Contributed By Irin Tjahjana
Adapted from Harold Sakuishi’s best-selling manga, Beck is a refreshing and inspiring movie about the formation of a rock band between five extremely talented male youths and the subsequent problems that spring up.
Despite not staying true to some crucial aspects of the manga, the movie drives home the message of the story excellent. One should not be full of himself; in fact, it is a great virtue to sacrifice some things for the greatness of the group. In addition, it is important to have someone be the “glue” that brings every member together. Each member should feel valued in order to ensure group cohesion.
Besides highlighting the corrupted nature of the music industry, it also gives a realistic account of the problems encountered by each member of the band—be it in the form of group dynamics or a past that comes back to haunt them.
Japanese movies may not enjoy the kind of universal appeal that most Hollywood productions do, but the message is a timeless one.
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