Japanese Movie Recommendations 2020

He Won't Kill, She Won't Die

Cast: Shotaro Mamiya, Hinako Sakurai

It's either a fluffy marshmallow sugar fest movie or a bleak teen angst driven film those are the vibes I expect watching this so I was surprised to see a well executed meaningful movie. I love the whole pacing, those 3 story bits are cleverly woven together and don't forget brilliant writing. Likable characters supported by good to great acting, I was surprised I love Sakurai Hinako's character here, I think she's a good actress it's just that most of her characters in the past are either dumb or boring. Mamiya Shotaro is great too, most complains says he looks too old to play a student but I think the fact that he looks older works for the character. I love this eccentric pair and I would like this story to have a drama version and both of them should reprise their roles. They got great chemistry, it fun watching them interact, the dialogue between them are witty, clever and thought provoking.

Overall great movie, I recommend it if you want something with substance and meaning. I love that ending shot, the aesthetics is anime style. The ending song is perfect too, it cuts deep and stabs you right in the feels.

Colorless

Cast: Kaneko Daichi, Ishikawa Ruka

Cute yes, but actually no. It will only feel this vibrant and colorful at the beginning and after that it all went bleak then at the end it feels dull or as the title suggest Colorless. The cinematography mirrors the whole narrative as it explore its main subject, a pixie dream girl turned into a disaster, Yuka. The film is her character study and it all exist in the male lead's perspective, an aspiring photographer, Koyama. It's thru his lens where we or he tries to capture the real Yuka, show her true colors, or if there really is.

The characters are well written, complex, well acted, but more importantly feels real. Ishikawa Ruka in particular is brilliant and Kaneko Daichi is a bit of a revelation in this movie. Overall it tackles dreams, lies and hate the movie or not, their story is still a love story.

Romance Doll

Cast: Aoi Yu, Takahashi Issei

12 years after "One Million Yen Girl", Aoi Yu and Tanada Yuki reunites once again in this movie "Romance Doll", but it doesn't feel anything similar. You could feel the compassion and honesty in the script sure which I think Tanada Yuki's trademark, but its theme doesn't have anything to do with identity but sexuality and marriage. It is somewhat similar with the drama Otto no Chinpo ga Hairanai, also directed by Tanada Yuki, just less complicated but its conclusion is more desirable this time, another theme was tackled after that which I would not discuss since it's in a more spoiler territory. At the end it will make you realize this scary possibility that people might seek love dolls than real humans when people are able to make their ultimate love doll as communication with a doll who can't talk could be easier than a real person, and it's actually happening right now.

Paradise

Cast: Ayano Gou, Sugisaki Hana, Sato Koichi

The themes are all over the place, like the movie is trying to say too much, but I think it will all lead to the core theme which you will find in its english title, "Paradise" or much better its alternative english title "The Promise land". Not just themes are convoluted but the storytelling as well, it may be well paced movie with its 3 well told arcs, "Crime", "Punishment" & "Humans, but the constant shifts between time is not for everyone. Not for those who have short attention span.

Mystery driven but it explores human condition more and when Japan explores that area means it will dissect it to the tiniest bits that every characters actions will make sense. Definitely carried by actors performance, The always reliable veteran actors in Japan, Gou Ayano with arguably his best performance, and Sugisaki Hana showing who the real Sugisaki Hana is. The reveal might be underwhelming depends on your take, but this is the type of movie that focus on the journey rather than the destination.

Gargle with Sweet Sake

Cast: Matsuyuki Yasuko, Kuroki Haru, Shimizu Hiroya

"I want to go to the seaside"

"The sea at night"
"It's pitch black. You can't see a thing"
"You can only hear the waves"
"It's the place I can feel death the nearest"
"Once a year, I go there whether I'm still attached to life or not"

This movie is full of this everday realization and thoughts which is narrated by Yoshiko, a 40 something woman who is somewhat happy but her melancholic side makes her pessimistic when it comes to love. Watching this movie is like having a glimpse on her diary. The story plays out in a slice of life way, forced us to observe the main character in her most mundane task like ride a bike, go to work, go back home, drink wine etc. There are a lot of these quiet moments, scenes that don't advance the plot, but allows a better characterization and gives more character depth to the main character.

It's well shot, well written, well acted, but more importantly well directed movie. The chemistry between these trio is fresh, not the same in age or experience but nonetheless all are great actors and fit their characters really well. Love the cinematography there many great shots, at first you will feel the director has this huge foot fetish until you realize those are just great symblic shots for what this movie is about.

Ice Cream and the Sound of Raindrops

Cast: Morita Kokoro, Tanaka Taketo, Guama, Tanaka Reiko

Coming of age films usually require time, lots of time to explore the lives of these youths, their struggles, fantasies, disappointments, sexuality, dreams, but more importantly show their growth, so it's really amazing how the director manage to do it in just 1 take, 70+ minutes of non interrupted shot. The movie being a narrative within a narrative also helps exploring those elements, the main narrative, the rehearsal and the within narrative, the actual stage play. The tonal shifts between this two blurs the line between reality and fiction. Coming of age also requires sense of time and that passing of time was neatly done thru subtle changes of location, it's genius, camera work is a marvel to behold. The movie is just 70+ minutes one long take but the story spans one month.

I'm always a fan of unconventional/think-outside-the-box way of story telling as it's a huge gamble from the filmmaker's part, so if it works I wouldn't hesistate give it a high score.