Movie: Moriyamachu Driving School
Romaji: Moriyamachu Kyoshujo
Japanese: 森山中教習所
Actors: Shuhei Nomura, Kento Kaku, Yukino Kishii, Kumiko Aso
Director: Keisuke Toyoshima
Writer: Keigo Shinzo (manga), Kiyoto Wada
The movie opens with a scene where the main character (Kiyotaka Sato) broke up with his girlfriend then he confessed to her that he's planning to get a driver's license because he's so fed up and wants to move away from their small town. Later that evening he got run over by a car and the driver is none other than his high school friend (Todoroki) who is now a yakuza apprentice. He is also planning to get a driver's license because apparently that is a requirement to become a fully fledged yakuza.
So the whole movie is just like that, we watch them to get their driver's license together, but this is also a coming of age movie, and if you watch it in that perspective, this movie is still worth your time. This is a compelling movie if you focus on the growth of each character and not on the events in the movie which seems to be boring because nothing is happening. I would say seeing the growth of these two characters is fun to watch. Kiyotaka's curiosity gives this movie the much needed comedic touch while todoroki's uncertainty with the job he has chosen is relatable to young adults. I would also like to point out that even though this is a quirky comedy it is still realistic based on how they convey the little happiness in the movie like those mundane things they have in the movie.
The acting is also good at least, both of them acted as master and apprentice in the movie chihayafuru so it's weird but fun seeing them in this buddy comedy movie. This is also the most energetic character I've seen from Nomura Shuhei, he's is like a kid that is curious in every little things. As for Kaku Kento, the last drama I've watched him in is Kyou Kara Ore Wa!!, where he made that character Mitsuhashi as Mitsuhashi, so seeing him in this total opposite role is so refreshing LOL. They are both versatile actors, it's the type of movie where had they switched roles the effectiveness of each character would have still been the same.
Coming of age movies are not only relatable but they also tell stories of different people, stories of loss, passion, frustration, isolation and like in the case of Moriyamachu Driving School stories of acceptance, regret and more importantly doing what we want. Coming of age stories are endless and will continue as long as they reflect the thing we all as a human being experience.....growth.
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