映画 ギヴン
"A story of a certain summer."
Given - Symbolism & Philosophy
Symbols & Motifs
Apartment Spaces
The characters' apartments symbolize the nature of their relationships and their emotional states.
Ugetsu's apartment, which he shares with Akihiko, is depicted as a cold, dark, and minimalist space, often in monochrome colors. This reflects the suffocating, impersonal, and depressing nature of their relationship. In contrast, Haruki's apartment is shown to be warm, colorful, and homey, symbolizing the potential for a healthier, more liberating, and supportive relationship for Akihiko. Akihiko's eventual move from Ugetsu's place to Haruki's signifies his conscious decision to leave a toxic past and embrace a brighter future.
The Violin
The violin represents Akihiko's past, his connection to Ugetsu, and his own neglected talent and emotional state.
Both Akihiko and Ugetsu are talented violinists, and the instrument is deeply intertwined with their shared history. For much of the film, Akihiko has a strained relationship with the violin, reflecting his overall unhappiness and feeling of being stuck. His decision to start playing seriously again at the end of the film is a powerful symbol of his personal growth and his commitment to moving forward and becoming someone worthy of Haruki's love.
Philosophical Questions
Can love and immense talent coexist without one destroying the other?
The film explores this question through the relationship between Akihiko and Ugetsu, both talented violinists. Ugetsu firmly believes that their love for each other is a cage that hinders their musical genius. Their dynamic suggests that when two passionate artists are romantically involved, their individual ambitions and competitive natures can create a toxic environment that stifles both their emotional well-being and their creative potential. The film's resolution, where they finally separate for good, seems to suggest that for some individuals, true artistic fulfillment can only be achieved through solitude and sacrifice.
What does it mean to truly move on from a past love?
"Given" presents moving on not as a simple act of forgetting, but as a painful, messy, and conscious process of disentanglement. Akihiko's struggle shows that even when a relationship is over, lingering feelings, shared history, and codependency can keep people trapped. The film posits that moving on requires immense personal growth, confronting one's own flaws, and making a definitive, often painful, choice to create a new future. It's not about erasing the past, but about accepting its influence and choosing not to be defined by it.
Core Meaning
The central message of "Given" (2020) revolves around the painful but necessary process of moving on from toxic relationships and the healing power of both music and genuine affection. The director, Hikaru Yamaguchi, portrays the complexities of love, highlighting that it isn't always gentle or straightforward. The film suggests that true growth often requires confronting one's own flaws and making difficult choices to break free from destructive patterns. It's a story that emphasizes that while past relationships shape us, they do not have to define our future, and that new love can flourish even in the aftermath of heartbreak.