Akegata no Wakamonotachi
2021 / 116m - Japan
Romance, Drama
4.0*/5.0*
The End of the Pale Hour poster

Plot: At a graduation party, a young man bumps into the girl of his dreams. It's love at first sight and she seems interested in him too. The boy is hopeful that he can change the printing business, but he quickly discovers that corporate life isn't what he thought it would be. He starts all the way at the bottom of the corporate ladder, in the services department. An old friendship and his newfound love keep him cheery when work is dragging him down, but there's something structural that undermines his romance.

Watches

October 08, 2023

4.0*/5.0*

A pretty sweet romance that packs quite the twist. The End of the Pale Hour is a comfortable, well-executed, quality Japanese drama, only about halfway through the story makes a full 180. It's quite mean-spirited if I'm totally honest, but it gives the film that little extra edge that sets it apart from many similar films. The performances are great, the cinematography is delicate and the drama/romance is poignant. An easy recommendation for fans of Japanese cinema.