Yasashii Himura (film)

Yasashii Himura or Y.H. for short is one of the most acclaimed films in Kanami and in the world. The film chronicles the life of Kanami foundder Yasashii Himura from her early childhood to her death.

Plot

Y.H. Begins when Yasashii is just a small child. This is based on the fact that her diary began at this point when she was age 5. As a lonely orphan wondering the streets, she is brought in by a sensei, where she is taught the ways of being a good human beign in the world. Her sensei isn't refered to by name, but only by title. Yasashii is taught the ways of the sword and the ways of economics, philosphy, and polotics.

Following the death of her Sensei, Yasashii begins to travel, and preach what she was told. Contiuing the work and will of her sensei. Much to the dismay of many governments. At this point the film chronicles how she got followers, and when she was made leader of the resitiance that founded a nation. When they finally make a flee for a new land.

Everyone has now gathered and are sailing the stormy seas. Being constantly turn away by nations, untill they finally make land after a big storm, they land and dub the land Kanami and beigin setting up government, untill the great war to keep their independence and the showdown between Himura and VP Mako. In order to ensure that the government is stabel, Himura starts the Order of the Hawk, (Which is a highly debated part of the movie, see Historical Questions bellow) In addition it shows the freindship developed between Kanami and Aqua Anu. (See Aqua-Oka Pact of 1809)

The last parts of the film follow her and her marriage and family life to her death in 1823 from Shinjiku Syndrome, the film finally comes to a conclusion following the funeral and a few silent scenes (Scenes that only have music)

Filming Locations

The film was shot almost entirely on location. The first half of the film was shot in an unorganized country known as Mizth-Sonika. Because most historians belive Yasashii came from this teritory, Alex Thorton chose it. Civil unrest which has plaged the nation for the longest time threatened production on a daily basis. More than a thousand local extras were hired, which helped the economy tremendously.

For the sceens at sea, all fair weather scenes were shot on location on the coast of Kanami. However in order to pull of the complicated storms needed, location had to move to a large soundstage. At that time it was the larget ever built and considered the largest set ever constructed.

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This was an artist sketch of what the ship went through

In order to match the descriptions of the stormy conditions met, the ship was hooked to several hydraulic machines, and a small model was placed in a wave pool for long shots. Very few people could tell the diffrence, which led some to belive that it was a real ship in a real storm. Thoroton laughed at that saying "Do you know how hard that would have been." Although it seems unlikely, Kurona at this time was still using old and large sailing ships for trade in the Xanadouien sea and all other methods of transportation. They are often used to day, which Thorton would have liked.

The majority of filiming in Kanami was shot out west in the more rural towns and communties, including the farm community of Harmony, which to this day frees it's self from a lot of modern world. Alex Thorton met his wife Molly Hadley-Thorton while shooting this film, Molly her self was an extra in the film. When the crew was shooting on the outskirts of a small town in west Kanami.

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Thorton Filming a Scene

The Crew couldn't get inside the actual Parliment Chambers in Carmina Gadalica, so they made due with a small make shift set. Though the small town that they filmed at, were more than willing to allow them to film inside their chambers. Thorton hired his production designers to fabricate the offical chambers that of the early 1800's. All lights were removed and replaced by oil lamps, and additonal windows. Though due to budget some lamps were painted on.

The last sceens were filmed in right in the middle of town. Yasashii's funneral yeilded over 14,000 extras.

Reception

The film was more than likely to be a block buster in Kanami, but the studio had predicted doom around the world. Most figured they wouldn't understand or appreciate it, some of thoes nations which aren't as fully democratic or otherwise secular nations it was expected to be a complete failure. However, the film was a international block buster. In most countries it was on the top box office lists for weeks. Although it was banned in a few countries, it's mild content didn't cause much contraversy.

At the 1972 Kanami Arts Academy Awards, the film was nominated for 20 awards, winning 14 including Awards for all it's lead and supporting actors and actress awards also included direction, cinematography, production designe, and best picture. Alex Thorton was the youngest director to be nominated and win, which held untill the 1990 film Angel (film) The film also recived honary wins for it's splended color, despite the fact some critics felt the film should have been black and white.

Historical Questions

When the film was released world wide many wondered how accurate it was. The age of Yasashii alone was amazing to most people. Most Global History books did not cover the founding of Kanami throughly as Kanami text books did. Some even put the film off as blant fiction trying to act like a historical film. It was all proven when the Kanami Government presented the diaries of Yasashii Himura in a world summit. Although some skeptics wrote the summit off as a farce, many still testified to the authenticity.

The Scene when Yasashii is organizing a secret society known as the Order of the Hawk has been debated heavily. Alex Thorton did admit the film does have some fictional elements to it, but he can't say for sure if the order does not exisist. Rumors of an elite order are as old as the nation it's self and Producer Tanazaki said regardless of whether or not the order exists, it's part of the history of the country.

The character of Yasashii's Husband had come into question a year before. A highly debated book called The Anti-Hero Mate alleged new historical documents had proven Yasashii's Husband Shinta was a drunk who beat her frequently. Rumors about him were spreading like wildfire some even omitted him from text books. The screen writers looked very closely but could find nothing that would lead anyone to belive Shinta was that kind of man. No diary pages ever mentiond her being at mercy of him. Strangely enough a lost diary was discoverd in the village of Harmony. It was another Diary of Yasashii that was though lost with her death. The diary wasn't filled all the way but it chronicled her wedding to her children, and all pages expressed the utmost love for her husband. After a closer examination of her orginal diary which was kept in a museum, they found a lone page stuck to another. The whole page described a romantic relationship with her husband. The film ultimatley broke the myths of Shinta Himura, but some still have doubts.