Rip Van Winkle no hanajome

A story that deserves to be deciphered and pondered. What was the author trying to say? What were his characters after? As long as you don’t figure it’s an ordinary overlong film where nothing ever actually happens, Kuwabara gives us the background music just so that we don't notice that there won’t be much in the way of excitement, as long as you step back from the dullness and "boredom", you might find that this is a fairly complex and well-constructed film. Where everything has its place, even its characters represent what they are supposed to represent – whether it's a piece of society or just a minority voice. There aren't many actors, but the important ones play the everyday and almost mundane well. The whole thing hinges on the bland Nanami, played by Kuroki Haru. Here she put the charm with which she manages to draw attention to herself on the back burner and she really was just a wallflower. A very pretty one, to be sure. I still can't get enough of that actress. And then there was Ayano Gō, representing the anonymous company firm. Just the way he talked made him seem out of reach, someone who can’t be relied on if he isn't going to get anything out of it. But of course, it doesn't end there. Watch closely, it's not a film for staving off boredom. (05.10.2016)