Film Name: 大魚海棠 / Big Fish & Begonia / Big Fish & Chinese Flowering Crabapple
As someone with an extremely low tear threshold, I surprisingly felt no urge to cry after watching “Big Fish & Begonia.” While the film’s plot conveys a message of kindness, I don’t agree with the methods portrayed.
First, the human boy risked his life by jumping into the sea to save a red dolphin (Tsubaki). Rescuing someone in a storm is dangerous enough, especially with a whirlpool nearby. Why didn’t he strategize first? Even more infuriating: when he told his sister to grab the short knife, why didn’t he have her secure him with a sturdy rope or have him hold onto the fishing net? At least then, if he died, I could say he tried his best. But he went in without any safety measures? Was he brain-dead?
Then there’s Chun. To save that boy, she willingly sacrificed half her lifespan. It defies logic for a fish to remain in her world, yet she insisted on saving him. Fine, let’s call it a life-for-life debt repayment. But Chun’s abilities couldn’t protect the fish or enable it to grow up and return to the human world. That’s why a character named “Shu” appeared in the plot to safeguard her. In the end, Shū sacrificed himself to fulfill Tsubaki’s wish. He loved her deeply. The heartbreaking expression on Tsubaki’s face when she parted with the fish pierced him. His love compelled him to let her go. And consider this: the night before their farewell, Shū said, “After we send Kun off, let’s go home together.” Tsubaki replied, “I’ve lost my magic. I can’t go back.” Isn’t that a blatant hint?
Given that, shouldn’t You also sacrifice his life to save her? No, he didn’t. He was selfish. For a human boy he’d barely met, he abandoned his family and friends. The first thing he did upon returning to the human world was to smile and pull the boy toward him, saying, “I congratulate you—you’re about to be happy” (my sarcastic face + eye roll).
This story taught me: kindness is fine, kindness isn’t wrong, but blind kindness is foolish. Just like someone said, “Did you know Tingmu was swept away by the flood? His sister is waiting for him too.” And the whole village suffered because of her kindness. Don’t tell me she sacrificed herself for everyone—she brought the disaster upon them. She was merely redeeming her own mistake. She clearly said she’d return with Qiu, so what was with that heart-wrenching expression when parting with Yu? Your original goal was to save the human boy to pay off your debt—why the reluctance? Did a few fleeting encounters make you fall for his looks? Abandoning family? Friends? Seriously, 666.
Please specify：Anime Phone Cases » Big Fish & Begonia 2016 Film Review: The Price of Kindness