Tekkonkinkreet

Last updated on: September 22, 2008 at 6:47 pm by J. Ryan Parker

Tekkonkinkreet 2008-09-22T18:47:46-07:00 J. Ryan Parker

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I am no anime or manga expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I recognize the artistic value, beauty, and potential for these art forms. They, or animation in general, can image the limitless possibilities of our imagination. Theology and film scholars are starting to catch on to the implications of great works like Hayao Miyazaki‘s Spirited Away. Unlike much mainstream animation, great anime often blends truly fantastic animation with deep storytelling. Flipping through some past BFI catalogues, I noticed that throughout the summer, they offered anime screenings from various filmmakers. I decided to take a chance on one that stood out with at least the most interesting title: Tekkonkinkreet (2006), directed by Michael Arias and based on the popular manga by Taiyo Matsumoto.

Tekkonkinkreet follows two close friends, White and Black, young orphans in Treasure City who fancy themselves the rulers of their town, even with much larger and older gangs making the same claim. When the yakuz begin to shake things up in the city, White and Black harass the gangsters and disrupt, to an extent, their cash flow. When the boss realizes that times are changing, he brings in a corporation to creat a children’s theme park in Treasure City. Both White and Black and some of the members of the yakuza are not pleased with this plan as it will disrupt traditions to which they have become accustomed. If White and Black do not like the local yakuza, they like the corporate intruder even less. The film largely follows, in fits and starts, White and Black’s battle with their gangster foes and their struggle to survive in this large, oppressive city.

The main characters represent several simplistic dualities as their names imply. White and Black could represent good and evil, yet they together are a force for good that opposes larger evils. On the other hand, they must steal and commit acts of violence to survive. As the film progresses, we see just how close these friends really are and can eventually even see them as two components of the same person. White is a care free, naive young child who finds pleasure in the simplest of things. He is the source of much joy in the film and a fountain of comic relief. Black, on the other hand, is wise, determined, powerful, and, above all, dangerous, protecting White with all of his abilities. He leads the attacks against their “enemies,” while White, despite his distractions, occasionally offers assistance as well. Towards the end of the film, Black becomes consumed with revenge against the henchmen who almost fatally wound White. Black goes missing in action as he takes down the “monster” henchmen and some of the new theme park in the process. White feels Black’s encompassing revenge just as Black felt White’s pain when he was attacked. White tells the police, “I have all the screws Black needs.” The implication here is that Black has all the screws White needs as well.

Though the entire film is visually stunning, the final scenes are especially breath-taking as Black fights the darkness within, symbolized by an evil minotaur. As it overtakes him, the minotaur teases him, trying to lure him further into the darkness. The minotaur lies, claiming that the darkness that envelops Black is truly the light…the destination that Black seeks. In the meantime, White is overcome with panic and screams, crying out to Black. As he does, flashes of light break through the darkness and temporarily stave off the minotaur. It reemerges, however, telling Black that this is all a deception, a hell to which he must not run. White (light) eventually breaks through to Black who dispells the darkness completely, though not without a lasting reminder of his battle. The visuals that accompany this concluding struggle are simply amazing, terrifying, and awe-inspiring all at once, as are the spiritual struggles in which we are constantly engaged.

Tekkonkinkreet (100 mins) is available on DVD and is rated R for language and violence.

Film

Previous Post

September 16, 2008

Do You Believe In...

Next Post

September 29, 2008 Shock me, shock me, shock me with that deviant behavior

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Classics DVD Film Music News Pop Culture Events Print Sports Television Uncategorized Video Games

Select a Month March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who led the animals onto the ark?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Jacob Noah Isaac Moses