SBFF presents Japanese box office hit

 

What would the world be like without law and order? It governs society. But often the distinction between what’s right and what’s wrong, what’s good and what’s evil is cloudy. Heroes quickly can become villains and vise versa.

“Death Note,” the 2006 Japanese box office smash hit, explores the blurry line of law and order as well as the dangers of anarchy and the illusion of revolution.

 

Adapted from the Japanese manga series created by writer Tsugumi Ohba and illustrator Takeshi Obata, “Death Note” follows the protagonist Light Yagami, a law student who decides to rid the world of riffraff after stumbling upon the Death Note, a notebook with the power to kill people whose names are written in it.

Under the name Kira, Light begins to create his crime-free Utopia, but in the process, he loses himself and becomes the sought after villain by the world’s greatest detective, “L.”

Though the acting at times was mediocre and some of the secondary characters unbelievable, i.e. when dying and grasping their necks and falling to the ground in seeming agony, the main characters held their own.

 

The story begins with the deaths of many known high and low criminals, which are televised. When it becomes apparent that the deaths are not random and are being caused by Kira, the world and a Japanese detective agency takes notice. The pressure is on and Light begins to kill in the interest of protecting himself from discovery.

As he does so, he initiates his own transition from hero to despised villain. But even in doing so, the viewer still finds sympathy for his character.

Because the Death Note belongs to Ryuk, a god of death, Light forges a friendship with him, believing he is the only being in the world he can trust. But Ryuk, who embodies anarchy, takes no sides and is only interested in self fulfillment.  

 

Because at some point many of us have flirted with anarchy, rebellion and the idealism of revolution, Light’s metamorphosis proves to be compelling and captures the audience’s attention.

As the investigation drones on, and it does, Light completes his journey and becomes the very embodiment of evil; he kills his beloved girlfriend to manipulate his father, the chief of police, into allowing him to join the very investigation being conducted in search of Kira.

Light’s drunkenness with power could happen to anyone.

 

The film presents the question of what is justice and whose job it is to enforce it. The question is never answered as Light successfully completes his deception and is welcomed into the investigation. But just when he thinks he’s in the clear, “L” appears and in a twist lets Light know he’s on to him.

The film closely resembled the original magna series and with camera angles and the representation of Ryuk as an animated character reminds the viewer of the animated series that shows on the Cartoon Network.

 

Since the film is a two-part series, it was disappointing that the film festival only presented part one.

Though the film is not a “must see,” it is entertaining. It scratches the surface of what it means to hold the power of death and be your own god. At times it entrenches the viewer in the plot and other times it instigates impatience.

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival will be featuring films through Feb.3. For more information or to view the schedule and newly added films visit www.sbfilmfestival.org.