Blue Literature
HELL SCREEN
Ryunosuke Akutagawa took on the masses with his artistic literature.
Host Sakai Masato
However, he was faced with days of agony in mid-Taisho era.
Back then, first-person narrative novels based on one's own experiences became popular.
Akutagawa's works, being based off of old books and western literature,
started being criticized as "made-up" or "fake".
In a desperate attempt to keep up with the times,
Akutagawa wrote a novel based on his experiences.
However, it wasn't as well- received as his previous works.
On July 24 of 1927, Ryunosuke Akutagawa committed suicide.
His suicide note stated, "a hazy uneasiness toward my future".
The representative work of a man at the halfway point of his life
A work representing the middle of Akutagawa's life, published in 1918.
is this, "Hell Screen".
This story, which portrays a man who sacrifices everything for art,
might have also been hinting at the future of Akutagawa himself.
The masterpieces are blue.
Please enjoy "Hell Screen".
HELL SCREEN
How splendid.
I have yet to see any other portrait as beautiful as this.
You portrayed my beauty to even the last strands of hair when it was said that it couldn't be portrayed.
You are certainly the best artist under the sky.
I praise thee, Yoshihide.
It is of the highest honor.
It is a splendid work, truly worthy of a country such as ours that holds much glory.
An idea, Yoshihide.
I shall have you paint something much greater next.
Much greater?
It is a grand work perfect for your talent.
Paint every scenery of this magnificent country that is-
What is the matter?
Help me!
Quiet down!
The King is in the midst of his banquet.
Help me!
Insolent!
Keep your dirty hands off.
How could they do that?
Move!
That's terrible.
What is the trouble?
They are interfering with my party.
Why don't you cut off their heads?
No...
That was terrible.
They did nothing wrong.
Mitsuki.
I have long served the Lord of this country,
but from time to time I bear the feeling of disgust in my heart.
Father?
The King always demands a painting of a graceful noble or of the elegant scenery...
Yet I don't understand a single bit.
I don't understand the King's beauty.
I don't understand this country's beauty.
I do not understand any of it.
Father...
Mitsuki.
I may not be able to paint the work he demands.
And if that were to happen, my next job may become my final job.
Thank you for coming, Yoshihide.
I summoned you here for only one reason.
'Tis to give you yet another opportunity to put your skills to work.
We will talk inside.
I cannot stand the dirty air here.
Open!
Yoshihide.
Is this not splendid?
Behold this magnificent, graceful figure.
This is the holy mausoleum in which my corpse will rest.
I had planned to decorate the place with various treasures on the dawn of completion,
but I changed my mind.
I order thee, Yoshihide.
Paint my country on the inner walls of this tomb.
The bewitching people...
The beautiful city.
This gorgeous world.
Paint them all as they are.
So that even after I depart, I will continue to rule over this land.
This whole country?
Yes, sir.
I, Yoshihide, will present you the greatest work to the utmost of my abilities.
Out of the way!
Bring the fire! Bring the fire!
It's the plague! Burn them!
Open! Open! Open!
Move! Move! Move! Move!
Father!
Where are you?
Back away! Back away!
You murderer!
She was still alive!
You murderer!
Silence, you beggar!
It's a human pillar.
Father?
They probably buried live humans to strengthen the walls.
Or...
Perhaps it was a warning to all the slaves who work here.
So cruel...
Mitsuki.
Look.
This...
This... is the true face of this world.
At long last, the construction has finished.
Now...
Yes.
Yoshihide.
What is this painting?
I ordered you to paint my country.
This is but a hell screen!
An interesting way to put it.
This is the true face of this country.
This is the greatest work I, Yoshihide, have completed in my lifetime.
Girl!
Why do you not stop him?
This is a sacred place that will bury Me!
This is an insult toward Me!
Treason!
You have sinned too!
Then take the head of my sinful self and wash my corpse away to the river.
Bury me alive into this wall to warn others not to commit treason.
The painting shows the truth of what Yoshihide saw with his own eyes.
Just the painting You have demanded.
Since Yoshihide, the greatest artist under the sky, claimed this to be his utmost work,
both my father and I are prepared to lose our lives for this work.
Summon Yoshihide!
That man dared to go against my will!
An eye for an eye!
I'll have him killed!
The death penalty!
What?
You ask me to come?
Where?
Where are you inviting me from?
From Hell?
The flames of Hell?
Who are you?
Who is inviting me?
Who?
Hey!
I cannot hear it!
I cannot hear the voice of agony!
This cannot possibly be the figure of a man in pain!
The flames that burn a man...
The flames of Hell...
I...
I have yet to see true Hell.
What?
You cannot paint it?
That is correct.
My.
Have you come to beg for your life, Yoshihide?
Pitiful.
No.
This life of mine that may end any second is nothing precious to me.
Just...
Silence, you coward.
Just one thing exists that I cannot draw without being there myself.
I cannot die until I paint that.
Then what is it that you cannot paint?
In the center of the mausoleum, I plan to paint flames even greater than those of Hell.
And within the flames...
Within the flames...
A live human screaming in agony as their skin burns.
The figure of a man in agony from both the black smoke and the flames...
The flaring hair...
The arms seeking help from the sky...
The scarlet rain of flames that assault the pure white skin...
I cannot paint any of it!
Please!
Please show me flames so large that they may be compared to a mountain!
And if it is even possible...
Whether it is possible or not is hardly the question.
I will do as you have said.
Yoshihide, take a gander.
It is the sinful woman who acted against me.
I'm sure you remember her quite well.
I will set fire to the hay and show you the flames of hell right before your eyes.
Then the woman will certainly have her bones burned dry and meet a painful end.
Do not miss her snow-white skin being burned to cinders!
Glue your eyes to her hair, burning into the sparks of the flames!
Light her!
Mitsuki!
A sight that may never be seen again for an eternity!
Mitsuki...
Father.
Paint me.
Paint me as you see me.
No...
Mitsuki!
In order to find something...
Even if we oversleep,
we still wake up every day.
It's not too late.
We say "hello".
Put on a smile,
no matter how small it is.
Every waking moment,
this world needs you.
It's not too late.
We say "hello".