NYFF Review: Scarlet Discovers Mamoru Hosoda's Simplistic Adaptation of a Classic Story

      Over two decades of creating animated features, director Mamoru Hosoda has produced both personal dramas like Wolf Children and ambitious films like the science-fiction spectacle Summer Wars. In 2019, his family fantasy Mirai received an Academy Award nomination, marking the first anime film not produced by Studio Ghibli to earn this honor. However, instead of releasing another intimate original tale afterward, Hosoda chose to create Belle, a sci-fi fantasy interpretation of Beauty and the Beast that is partly set in a vivid, imaginative virtual realm. Belle features a pale, pink-haired heroine who discovers love and her true self online.

      Scarlet tells another story of a pale, pink-haired heroine, but this time she journeys not into a digital realm but the afterlife, filled with individuals from diverse backgrounds, times, and worlds. Still, the setting is far from engaging. The afterlife in Scarlet resembles a vast wasteland of sharp terrains and endless deserts, exhibiting scant life. Her surroundings feel more digital than the world in Belle. Hosoda’s latest film boasts a polished, intricate aesthetic, making everything seem like mere scenery for the heroine's adventure. The world Scarlet hails from isn’t much different; the castle of her upbringing has an uncanny resemblance to a video game environment. Scarlet navigates through these expansive settings, often dwarfed by them. By opting for minimal close-ups, Hosoda confuses grand scale with striking imagery, resulting in a film that feels somewhat generic.

      Compounding the issue is that the story is one we have encountered frequently. Scarlet serves as a sprawling, genre-blending retelling of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Here, Scarlet is akin to Prince Hamlet, a young princess resembling her benevolent father, King Amulet. In a turn of events, her malicious mother Gertrude betrays the king for his nefarious brother Claudius. After they murder Scarlet’s father, they hastily marry, driving the kingdom into drought and despair. Scarlet, fueled by a thirst for vengeance, trains as a warrior, but Claudius resorts to treachery, poisoning her before she can execute her plans. Enraged and marooned in the barren afterlife, Scarlet encounters Hijiri, a young male nurse from a different era who stays by her side as she strives for revenge against her uncle, even in death.

      Scarlet and Hijiri create an intriguing duo – she as a warrior and he as a devoted caregiver – on their quest for a staircase that will lead them to the next world. Even in death, Claudius clings to power, attempting to deny others the salvation he believes should belong only to him and his not-yet-deceased queen. Nonetheless, more powerful forces are at play. Despite the tragedy associated with Hamlet, Hosoda perceives it as a cautionary tale. The two themes are alike, both incorporating despair. However, while Hamlet allows the audience to derive their own interpretations, Scarlet warns against the dangers of seeking vengeance. Hosoda achieves this by externalizing Hamlet’s internal struggles into physical actions. Scarlet doesn’t pause to reflect; instead, she responds to her father’s murder by dedicating herself to warrior training. This absence of reflection highlights the film’s messages. We see, repeatedly, that violence and revenge yield further suffering on all sides. Scarlet is accompanied by a gentle love interest who is oblivious to war, and his innocence is regarded as a strength.

      What is particularly perplexing is the film's tendency to blame Scarlet for perpetuating the cycle of violence. As the story progresses toward a tedious conclusion, she increasingly expresses regret over how her actions affected the future. Hosoda’s interpretation of this complex, timeless, and emotionally rich narrative comes across as shockingly simplistic. While the anti-violence message is commendable, it feels out of place here. The oppression imposed by Claudius on both Scarlet and their shared subjects represents a very real form of tyranny, and there are no magical solutions to circumvent the struggle for one's freedom and dignity. Scarlet’s motivations extended beyond mere revenge; she aimed to protect her people from persecution. Her journey becomes less engaging when her path to redemption seems limited. Throughout, Scarlet’s intentions were noble.

      Scarlet was showcased at the 63rd New York Film Festival and will be released in theaters on February 6, following a qualifying run starting on December 12.