Movies
A pleasant romantic drama from Matsui, but it lacks that little sparkle to make it stand out from the crowd. It reminded me of a few other Japanese dramas I've watched recently (We Couldn't Become Adults and And Your Bird Can Sing most notably), that simply did it better. Teruo and his girlfriend split up, but they haven't really forgotten about each other. He still reminisces about the time they spent together. Little by little, we find out how their relationship came to be, and how it shaped them both as a couple and as individuals. The performances are solid, the cinematography is polished and the drama works well. The soundtrack wasn't entirely to my liking though and there's nothing that really draws attention to itself, but if you're looking for a good and respectable Japanese romantic drama, you can't go wrong with this one.Read all
Daigo Matsui takes a more serious approach with Ice Cream and the Sound of Raindrops. I know him as a comedy director, producing films that have goofy premises, but also harbor a slightly darker core. That darkness finally surfaces and dominates Matsui's latest, though it's not an easy puzzle to decipher. The film follows a theater group that is preparing for their very first show. Then comes the news that nobody is buying any tickets and that their production has been cancelled. But the film deliberately blurs the lines between reality and play and it's hard to know what's real and what is staged. The fact that it's a single take film and even switches between different locations only adds to the confusion, but it also increases the appeal. While it's a film that left me with more questions than answers, it's also a film that leaves a strong impression and won't be easily forgotten. Matsui deserves credit for his bravery and vision, the execution could've been a little tighter though.Read all
Haruko Azumi Is Missing
Cute little road trip drama. The film is sometimes billed as a comedy, because of the lighter atmosphere I guess, but it's really just a traditional Japanese drama following a group of people trying to get from A to B. Matsui does a good job capturing the youthful spirit of his lead characters, but it's not quite enough to set the film apart from its many peers. We follow four young island girls as they are trying to make their way to Tokyo. They're all major fans of CreepHyp, a minor J-Rock band, who are doing a rare live concert. It's a spur-of-the-moment decision, but the four decide to attend. They start off their 1000km trip by bike but they quickly realize they won't make their target that way. The performances are strong, the road trip feels pretty animated and the use of handy cams and text conversations gives the film a more dynamic vibe. As a coming-of-age drama, Our Huff and Puff Journey is a bit light though and while the ending is interesting, it's not quite powerful enough to leave a lasting impression. It's a very pleasant and agreeable film, just no masterpiece.Read all