Sayonara

      Sayonara was somewhat a typical Asian girl loving an American man film. In the story, a man named Lloyd Groover, an army man, and his close friend are sent to Japan. Lloyd's friend plans to get married to a Japanese women Kasumi. He does. Another Japanese woman catches Lloyd's eyes, although he already "has" a [American] women who he is to be wed to. Lloyd ends up falling for this Japanese woman and eventually has to let his "fiancee" that he wants to marry her. The general later orders that a group of men, including Groover and Kasumi's husband, who landed in Japan, go back to America. This enrages Groover as he explains to his friend about the issue. In the end, the house where Kasumi and her husband lived in was burned and Groover and his friend ultimately was forced to leave Japan. Lloyd met with his lover and asked her to return to America with her. 

     There are a couple understandings of Asian images, one being the "Asians are short" stereotype. In the film, the ceiling of Kasumi's home is very low. Getting through the doors for Groover and Kasumi's husband means they have to bend their head down to pass through. Generally, Asian women seem to be submissive and it shows clearly in Sayonara. Kasumi is timid and is usually up to whatever her husband tells her to do. In Groover's case, his Japanese lover gradually falls for him while at the beginning ignoring the fact that Groover wanted to exchange words with her. In the marriage scene, Kasumi is met with a kiss from his husband and Lloyd, both exchanging only pecks. Early in the movie, Lloyd gives a more intimate kiss to his fiancee.

     I feel distraught at the idea that certain images such as Asian women being submissive can make it seem like all Asian female (or males for other stereotypes) are this or that, otherwise they aren't truly Asian. This movie drags on the love of Asian women to American men throughout the story, especially in the end where Lloyd gets her Japanese lover to go to America with him, as if it is the "moral" of the story. It promotes the idea that Asian women are suited more for men other than the Asian races. It, to me, is a troubling thought.