Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo (2009) User Reviews

More an Exploration of Japanese Culture than a Movie about Bugs

[TheExpatriate700 · 6/10 · 25 August 2010]

Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo, despite its tongue in cheek title, is a quiet, minimalist study of the Japanese obsession with insects that also sheds light on Japanese culture and outlook on life. As such, it touches on subjects as varied as entomology and Shinto Buddhism, with a meditation on the Japanese concept of beauty to boot.

The film is at its best when it helps us understand why its subjects have such a deep attachment to insects. One example of this is its discussion of the keeping of singing insects such as crickets as pets. Listening on the interviewee's discussion of the beauty of cricket song, I found myself wanting some crickets myself. The film largely avoids the temptation to treat its subjects as camp figures.

The film's minimalist approach and low budget at times act as a hindrance. For instance, the film tends to spend too much time simply watching the streets of Tokyo without relating what we see to the film's subject. Furthermore, the camera work is weak, with night shots in particular being unfocused.

Ultimately, Beetle Queen is an acquired taste, and definitely not for all audiences. It will be best appreciated by people with a serious interest in Japanese culture.

Fascinating subject, ineptly handled

[insomnia · 4/10 · 11 August 2010]

"Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo" is a documentary about the Japanese people's age-old love affair with insects Knowing absolutely nothing about why the people of Japan view insects as creatures worthy of respect, even adoration (a trait I suspect is totally alien to people in the West where the natural reaction is to tread on them), I was eager to see this documentary which is part of the documentary season at this year's Melbourne International Film Festival. The filmmaker Jessica Oreck is a lifelong insect lover, and also animal keeper at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Unfortunately, having an abiding passion for insects does not necessarily mean that one can just pick up a camera and start making a documentary. The age-old maxim about the closer one is to the subject, the less likely one is able to be objective about that subject, certainly holds true in this documentary. My main complaint about this film is the way it jumps from one subject to another, without any rhyme or reason, and then back again. Is the scene looking down on people cross a busy intersection holding up umbrellas meant to be a metaphor for how insects behave? What about the scene where all we see of a person is their foot? This film is let down by annoyingly sloppy camera-work. There are scenes that are completely out of focus. And the hand-held shots are so tight, and wobbly, one doesn't get a sense of what is meant to be happening. At the end of the day, it's down to the director to make sure that the camera-work is sharp, correctly focused and helps drive the film's narrative. Which brings me back full circle – that is, for the director to let someone with a more objective eye, make the kind of film this subject matter so richly deserves. That said, "Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo" is still a fascinating, and bizarre film that details how beetles are captured, to insect-dispensing machines and upmarket insect shops where a single purchase can set you back $90,000. Four out of ten

Not A Japanese Monster Movie (or video game---thank goodness)

[druid333-2 · 10/10 · 10 June 2010]

If you're one of those who possesses a chronic fear of insects,do yourself a favour & avoid this film at all costs. That aside,Jessica Oreck's stunning documentary,'Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo' is a meditation on the people of Japan,and how & why they worship & honour beetles,crickets,etc. We see how the business of harvesting beetles are a cottage industry. Beetles & other insects are viewed with respect there (it may have a lot to do with their grasp of both Buddism & Shinto,an even more ancient religion that views nature as sacred). Jessica Oreck ('An Anatomy Of Memory')directs this loving meditation on what we in the west view as creepy crawly,and are prone to stepping on insects,rather than understanding them (such a pity). Interviews with philosophers & merchants of beetles,crickets,etc.,as well as footage of Japanese citizens being truly one with their surroundings are aplenty. Spoken in English & Japanese with English subtitles. Not rated by the MPAA,this film serves up absolutely nothing to offend (but you may consider leaving the little ones home,as they will find the subtitles a crashing bore,as well as the subject matter)

Amateur hour

[sapogordoeco · 1/10 · 18 December 2017]

Absolutely horrendous, made up facts, no continuity, bad camera work. Utterly idealized and false outsiders view of Japanese culture. Somehow Oreck managed to fool people with this vapid nonsense, even to the point of getting SWSW and Independent lens to show it...(bad) form and no substance.

Quirky and gentle

[gbill-74877 · 8/10 · 15 January 2023]

This documentary meanders quite a bit, and it's as often into arthouse type street scenes as it is into footage of actual insects, so if you're looking for a hardcore film about bugs that's chock full of facts, this isn't it. However, I was drawn to its gentle ways and the bits of philosophy intermixed with little kids delighting in creepy crawlies. I liked how it was just as much about Japanese culture, and how even that was mostly related tangentially, through a seemingly random series of images. Through it all it gets across its central theme, which is a lovely sense of man's harmony with nature. Don't step on those bugs guys, appreciate them, and be open to learning about yourself through them, as one of those interviewed says. Anyway, I had no idea what was going to be put up on the screen next over its 90 minute runtime, and while not all of it worked, it always had quirky charm.

Some quotes: "According to Mono No Aware, true beauty is found in that which does not last, and includes the gentle sadness felt as it fades. Mono No Aware expresses the capacity of the Japanese to experience the objective world both internally and directly, without having to resort to language or other intermediaries. This connection is granted by the understanding that all life and nature is cohesive."

"Haiku is the expression of a precise view of nature, personal and universal in equal parts. It is the distillation of time, a representation of a single spontaneous moment - an eternity captured in a mundane instant of reality. Haiku is an interpretation of the brevity of life and the never-ending cycle of nature, the unyielding passing of the seasons. ... Haiku is man as part of nature, or more exactly, man as nature."

"In The Tale of Genji, written by Murasaki Shikibu, a Japanese courtesan at the turn of the 11th century, the character of Genji relates his broken heart to the visible light of the firefly: 'Fireflies rule the night, and it is sad to see them, when at every hour one burns with the searing flame of love now lost forever.'"

"Similar to haiku, the (Zen) gardens were meant to be a representation of the universe, scaled down to allow for the contemplation and mediation of its nature. The miniaturization of everyday objects and the shrinking of worlds, as with Zen gardening or bonsai, lends itself to the exposition of nature's smallest creatures. Insects, which could easily have been the inhabitants of these diminutive universes, could be loosely recognized as their translators, beings that held all of the truths of nature in their tiny, delicately ergonomic lives."

Be prepared to look at the world differently after this movie

[Cody-485-546664 · 10/10 · 25 September 2012]

'Look at insects--carefully. It's actually a way of life.' These words, spoken by Dr. Takashi Yoro, a beloved philosopher who is filmed in a rare interview in this movie (and yes, I did have to look him up, because I was touched by what he said), could be a guiding metaphor for Beetle Queen. I watched insects on the screen as I have never watched them in real life. I began to watch them as the Japanese in the movie seem to watch them--with wonder.

By the time of the firefly scene at the center of the movie, I was spellbound. The music-- Japanese pop from the 80's--was so perfect. It sort of sparkled, just like the scene. I actually ended up buying the soundtrack which I have enjoyed richly but it made me want to see the film again.

So I rented it from Netflix to watch again recently--pretty rare for me--but I wanted the wonder.

I got it in spades.