The Man Without a Map

Fragmentariness is the experiences of post-modern condition in which knowledge as a totality is lost. Thus, "we" as the audience don't know the name of the detective either, just as he doesn't even know the rules by which he could find Nimuro, if there were any universal rules at all. His life experience is like of an ancient philosopher in agora, discussing with numerous people to grasp the truth, but this time truth is the absence of its long gone presence or maybe the never existed presence?

another Abe-Teshigahara colab, and with this one I waited until I'd read the book first. A good move probably: the movie stands on its own, but knowing the book makes it easier to follow without spoiling anything. Both are great existentialist works about the fragility of identity and the attraction of disappearing -- fleshed out as kafkaesque detective noirs.

(bom)