Plot: Yutaka, a writer tired of his job, throws his life around. He opens a store to save a building from demolition. That's how he meets Huma, a young girl with no friends and no worthwhile bond with her parents. The two grow close, and when Yutaka is forced to close the store after all, the two go on a little trip together.
Watches
August 29, 2024
A sweet indie drama that reminded me of early Shunji Iwai and Hideaki Anno, but isn't quite as accomplished. The story is a mere hook, the film is more interested in the characters and mood. It's quite slow and unfocused, but that's exactly what makes this such a pleasant and warm trip.
The performances are on point (watch this to see a young Nishijima at work, or for the Suzuki Matsuo cameo), the camera work is intimate, and the score gentle and soothing. The dialogue gets a bit too serious at times, without landing the gravity of the conversations, but other than that this is a little undiscovered gem. A nice find.