Maquia, an orphan girl of the nigh-immortal race of the lorphs, adopts an infant boy named Ariel, and devotes her life to the struggle to protect him, nurture him, and understand what it means to be a mother. Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms, an anime film directed by Mari Okada, has all the trappings of an epic fantasy: a world clinging to the remnants of dying magic, kingdoms vying for power, a quest to rescue a captured princess. Yet all this fades into the background, and the story instead focuses on the relationship between Maquia and Ariel.
At just under two hours long, yet with an epic scope that encompasses Ariel’s growth from a child to man, Maquia is a tight, dense film. Each scene is packed to bursting with emotion and portrays a key moment in Maquia and Ariel’s character development. The story gripped me with every step it took on its way to the bittersweet climax— bittersweet, because despite Maquia’s intense love for Ariel, she cannot keep her with him. He may be her son, but he is no longer her child— he is a man, and she must release him to the world. Although the relationship between Maquia and Ariel is intricate, relatable and hits with an immense emotional impact, the film simply doesn’t have enough time to develop its other subplots as well as I would have liked. The arc of Maquia’s childhood friends Laeria and Krim, lovers torn apart by a terrible fate, works well enough but feels a bit rushed. Upon reaching the conclusion of this subplot in my first viewing, I thought “Well, that would have been an emotionally impactful and thematically pertinent climax, except for the fact that I didn’t put together what was happening until after it was all over.” The second time I watched Maquia, I understood Krim and Laeria’s choices in the end much better, but still wished for a few more scenes showing how they got to that point. Themes Maquia’s repeated question, “What does it mean to be a mother?” forms the thematic core of the film. With Maquia and Ariel, we explore every aspect of the relationship between mother and child: the joys they share, how they hurt and misunderstand each other, how the love between them never dies even as their relationship is forced to change. Maquia is a tour de force of a mother’s journey and all the emotions that are part and parcel of it. Through this film, I gained a greater respect and admiration for my own mother. I hope to convince her to watch it someday, although she doesn’t like anime, so it’s a long shot. The film’s intensely beautiful ending illustrates a profound yet sorrowful truth: that all good things must pass away. Maquia and Ariel’s love is not meant to last forever, at least not in the same form. As a Christian, however, I found more hope in the conclusion than I otherwise would have. For the love between mother and son is but an offshoot of a much deeper love springing from an infinite source. Love like Maquia and Ariel’s finds its fulfillment in God, and in God can be transformed into something unimaginably greater, something fit to last through eternity, reflecting glory upon our Creator. Content Maquia includes a tiny bit of veiled sexual content, including implied rape. In one scene, a woman threatens to kill the baby in her womb. We see some bloody images during the climactic battle and its aftermath. Oh, and there’s a single instance of ‘damn’ (or 何てこった if you’re watching it in Japanese). Conclusion: Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms ranks among my favorite films of all time. Highly recommended for anyone who likes anime, mothers, or just plain good storytelling.
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Today, and today only, my friends, you may read my latest flash fiction, Foodpocalypse, for free at gohavok.com. At the stroke of midnight, this tale of weaponized food and a floating island will fly away to the archives, accessible only to initiates of the Havok Horde. If you've already read Foodpocalypse, you may enjoy this piece of fan art drawn by my brother Justin. Behold, the great leviathan, Toothyface: And if you haven't read Foodpocalypse, what are you waiting? Read it. Laugh. Share it with your friends, desiring that they may partake of the same joy you just experienced. Time is running out. Visit gohavok.com now.
The Endbringer originally appeared on Havok in June 2019. I released it for free here to celebrate the release of its sequel, After the End.
The Endbringer Gerard hadn’t intended the end of the world to be so chaotic. He hurdled an overturned cart and dashed down the cobblestone street. All around him, screaming civilians scattered, desperate for a place to hide. Fleeing was futile. The governor had placed the city on lockdown after the first shadowspawn appeared. The entire city guard manned the walls, ensuring no one got in or out until the situation could be resolved. That part of the plan had worked, at least. Gerard passed a pile of corpses, black fluid oozing from their chest wounds. He gritted his teeth. It was easier to see in retrospect. Distract the guard so a band of rebels could break into the palace and depose a tyrant? Good idea. Do so by unleashing hideous monsters that killed indiscriminately? Not so much. But the price of freedom was paid. The governor’s order to lockdown the city had been his last. With no clear successor waiting to take power, the people finally had a chance to rise up and determine their own fate. If the shadowspawn didn’t kill them all first, of course. A bulbous spider-like creature loomed ahead, and Gerard cursed as he turned down an alley to avoid it. How had the monster gotten so far from the palace already? The ones he’d seen moved slowly, stopping to glut themselves on any trace of life they found. He skidded to a stop in front of the modest dwelling place of a tradesman staunchly loyal to the governor. Gerard first met with him in an attempt to open his coffers for the rebellion, but soon discovered that wealth was not his greatest treasure. Gerard buttoned up his coat and rapped on the door. Hayiene opened it, her smoky eyes wide. He smiled in spite of the dire situation. With her wild hair, she looked like a wind spirit, ethereal and enchanting. “Hayiene, we need—” All illusions of Hayiene’s ethereality were banished as she slammed into him, sending him flying backwards and landing on top of him. Gerard’s head rang from its collision with the street. “I’m all for enthusiastic greetings, but—” Screeching, a shadowspawn jumped overhead, and as the beast crashed down, Hayiene leapt to her feet. Its eyeless face turned toward them. Gerard scrambled to his feet and fumbled for his sword as the beast lunged. He deflected its claws with his arm guard, then managed to strike a blow on its bloated side. The thing chittered and retreated. “We need to leave the city,” Gerard said. “Follow me. Quietly.” Hayiene tossed aside a lighted match—what in blazes was she planning to do with that?—and walked with him to an abandoned sewage drain leading outside the walls. The rebellion had located it years ago for use in a time like this. Hayiene paused on the threshold, her hand in his as Gerard glanced back toward the palace. His men were still there, fighting shadowspawn and loyalist soldiers alike. He’d organized the rebellion. He’d decided to use the shadowspawn, and they’d followed him. Only a coward would abandon them now. He turned back to Hayiene. “I promise I’ll find you again. But I can’t go with you. Not when there are people dying here that need my help.” Gerard released her hand, then slammed down the iron grate, locking her out of the city. Hayiene’s words echoed from the drain as he charged toward the battle. “Oh Gerard, you idiot.” *** Gerard helped the wounded rebel soldier to his feet. “You’re the only survivor?” “In the palace, yes, but others fled— enemy soldiers too.” Varel pointed out the window. “It’s the shadowspawn we have to worry about.” Smoke rose in the distance. Dark, hulking forms, the largest of the shadowspawn, prowled the streets below. Gerard’s knees went weak at the thought of confronting one of those beasts. His body ached with fatigue. “Let’s go.” Gerard and Varel turned toward the exit, but the palace doors shattered under a mighty blow. An immense shadowspawn burst through, venom oozing from every pore. This is the end. Gerard raised his blade. Ironic, how the very tool he’d used to bring an end to tyranny would now be the end of him. The shadowspawn advanced, claws clacking against the stone floor. It stopped for a moment. Then it went berserk. It screamed and leapt into the air, ignoring Gerard and Varel as it flew over their heads and crashed into the far wall. It shattered a window and scrambled out, oozing fluid from wounds inflicted by the broken glass. Gerard caught the scent of acrid smoke in its wake. Hayiene stood in the doorway, wielding a flaming torch.“They don’t like fire. I would’ve told you that if you’d listened for a moment.” Gerard smiled. “I was a little rushed-” The anger in Hayiene’s glare cut him off. He glanced down and realized that his coat had been torn during the battle, exposing the rebel insignia. Hayiene’s eyes flashed with a fire to match the one in her hand. “I thought you promised to stay away from the rebellion.” Varel laughed. “Stay away from the rebellion? He founded it!” “I was going to tell you,” Gerard said. “But your father—” “He’s dead,” Hayiene interrupted. She took a deep breath and smoothed her dress with a trembling hand. “Shadowspawn. He knocked over a candle as he fought it—that’s how I found out about their weakness.” “Hayiene... I’m sorry,” Gerard said. “Is there anything I can do?” “You... you’re the one who brought them.” Gerard would’ve rather fought a thousand shadowspawn than face her in that moment, but he forced his head up anyway. “Yes.” She shoved the torch into his hand. “Then it’s up to you to send them back.” Gerard stared at her for a moment—the strength in her gaze, the firm set of her jaw. Then he nodded and raised the flame. Time to undo the end of the world. |
Progress on Doombear, Rough draft:10%
Progress on The Lore of Yore, third draft:
100%
"In truth, by leaving, I was seeking only one thing. A journey."
-Oathbringer, pg 981 Types of blog posts:
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