Moving

A worthy Somai film. I've been slowly going through his oeuvre, and that has been a pretty fun trip so far. He's consistently interesting and always adds something unique to otherwise basic dramas. Moving reminded me a little of Obayashi's family-friendly entertainment, probably because of the younger lead and the more rural setting.

Renko is still a young girl when her parents decide to divorce. At first, she isn't too worried, but Renko starts to panic when her friends remind her of the practical implications of such a divorce. When her father moves out of the house, she comes up with a plan to bring her parents back together.

Tabata does pretty well for her age, the setting is pleasant and the tone is light. The first half of the film is nice enough, but not all that notable. When Somai adds a bit of couleur locale to the second half things get noticeably better. The cinematography and soundtrack stand out and there are quite a few memorable moments. Another good Somai.