Plot: When a young and promising salesman hears he suffers from an aneurysm, his world collapses. He quits his job right away and ends up as a driver for an older gent. The two undertake a trip through Japan, taking the smaller roads to enjoy their journey. On their way, they will have to face some tough questions.
Watches
September 18, 2024
A fine arthouse drama that leans on its excellent cast to do the heavy lifting. Osawa and Emoto are a strong central duo, with a great supporting role from Ryo Kase and a fun cameo by Ken'ichi Endo. The drama is good but not too original, while the presentation is pleasant but predictable.
Hana is a quality production, with no clear negatives (if you like arthouse dramas that is), the problem is that it fails to stand out in any meaningful way. It's not that Japan is struggling in this niche, and with such strong competition, Hana doesn't do quite enough to make a lasting impression. It's still impressive filler though.