Angelโs Egg (1985)
What came first, Tarkovsky or the egg?
Presentation:
When it comes to experimental anime, all variations likely hatched from Angelโs Egg. From the director of Ghost in the Shell, Mamoru Oshii delivers a visionary one of a kind experience. The thematic imagery borrows from gothic architecture, Christianity, and primordial motifs. Being so early, the hand drawn anime is technically not as impressive as its avant-garde vision. The ghostly moonlit girl and dark surrealist themes will bound to leave a last impression even if you donโt understand anything thatโs going on. If youโve played the game Bloodborne, then the symbolism will probably make more sense, but you can enjoy the beautiful gothic experience all the same. This is a thematic mood piece pouring with symbolism, highly evocative of Tarkovskyโs work.
Analysis:
Where to start analyzing an experimental film that doesnโt have a narrative structure? Oshii conducts this Tarkovskyesque ambiguity train into the pits of Christianity and birth. From the opening scene we see the first recurring theme of a fetus. This is the most unorthodox theme in the film supported by other motifs such as perpetual moonlight reference menstrual cycles and Noahโs flood symbolically linked to menstrual fluids. There are red scenes where the ocean appears like a sea of blood. Not to mention the girl carrying an egg of an angel inside her body, to be protected from the male crusader. His imagery is quite clear, carrying a cross-like weapon referencing the violence of the Crusades and we also see many other leagues of soldiers hunting the shadowy fish with harpoons. This has some phallic connotations, but I believe it primarily serves as a metaphor for faith, blindly fishing into the darkness. The man separates from the group because he has his doubts, lacks faith in the story of Noahโs Ark and whether the dove was real. He ultimately breaks the egg to see what is inside, demonstrating his failure of faith. In the end, the film zooms out to see the island they are on to be similar to that of a shipโs hull, again referencing Noahโs Ark, with this story a microcosm of mankindโs salvation.
There are other thematic elements including the mechanic eye, which perhaps references Godโs watchful eye. The recurring reflections in the film both complement the moon motif (a reflection of the sun) and the reflection into mankind itself. Oshii attempts to explore subconscious and deeper levels of our humanity and purpose, which is ultimately where religion and birth are linked together. The story of Noahโs Ark was that man was so irredeemable that God ordered a flood to cleanse the world and save a few to rebuild. However, man always steals the egg of the future through violence and arms, which violently contrasts with the primordial nature. In the end, the girl dies, but is reborn as a fetus, and we see metaphorical feathers fly in the wind illustrating her transformation into an angel.
Conclusion:
Be warned that if you expect an anime with any narrative coherency, you will be mega confused as this is purely an intellectual mood piece for those that take pleasure in analysis and dissecting thematic symbolism. I enjoy a challenging cinephile book club and this has some of the richest thematic material to intellectually joust with, but for those that would just like some plot to pair with their gothic imagery, you might have better luck with films like Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust.
Recommendations
What came first, Tarkovsky or the egg?