The Devil ◆ Overcoming Desire and Emotion
Chunichi Shimbun, Morning Edition, December 15, 2006
Se7en (1995, USA)
Have you heard of the Christian concept of the “Seven Deadly Sins”? They are pride, envy, gluttony, lust, sloth, greed, and wrath. Each is said to be governed by a demon that tempts people and leads them into sin.
Se7en is the story of a serial killer whose crimes are based on the Seven Deadly Sins, and the detectives who pursue him.
The first victim is a grossly overweight man. He is found dead with his face buried in food, and the word “gluttony” is left at the crime scene. Next, a highly successful lawyer is murdered, with the word “greed” written in blood. Two detectives—Somerset (Morgan Freeman), who is nearing retirement, and Mills (Brad Pitt), an energetic young detective—work desperately to solve the case. But the suspect they identify is found dead, accompanied by the word “sloth.”
Then, a man named John Doe (Kevin Spacey) emerges from library lending records. The murders continue: “lust,” represented by a prostitute, and “pride,” represented by a beautiful model. Then, unexpectedly, John Doe turns himself in. He tells the detectives that he will lead them to the locations of the remaining two murders.
He has prepared a bizarre and shocking finale. By proving through his own actions that even a law-abiding detective can commit murder when consumed by “wrath,” he completes all seven murders. With outstanding performances by the leading actors, the film is a tense and gripping psychological thriller.
John Doe is portrayed as nothing less than the embodiment of the devil. Without understanding the Christian doctrine that human beings are inherently sinful and can receive God's forgiveness through faith, it may be difficult to fully grasp the essence of this film.
Japan is a country with relatively few murders. Even so, in recent years, when a crime occurs and its motive is unclear, expressions such as “the darkness of the human mind” are often used.
I believe it is problematic to emphasize a person's abnormality without carefully examining the social and personal circumstances behind a crime, because doing so can easily lead to prejudice and discrimination.
There are no devils inside the human heart.
With that belief in mind, I would like to welcome Christmas.
