need to get a grip -- spare the rod spoil the child. Although I don't agree on the way he did it, I understood why.
The people who cry "CHILD ABUSE!" so quickly make me wonder sometimes.
2013 Most Anticipated - Stoker, The Spectacular Now, Frances Ha
Most of Europe has abolished such behaviour. Regardless of mindset or culture, striking = violence, violence = wrong.
share>>Regardless of mindset or culture, striking = violence, violence = wrong.
What kind of modern education have you received?
2013 Most Anticipated - Stoker, The Spectacular Now, Frances Ha
Oh please - he is a human being too and capable of doing wrong. He slapped her in the heat of the moment. He felt regret immediately and there was no harm done except that she felt ashamed of being a brat which led to the slap. I hate it when people use the word child abuse so lightly.
sharethis was the 60's in Japan, obviously not your lifestyle.
Why's everything gotta be "you, you, you". "YOUR" beliefs on abuse, "YOUR" response to the Father's ways. It's clearly about Taeko, and her life, and what her childhood was like. It doesn't matter a damn bit if it's abuse or not, it's painting a portrait of reality. Such as Taeko's reality.
Child-rearing was a lot different in the 60's, anywhere. The fact that you weren't "hit" as a kid says either two things 1) you were a very behaved child, or 2) your parents were pussies. take your pick
I hated the father, he was around only to make his family unhappy.
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