Kaze to Ki no Uta (
The Poem (Song) of the Wind and the Trees)
Much like other adaptations of
Keiko Takemiya'smaterial, this is very much part of the Shoujo genre (\70's shoujo made in the 80's) and it makes no qualms about it. Much like
Natsu e no Tobira (The Door Into Summer), the setting is an all-male boarding school (Pretty much identical to that of Natsu). The characters are extremely familiar in their designs. They are very androgynous, but much like other shoujo, it serves the story well. Gilbert looks identical to the protagonist in Natsu amd there are even some
Oniisama e (-esque) characters. To those familiar with
Oniisame e, a Rei look alike makes an appearance later in the film.
The story takes place from the perspective of now graduated Serge, a transfer student from France. He is returning to his alma mater (A preparatory boarding school) to reminisce? Maybe? They dont make his intentions clear, but in the grand scheme of things its not a big deal.
There is a great use of classical music though out the film. Serge is a piano virtuoso, so there are quite a few scenes where we see him flex his musical muscles. One scene in particular, nearing the end of the OVA, I put on a loop (Chopin Etude Op. 25/11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnOLil6tCfE). There is also poetry, often appearing overlaid into the scene. It is written as if Serge had dedicated it to Gilbert. It comes fast, so I took the liberty of transcribing it:
Gilbert Cocteau-
You were the most
beautiful flower to
ever bloom in my life
You were a red flame
Fiercely burning bright
within out youthful
dreams.
You were the wind
stiring the branches
Can you hear the song of
the wind and trees?
Can you hear the rustling
of our youth?
Ah, there must be others
who remember.
Those who remember the
good old days of their youth.
The school is very strict, as many boarding schools are...I imagine. The school works as a sort of boudry that all the students are placed behind. They are not oppressed, but seem to be unfriendly to those who act out.
Serge is placed into a room, which seems to have a reputation. This is due to its current occupant, Gilbert. The polar opposite of what this well-mannered boy represents. The initial meeting of Serge and Gilbert is laced with sexuality. Gilberts lips come close to Serge...too close. But he pushes Gilbert away and collapses. Now Gilbert is passed out, not breathing, and in need of assistance. Serge goes to find help, but the other characters seem to strangely accept the fact that Gilbert is passed out. This is something that happens often, so it is approached as if nothing is out of the ordinary...
He is beautiful, that much is clear.
His resuscitation is another look into Serges lack of comfort with sexual behaviors. Mouth to mouth terrifies him; the student helpings contact with Gilberts lips causes him to jump back in fear. He seems to be unable to separate a kiss from resuscitation. He is asked to keep a rhythm
Ichi... Ni... san
Ichi.... Ni.... san
Ichi..... Ni..... san
The rhythm count gets slower and slower, as Serge becomes more interested in the process
Ichi...... Ni...... san
Ichi....... Ni....... san
Ichi........ Ni........ san
Gilbert reminds me so much of Rei from
Oniisama e
it's uncanny. And as the OVA progresses, it reminded me more and more of the melodramatic aspects in involving Rei.
I think that means gay...
The OVA takes a turn for the explicit when we find out about why Gilbert has his reputation as we find out about Gilberts...extra-curricular activities. He is a sex object, or at least he is perceived as one. I think this is when the OVA really picks up. We learn the realities of how Gilbert functions in this school and why he has such a strained relationship between him and the rest of the school. All the other students seem to hate him for this, while at the same time they seem to lust over him. One student proclaims "We've all been seduced by him". But later they express how dirty homosexuality is in their eyes. This is something that has always bothered me, but also interested me, about these kinds of works. Their take on homosexuality is both encouraging and dismissive. But this is for another conversation.
As the relationship between Serge and Gilbert develops, it becomes one of caregiver and patient. Serge wants to look after Gilbert, but he is not comfortable with being told what to do. He is not comfortable with being controlled. He asks himself Why isnt he lonely?
He wants Gilbert to be lonely so that they may be lonely together.
Their relationship appears to become much clearer after an incident involving Gilbert in their very room. But this is just an indication of what is to come. This relationship between Serge and Gilbert can be boiled down to "He is broken
but...but I can fix him!" Not an uncommon one, but it's still interesting to watch.
They are amidst the days
of their youth.
Standing in the boundaries of
their sexuality, the hold both
their hopes and fears of
adulthood in their hands.
They are standing at the
entrance of a million
crossroads leading to the
future.
What ties them all together
is the law of freedom.
They are all candles,
freshly lit.
This is where one must
control one's feelings.
Doubt.
Envy.
Content, yet with an
outpouring of tears.
Good people...
Bad people...
They shall both have their desires fulfilled.
Claws still hidden...
Watching in bewilderment.
The stressful day where
one comes to his own.
Youth.
On their own, the students of the academy act like children, even though they are expected to be more mature and adult-like at school. Here we see that really, the control of the environment is what shapes them...all of them except for our Serge and Gilbert. They are what they always have been, even when away from school. This is a good thing in Serges case, but Gilbert is not able to be controlled, and reverting to a prior affair. Once again treating him like the sexual object that everyone has made him out to be.
These eyes appear a few times and on character that are not central to the story. They stick out in a really weird way.
The moment that their relationship changes, is the moment that Serge can finally come to terms with his own desires. Serge wants something that he thinks Gilbert can give him, but he is only half right. Like many damaged characters, Gilbert is the result of some sort of abuse. He is what someone, along with the ideas of many, have made him out to be. This is where the OVA does a great job of showing how his emotional state is driven by pain, pleasure, and abuse. He is attempting to fill this vacuum or suppress these feelings with the sexuality that is destroying him.
In the end, the story feels incomplete when taken from the perspective of Gilbert. But it is not his story to tell, we are listening to Serge and in his case it ends abruptly. One can say that the culminations of their joint experiences is the end, but they set up so much more, that leaving it just there...it feels dismissive. It feels abrupt.
If anyone enjoyed
The Door Into Summer, they will enjoy this as well. It's a little less melodramatic and equally as entertaining. It is definitely better made, but it almost loses some of the flare of Natsu because of it.
Edit: In terms of animation and visual aesthetics, this does a lot of what The Door Into Summer did. They often color the entire scene blue, green, a singular color. They do a great job at making Gilbert look amazingly gorgeous and shimmering (literally) with life and sensuality. The animation can be a bit stiff at times, but it never takes away from the experience. It does a great job of staying visually and narratively captivating.
