Garasu no Ashi (2015)

Of reeds that bend but do not break.

No spoilers. Proceed safely. There trigger warnings listed at the end of the review which might be helpful for potential viewers.

❝All God's creatures grope their way around for love.❞

Garasu no Ashi is the story of our protagonist Setsuko; it follows the developing events post the death of her husband Koda. While giving us glimpses into her childhood where she was a victim of eregious child abuse, it shows us the present where Setsuko is approached by another victim, a second grade girl Mayumi. Setsuko decides to save the mother and child from her own fate.

❝In the wetlands where the frigid reeds of glass stand,
the sand trickles smoothly down the abyss.❞

“Garasu no Ashi” literally translates to “Reeds of Glass.” Perhaps it was influenced by the old fable of ‘The Oak and The Reeds.’ Setsuko is likened to reeds, which bend but do not break. She is doubtlessly one of the strongest protagonists I have met as of yet and her character and its portrayal by Aibu Saki has deeply impressed me. She is an unconventional morally grey protagonist, strong and sharp like reeds of glass.

❝You can never truly know a person.❞

Like other wowow doramas, Garasu no Ashi is a dark story. It has explicit portrayal of child abuse and domestic violence. And yet this is such a beautiful story of life. In the beginning the story seems to have multiple threads which don't go anywhere; Koda-san’s suicide, the unplanned death, the affair and the appearance of the child but in the end all the threads are tied up in a cohesive storyline.

Garasu no Ashi combines a teal and beige cinematography and artistic shots of nature in its various shades and tones to bring out the emotions that it is trying to portray. The soundtrack is a crescendo of emotions which had my heart racing.

Regarding the domestic violence in Garasu no Ashi, there is explicit portrayal of child abuse and intimate partner violence. There are appalling bruises on a younger Setsuko and Mayumi’s bodies including cigarette burns and horrific bruises which are also observed on Mayumi’s mother. Graphic reference to sexual abuse and other sexual content. Viewers should be cautioned against these.

Garasu no Ashi has a thrillingly paced solid storyline, brimming with raw emotions. A beautiful watch. I'm glad I watched this. 9.0/10.

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