ms.peachy
10-12-2005, 02:08 PM
On the plane on the way back from Japan, I watched this film called Train Man. (http://www.jdorama.com/drama.933.htm)
It's a story about a young guy, kinda nerdy, very shy, who comes to the aid of a pretty young woman who is being harassed by a drunk on the subway one night. She asks for his address so she can send a gift to thank him. (Hey, it's Japan.) She sends him an expensive set of teacups. He agonises over whether to call her and ask her out. And so the stage is set.
But the way the story is told is that, as each development unfolds, Trainman is posting on the internet to the regular group of IRC people he chats online to daily. They encourage him, argue with eachother about when he should call her, what he should wear on a date, what kind of restaurant to take her to, etc. As the movie goes by, you start to learn more about each of the people behind the screen names as well, and the effect that being involved in Trainman's fledgling romance has on them.
At its heart, it's a very simple, almost-too-sweet sort of story, but the way it is told is great, and I couldn't help but be reminded of people here in some of the caracters. (Well, really pretty much all of them.)
Now here's the great thing I just learned: while I was just out on the net having a look around for info about it so I could find something to link you all to, is that apparently it's a true story that took Japan by storm a few years back! This Trainman guy (whose real-life identity has never been revealed, I gather) was a poster at a board called Channel 2 in Japan, and apparently as this was happening, people all over Japan started tuning into the board as word of mouth about his story - and his relationship with the young woman - grew. And then someone wrote a book about it, and then the film. Since the real Trainman is unknown, profits from the film have gone to charity. Is that a great story or what?
Seriously though, if you have an opportunity to see this film, do. Yes it means reading subtitles, but don't let that put you off if you don't normally like that sort of thing - it's a lovely film and I dare you to watch it and NOT be reminded of at least one person on this board.
It's a story about a young guy, kinda nerdy, very shy, who comes to the aid of a pretty young woman who is being harassed by a drunk on the subway one night. She asks for his address so she can send a gift to thank him. (Hey, it's Japan.) She sends him an expensive set of teacups. He agonises over whether to call her and ask her out. And so the stage is set.
But the way the story is told is that, as each development unfolds, Trainman is posting on the internet to the regular group of IRC people he chats online to daily. They encourage him, argue with eachother about when he should call her, what he should wear on a date, what kind of restaurant to take her to, etc. As the movie goes by, you start to learn more about each of the people behind the screen names as well, and the effect that being involved in Trainman's fledgling romance has on them.
At its heart, it's a very simple, almost-too-sweet sort of story, but the way it is told is great, and I couldn't help but be reminded of people here in some of the caracters. (Well, really pretty much all of them.)
Now here's the great thing I just learned: while I was just out on the net having a look around for info about it so I could find something to link you all to, is that apparently it's a true story that took Japan by storm a few years back! This Trainman guy (whose real-life identity has never been revealed, I gather) was a poster at a board called Channel 2 in Japan, and apparently as this was happening, people all over Japan started tuning into the board as word of mouth about his story - and his relationship with the young woman - grew. And then someone wrote a book about it, and then the film. Since the real Trainman is unknown, profits from the film have gone to charity. Is that a great story or what?
Seriously though, if you have an opportunity to see this film, do. Yes it means reading subtitles, but don't let that put you off if you don't normally like that sort of thing - it's a lovely film and I dare you to watch it and NOT be reminded of at least one person on this board.