the dumbest movie from tiktok?

the dumbest movie from tiktok?

continuing my marathon of japanese cinema, i decided to watch one of the more famous entries in both japanese comedy and arthouse — symbol (2009).

first off — something i often think about when watching auteur cinema. i usually avoid reading reviews beforehand, just to keep things unbiased and not ruin the experience with other people’s judgments. but after watching, i sometimes check out a few. normally, it’s curated spaces or film-specific sites. this time though, i ended up reading the “popular comments” section on a regular streaming site... and wow.

i don’t mind different opinions — especially when they’re at least constructive. but i was honestly stunned by how much random hate this film was getting. turns out it went semi-viral on tiktok, and people came in droves just to trash it and tank the rating.

this review isn’t about proving that everyone should like this film. taste is personal. but what i do want to say is: a lot of those harsh reactions are totally unfair. and if there’s one takeaway, it’s this — don’t read the comments before watching movies. and definitely don’t let them decide what you think.

the film itself — no spoilers here — is split into two narrative lines: one follows a mexican family getting ready to cheer for the father at a wrestling match. the other centers on a man who wakes up in a completely white room, surrounded by baby angel sculptures that slowly sink into the walls, leaving behind only... a specific anatomical detail. pressing on it makes bizarre objects fall out of the walls. yeah. that’s how it works. sorry for the weird phrasing — my self-censorship filter is doing its best lol.

now, a quick heads-up: the rest of the review might dip into spoiler-ish thoughts. but honestly? this film’s not about “plot” in a traditional sense. so it doesn’t really ruin anything.

i wasn’t gonna dive into “deep symbolic analysis” (spgs-core lol), but... why not? who decided that’s a bad thing? random joyless people on the internet? anyway —

my first thought was that the film was about religion. it’s packed with religious imagery — from the nun character to the son passionately defending his belief in the “snail-man” (his dad, the wrestler) against school bullies. the guy in the white room felt, at first, like a god figure. though, considering how clumsy and confused he seems early on, maybe it’s more about evolution — like, a caveman slowly turning into a divine being?

then i thought — maybe he is humanity. fumbling, growing, struggling, and eventually transforming. turns out i’m not the only one who saw it that way — some more thoughtful reviews seemed to agree.

but then... i scrolled back to that mainstream streaming site. the comments? absolute chaos.

yeah, sure — it’s a weird film. the humor’s odd. the pacing is bizarre. but calling it “trash” or “a total waste of time”? seriously? this isn’t some sloppy blockbuster with bad cgi and zero soul. this is the kind of film where you laugh, yes, but also think. a lot. you keep asking — what does this mean? why is this here? and isn’t that... kind of amazing?

if a film makes you think, even in the weirdest ways — that’s valuable. and if people are scared of that kind of mental workout, well... maybe they just don’t want their brains to grow.

i don’t think i’m super smart or better than anyone. i miss obvious metaphors all the time. but the one thing that sets us apart from the trolls is knowing when to pause and ask: “do i even know what i’m talking about?”

so yeah — i found symbol funny, smart in its own absurd way, and definitely worth the hour and a half. whether you want to dig into some big metaphysical theories or just drink a beer with friends and laugh at the insanity — it works.

quote of the day: “stay silent — people might think you’re wise.”

note: i edited the screenshots. actual film visuals may look different.\\ not a native speaker — some parts translated.