Not one of Japan's most unique or remarkable directors, though Shinohara helmed his fair share of interesting films. If you're looking for solid drama or horror features and you're otherwise out of options, his oeuvre is a perfect back-up.
Movies
If you think it all sounds rather dull than that's perfectly understandable. The thing is, it really isn't. Breathe In, Breathe Out is a beautiful, pure, subtle and heart-warming drama.
A fine drama that plays like a more sentimental version of Koreeda's After Life. Shinohara isn't as subtle, the drama itself has a clearer direction and some moments can be a bit much, but overall this is a sweet, loveable and slightly fantastical film that had little trouble convincing me of its qualities. Fans of '00 Japanese dramas won't be disappointed.
Jam Films
The Jam Films anthology is worth exploring if you like contemporary Japanese cinema. This first one isn't the best of the bunch, but it features some big-name directors and offers a nice variation of themes and styles. It's certainly not the most consistent anthology, nor the most creative, but there are some nice shorts on display. I liked the mix of different genres, though it lacked one or two shorts that tried to do something entirely different. Most directors remained within their comfort zone and delivered something predictable. That's not what anthology films are about, on the other hand, there weren't any weak entries either. Good fun.Read all
A drama with slight arthouse sensibilities. The arthouse elements aren't too pronounced, at its heart this is a pretty straightforward mix of drama and romance, but the documentary bits and the somewhat slower pacing make this a slightly less accessible film. That's not a bad thing though. The setting is interesting, the performances are strong and Shinohara's direction is subtle. If you like the turn-of-the-century dramas this is an easy recommendation, but the film lacks a slicker finish to make an even bigger impact. Still, this is one of Shinohara's better films, it's a shame it took so long to surface.Read all
A pretty cool surprise, this one. It almost felt like discovering a lost Iwai film (or an early Yukisada). There's a sweetness and playfulness here that is reminiscent of Iwai's mix of drama and romance. The only thing lacking is that little bit of extra refinement, but there are some superbly lovable and memorable moments scattered throughout. The setting is lovely, the music is nice, the characters are intriguing and the pacing is the right kind of slow. Add a little dance/ballet scene at the end and it's obvious why this references Iwai. This is one of Shinohara's better films and an easy recommend for fans of Japanese romance.Read all
A somewhat inconspicuous short to start off Shinohara's career, except that Work on the Grass is a perfect precursor to Breathe In, Breathe Out, arguably one of Shinohara's best films to date. The premise is very similar, so is the appeal, though the limited runtime keeps Shinohara from hitting the necessary dramatic notes. The premise is simple, don't expect anything too profound from this little slice-of-life drama. It's just the boys spending their day together, talking on their breaks and cutting grass in a rather beautiful setting. It's not going to be for everyone, but I really appreciated this down-tempo drama.Read all
A sweet but somewhat unremarkable little drama about two future veterinarians who both want to help animals in their own way. People with a soft spot for animals and pets are sure to appreciate the message and moral dilemmas put forward in this film, but the drama isn't quite strong enough to warrant the 2-hour runtime. The actors do a decent job, there are plenty of cute animals running around, and the direction is pleasant. There's no real urgency though and the presentation of the moral dilemma is a bit simplistic. It's certainly not a terrible film, it's just that Shinohara is obviously capable of better. A film with its heart in the right place.Read all
Not Shinohara's best film. The premise is interesting enough, and I think a film like this could've worked better in the hands of someone like Hanada. The way it turned out now, it's a little too cheesy and sentimental to make a big impact. The film is also quite long considering the light subject matter. Flower and Sword offers a very different take on samurai (not the first film to do that, but I don't think I've ever seen one about ikebana). I didn't care too much for Mansai Nomura's performance, the rest of the cast is a bit over-the-top too. It's not a terrible film though, just not really on the level of Shinohara's better output.Read all
A somewhat disappointing anthology, especially when looking at all the impressive names involved. Five famed directors (apart from Nishikawa all male) each take on a female story. Few of them grabbed this opportunity to come up with something unique, which means you only get some decent but relatively standard drama. With these directors, I needed more. The first story is about a girl returning to her hometown, the second one sees two women bonding after one attempts to steal money from the other. The third short follows a woman on holiday with her employer, the fourth one has a young man fancy the friend of his mother, and the final one tells of a mistress waiting for her lover. Matsuo's short is the best one, while Tsukamoto's short has the best individual scenes. Hiroki's film is probably the least successful of the bunch, but comedy isn't his strong suit. I just wish there were more memorable entries here. When you have less time to impress, you have to go bigger, even if that means failing spectacularly. In contrast, I'd rate all shorts here in the 3-3.5* range, which is not what I'm looking for in a good anthology.Read all
A cute romance from Shinohara. It's a sweet film with a light fantastical touch to make things a bit more intriguing, but it lacks a stronger directorial vision to set it apart from a slew of similar projects. If you're looking for an easily digestible romance though, this one checks all the boxes. The problem is that apart from the little twist, there isn't anything that truly stands out here. The performances are okay, the cinematography decent (but a little murky) and the score is nice but forgettable. I had fun watching it, but it's not a film that will stay with me for very long.Read all
A noble attempt, but this Chinese-Japanese co-production never really finds its rhythm. Maybe it's because the romance is rather overstated and cheesy, maybe Shinohara just wasn't the right man for this particular blend of China and Japan. There are some hopeful moments, but overall it's just not that great.
