
Watches
May 29, 2021
One of Ôbayashi's lesser films, coincidentally also one of his longer films. The film is a rather predictable drama that wallows in nostalgia (hence the title), but brings very little of Ôbayashi's trademark elements to set itself apart from its peers. The result was a bit too long and indistinct for me.
Ayase is a popular writer who produces "ice-cream" novels (sweet and simple stories that melt away into nothing). He decides to return to his old town. Once there he runs into the ghosts of his past (most notably a young girl who he once loved), which forces him to reflect on his life and the choices he made.
The setting is nice, the performances are decent. There are one or two more typical Ôbayashi moments, but for the most part it's a relatively basic drama that deals with predictable topics to which Ôbayashi can't all that much. It's not a terrible film, but I definitely prefer Ôbayashi's more unique films.
More by the director
Nobuhiko Ôbayashi

Sada

Bound for the Fields, the Mountains, and the Seacoast

Emotion

Hanagatami

House

Lonelyheart

Switching - Goodbye Me

The Little Girl Who Conquered Time

Beijing Watermelon

Castings Blossoms to the Sky

Chizuko's Younger Sister

Cute Devil

Four Sisters

Goodbye for Tomorrow

His Motorbike, Her Island

I Are You, You Am Me

Labyrinth of Cinema

Samurai Kids

School in the Crosshairs

The Adventures of Kosuke Kindaichi

The Discarnates

The Drifting Classroom

Seven Weeks

Take Me Away!

The Deserted City

The Island Closest to Heaven
