Watches
April 27, 2024
A very small, but warm and capable sports drama from Sho Miyake. It's not quite as gripping or moving as And Your Bird Can Sing, but that's probably just personal preference. His former film felt more contemporary, this one is closer to the classic Japanese indie drama. Pleasant, but not 100% for me.
Keiko was born deaf, but she doesn't let that hinder her. She even managed to become a pro boxer, even though her complete lack of hearing is a big handicap. She's part of a small gym which invests a lot of time in her career. Sadly, the owner's health is deteriorating and the clientele is dropping.
Yukino Kishii is stellar in her role here, and the drama feels genuine and heartfelt. There are several poignant moments, the problem for me was that the styling was a tad too pedestrian. Muted colors, a barren score (though functional), and dry cinematography prevented the film from becoming a true personal favorite. Other than that, this was a great film.