Fear and Trembling (film)
| Stupeur et tremblements | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Alain Corneau |
| Written by |
Amélie Nothomb Alain Corneau |
| Starring |
Sylvie Testud Kaori Tsuji Taro Suwa Bison Katayama |
Release dates | 2003 |
Running time | 107 min |
| Country | France, Japan |
| Language | French/Japanese |
Fear and Trembling (original title Stupeur et tremblements) is a French film based on the novel of the same name by Amélie Nothomb.
Synopsis
Amélie, a young Belgian woman (played by Sylvie Testud), having spent her childhood in Japan, decides to return to live there and tries to integrate into Japanese society. She is determined to be a "real Japanese" before her year contract runs out, though it is precisely this determination that is incompatible with Japanese humility. Though she is hired for a choice position as a translator at an import/export firm, her inability to understand Japanese cultural norms results in increasingly humiliating demotions. Though Amelie secretly adulates her immediate supervisor, Ms Mori (Kaori Tsuji), the latter takes sadistic pleasure in belittling Amelie. Mori finally manages to break Amelie's will by making her the bathroom attendant, and is delighted when Amelie tells her that she will not renew her contract. Amelie realizes that she is finally a real Japanese when she enters the company president's office "with fear and trembling," which was possible only because her determination had been broken by Mori's systematic humiliation.
The title, "Fear and Trembling", is said in the film to be the way Japanese must behave when addressing the Emperor. For Westerners, it calls to mind a line from Philippians 2:12, "continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling", which could also describe Amélie's attitude during her year at Yumimoto.
Awards and nominations
- César Awards (France)
- Won: Best Actress – Leading Role (Sylvie Testud)
- Nominated: Best Writing (Alain Corneau)
- Karlovy Vary Film Festival (Czech Republic)
- Won: Best Actress – Leading Role (Sylvie Testud; tied with Giovanna Mezzogiorno for Facing Windows (La finestra di fronte))
- Won: Special Mention (Alain Corneau)
- Nominated: Crystal Globe (Alain Corneau)
External links
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