They Say Nothing Stays the Same is a Japanese film directed by Joe Odagiri with cameos from some of the greatest stars in Japan. It’s a film showing the kindness and hospitality of a humble Japanese elder who is slow to anger and lives a modest life in a shack. The film focuses on the character of a poor boatman, his natural splendor, and the lives he touches and lives with every trip he makes across the river. It’s a touching story that will make you think about how aging is the laboratory of character formation.
Toichi (Akira Emoto), a 70-year-old soft-spoken man, lives in a Meiji-era and loves sitting on a spot overlooking the river and the mountains surrounding him, living a monk-like lifestyle. He is just about to become poorer as his only source of livelihood, carrying people and goods across the river with his boat, is threatened by bridge construction.
Toichi’s life revolves around his customers and his morning routine of splashing water on the wood of his boat to prevent warping and leaking. His only family is Genzo (Nijiro Murakami), a young girl who ensures he is fed. The construction of a bridge is ongoing upstream, and while the village people are happy with the development and how it will make their lives easier, Genzo is worried about what might happen to Toichi’s way of life.
However, the old boatman is neither afraid nor excited about the bridge, and he’s not bothered. This part of the film focuses on how modern technology is edging the traditional ways of livelihood. However, the old man does not protest but carries on with life, solves other people’s problems, and even figures out how to ferry a bull across the river.
He becomes a lifesaver by pulling an injured teenager, Ririka Kawashima, from the river, and his life suddenly turns. Here, the hospitable side of Toichi is shown when he nurses the girl and lets her go. She comes around, listens to the quiet and lonely man, and gives him company. Another beautiful scene is when he helps a friend take his late father’s body to the dark forest.
The film conveys human kindness, simplicity, and compassion in Toichi which a bridge cannot take away. They Say Nothing Stays the Same is one film you would watch over and over for its rich storyline. What’s more interesting is Odagiri’s use of style to convey the bridge as destructive, showing how something that creates opportunities for many people can have the opposite effect on others.
What kind of film collection would this title be suitable for?
This film narrates the story of a humble and kind old man and revolves around him as he helps other people. They Say Nothing Stays the Same should be in a public library's film collection of drama titles that focus on love and humanity.
What academic subjects would this film be suitable for?
They Say Nothing Stays the Same shows a major architectural project that the community appreciates, making it interesting for those studying history of architecture. It is also suitable for those doing economic studies as they can see how certain projects can disrupt other work and employment opportunities. The film also discusses modernization and its advantages and disadvantages.