A chance to walk in Alice’s shoes gives Yune a look at how French society places restrictions on even those who seem free and shows how it is symbolized in every breath and step.
What They Say:
Episode 6-Crinoline
The Review:
While Yune has been doing her best on her chores, Alice has been doing her best to control her desire to see the young Japanese maiden when her self-restraint finally shatters. As Alice travels by horse and carriage to the entrance of the Galleria she catches the attention of all the people on the street which gives her a bit of a boost to her (already impressive sized) ego though the person whose attention she most wants seems immune to many of the charms that enthrall regular Parisians. Alice has a plan though, if she can’t have Yune to herself at the moment she can have a picture taken with Yune to always keep around her at least.
As much as Alice wants to rush off at that instant when she gets a sign from Yune that she is interested in being photographed Yune states that she has to finish her cleaning and once she has made up her mind there is nothing that will change it. Even when Claude tells her she can go and Alice offers her maids to take Yune’s place Yune insists it is her work to do and that she will complete it. Alice waits and watches as Yune works but finds herself unable to comprehend why it is Yune looks so happy even when working so hard. After a time that feels incredibly long to Alice as she waits, Yune finally finishes her chores and goes with Alice to her house.
One of the things Alice loves most is showing off her prized possessions and among her treasures is a box of photos. Alice shows Yune the small box of photographs she has accumulated that include friends, family and members of society Alice has met when one of the photos catch Yune’s eye. The picture is of Alice’s older sister Camille who Alice admires in a major way and she gushes out her praise about her to Yune. Just then Camille appears and suggests that Alice try wearing a kimono since Yune can dress her properly. When Yune sees Alice’s crinoline she compares it to a birdcage which causes Camille to agree with her wistfully. Given the group involved whether or not a proper picture can ever be taken may be a Herculean task but no less so may be ahead of Yune as she attempts to figure out what those strange looks and sighs from Camille mean as well as why it is Claude seems so intent on keeping his distance from the Blanche family.
With the current episode the writers go through presenting what seems like a slice of life style episode as Yune does her work and the day she spends with Alice afterword. While this surface layer is fine if slightly repetitive of some things the audience has been shown before it is in the subtext of the story where the motives, wishes and regrets of a couple of characters look to underlie many of the tensions that Yune can sense between Claude and the Blanche family. A casual sigh here, a wistful look or loaded delivery there and the dialogue gives the appearance that the story is building up to have some deep foundations underneath the light hearted and soothing structure that the series looks to be building based on the framework visible from the surface.
In Summary:
The sixth episode of Croisee continues in its examination of freedom with a look at members of the upper class Blanche family. As Yune spends the day at their house she will discover the obvious restrictions French fashion places on the women in the society but it is in the more subtle moments when the story peels away the garment bindings to give a hint that leather and strings may not be the biggest restraining power on a women’s ability to move freely.
Grade: B
Simulcast By: The Anime Network
