Bloodline or Talent? What Was the Movie "National Treasure" Trying to Convey?

Seeing the movie "National Treasure" being praised everywhere, I impulsively went to see it last week.

I had been hesitant because of its three-hour runtime and the fact that it depicts the world of Kabuki, which I don't know much about, so I thought I might get bored halfway through.

However, those three hours didn't bother me at all, and they passed by in a flash, without even a hint of boredom.
I couldn't take my eyes off the unfolding events from the very beginning, and I was instantly drawn in.

Honestly, while there were parts to nitpick, it was brilliant how it captured both the splendor and the suffering in the lives of those living in the Kabuki world!

It is also worth watching for the two leads, Ryo Yoshizawa and Ryusei Yokohama, both of whom have starred in Taiga dramas.
Although both are handsome, I couldn't help but think that when they cross-dress, Yoshizawa has a "feminine face" and Yokohama has a "masculine face" (laughs).

Many classic plays appeared in the story, but I felt a personal connection to "Sonezaki Shinju" by Chikamatsu Monzaemon, as it is set at "Ohatsu Tenjin" in my hometown of Osaka.
Although, the current Ohatsu Tenjin is nestled among skyscrapers and is so different from how it was back then that it's hard to realistically imagine the world of that time 💦

I don't want to write any spoilers if I can help it, so I will omit the overall plot and cast, and just jot down my thoughts.

Bloodline and Talent

The underlying theme throughout is whether it's bloodline or talent.
This is a significant and profound issue that has always existed in every world and every era, throughout history.

It would be ideal to have both, but that is rarely the case in this world; a child born to a genius is not necessarily a genius, and in fact, it is more likely that they are not.
Furthermore, the greater the parent, the more immense the pressure on the child, which becomes a source of conflict throughout their life.

The Kabuki world is also fundamentally based on a hereditary system where "bloodline" matters.
The lives of two people in opposite circumstances—a scion of the Kabuki world and a self-made man with no backing or lineage—are depicted with great care.

What I want most right now is 'blood'

I think the line spoken by the protagonist, who has no backing or family ties, said it all.
No matter how hard you try or how much talent you have, this "lineage" is the one thing you can never obtain.
How he fills that massive void is a major highlight of this film.

No matter how much talent you have, it is ultimately a hereditary system, so the fact that you are not of that lineage becomes a source of overwhelming anxiety that you just can't shake off.
Since the fear that all your current efforts might end up being for nothing is always lurking in the back of your mind, it is not just ordinary anxiety, but a pressure so great that you live your whole life wanting to run away.

Dealing with the Devil

Because of that, the line "I made a deal with the devil" really struck me.
Moreover, I was puzzled as to why he would say that to his own child, but that exchange really pays off in the end.

The deal with the devil meant he was prepared to throw away everything else to succeed in the Kabuki world, and in fact, as the words suggest, he lived a life where he disregarded his wife and children, casting everything aside—but was that truly a happy life?

Behind his success were the unrequited women he had been involved with, and he was able to be ruthless in order to climb to the top.
That is a clear manifestation of the result of his deal with the devil.

Was the view from the pinnacle of the Kabuki world, obtained at such a cost, truly satisfying?

Even an heir is not secure
Harsh reality

Kabuki is said to have begun in the early 17th century with "Kabuki Odori," started by a woman named Izumo no Okuni in Kyoto. Initially, it was "Onna Kabuki," performed only by women, but it was banned for corrupting public morals and evolved into "Yaro Kabuki," performed by adult men.
Naturally, men also played the female roles, and thus the "Onnagata" (Oyama) was born.

They are an absolutely essential role in Kabuki.

While fully depicting the splendor of the historic Kabuki stage, it also details the severity behind the scenes and the human drama.

だから、３時間は仕方がない💦

Even if you are a scion and heir, or rather, precisely because of that, every day is filled with rigorous training.
Kabuki is all about the art.
If you cannot do anything, you cannot inherit the prestigious name, even if you are of the bloodline.
I felt that there is a conflict there that one cannot lose to anyone, and that being born into a prestigious family is not necessarily "good luck."

Life has its ups and downs.

Naturally, life has major highs and lows, and how one rises from them is a major highlight.
Through Kabuki, I think anyone who has lived a certain amount of life can gain a "lesson" they can relate to.

The fact that they did not abandon their "art" even when they hit rock bottom conveys a strong, single-minded devotion, and I realized that perhaps the very act of not letting go of it, no matter what happens, is a "talent" in itself.
—Seeing things through no matter what—
Isn't the ability to do this the very definition of "talent"?

What was not depicted
The biggest point of contention

As mentioned above, the three-hour length did not bother me in terms of visuals, content, or pacing.
However, from my perspective,the most crucial partwas not depicted.

The first impression these two had of each other was by no means good, and the scion in particular showed his full dissatisfaction, wondering why he had to train with such a mysterious person.
That's natural, isn't it?

In the very next scene, the situation had completely changed; they were living together happily and overcoming rigorous training together.

There was no scene showing the "catalyst" for them becoming friends.

I was watching closely, thinking there would surely be a flashback scene later, but it never came until the very end.
Or did I miss it?

I think this is an essential element in depicting the lives of two people who will walk forward while honing each other's skills, and it is just as important as carefully depicting the front and back of the Kabuki world💦

How exactly did they deepen their "bond"?
That is what I wanted to know most.
In my opinion, the answer to the movie's main question, "Lineage or Talent?", should have been depicted in that scene.

I love entertainment works.
I am confident that I can accept and enjoy even impossible settings.
However, it feels wrong when things don't add up.
Why didn't they depict that "catalyst"?
I believe that entertainment only works when every single scene has meaning.

There were other minor points I could nitpick, but I can understand those as being somewhat exaggerated for the sake of creative entertainment; however, that one point really stuck with me, and I find myself unable to praise the film unconditionally.

Now, for those who have seen it, or those who are planning to see it, please let me know your thoughts.
The final screening dates vary by theater, but since it was released on June 6th, more than a month has already passed.
If you are interested, please go see it soon.

*The top image was downloaded from AC Illust and created using Canva.