Watches
February 06, 2016
A more straightforward drama from the hands of Sono. It's not a bad film, but it's obvious that he has a much harder time distinguishing himself doing these kinds of films. Sono is best known for being quite extravagant, while Japanese dramas tend to be more gentle and introverted. If you're a fan of the genre though, Balloon Club won't disappoint.
Jiro used to be part of a ballooning club. Some of the members were true ballooning fans, others were just there for the company, or to find a soul mate. Several years later, Jiro hears that the leader of the club died in an accident. It's a good time for the former members to have a little gathering and reminisce about the good old days.
The shakey DV camera work isn't the greatest and the film feels a little aimless. Sono explores some of the relationships between the members of the club, but that's about the gist of it. The score is pretty unique though and if you like watching Japanese youngsters hanging around and going about their business, it's a pretty entertaining watch.