BLUE SPRING (2002)
Directed by Toshiaki Toyoda
Starring: Ryuhei Matsuda, Youichiro Onishi
Genre: School/Drama
Running Time: 83mins

Rating:

Coming Soon.

Blue Spring can be seen as the "reality" check to the histrionics of Battle Royale. A portrait of a disaffected youth in a futureless society, whilst Battle Royale achieved an overall positive image of youth striving against all odds to survive amongst chaos through exaggeration and satire, Blue Spring pulls no punches in its bleak depiction of a school of misfits given no second chances, offered no easy rides and with no light at the end of the tunnel.

Set in a last stop high school, populated entirely by delinquents who are either rejected, suspended or expelled from other schools it becomes no surprise that the building is dilapidated, awash with graffiti and such notions as education, and punctuality not considered the main priority by students and teachers alike. The main priority, and the heart that drives this school it seems, is a power-struggle for the title of ruler of the hallways. Decided in a heart stopping scene as the pupils cling to the railing that surrounds the highest point of the school, the challenge is simple: let go, then see who can clap the most before falling to what would undoubtedly be certain death.

It is during this hierarchy deciding "game" that we meet the protagonists of our film, played admirably by a young cast including Gohatto's Ryuhei Matsuda (all pout and introspection) Hirofumi Arai (a polar opposite full of external rage) while also featuring a brief role for Sousuke Takaoke (Battle Royale's Sugimura). Perfectly capable of holding their own in the acting stakes it's a shame that Toyoda then feels the need to follow this character building scene by diluting their achievements with a momentary slip in style.

The grittily realistic atmosphere is cast aside for a 3 minute drooling fanboy sequence as a slow motion attitude power walk is accompanied by Thee Michelle Gun Elephant's hard rock soundtrack. Sure it achieves its aims in a purely aesthetic way, it is undoubtedly cool to both eyes and ears, but it simply goes against the grain betraying the most important aspect of the film: its heart.

The fact is that Blue Spring is far more than just a slice of delinquent life. It's a cry of help and understanding - a bleak one at that - but nevertheless its purpose is as a call for a second chance, to not be cast aside and left to rot. These kids, after all that is what they are, are left with no prospects. Yakuza drive by to pick them up and initiate them into the gang, enticing them with a way out of the systematic decline they inhabit. It becomes apparent very early in the film that the only way out is through crime. And all hope, and all attempts to break free by any other means is practically worthless.

Despite this overwhelmingly bleak vision of these forgotten members of society however, Blue Spring is not all gloom and doom. Providing a much-needed lift from the intense violence that pervades the hallways, there are a number of serene moments to make Blue Spring a much more rounded experience. These sequences ranging from the gardener's metaphorical encouragement of the students to nurture and care for the plants, to a romantic side story that offers something of an escape through love are essential as they subtly eschew the core of the characters, particularly that of Kujo (Matsuda) who beneath a cold steel nihilistic gaze, genuinely seeks more from life than his rebel status allows. He represents a frustration at conformity whether it be the normal school life which he has clearly left behind, or the delinquents path, it seems he constantly wants to break free from the constraints of a pigeon-holing society and just exist.