The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese

Melancholy

I have really conflicting feelings about this movie (which arrived in a cinema in my home city, so I watched it on the big screen.)

-- It is very well made indeed -- intentionally dark and melancholy, and very successful at that.
-- The actors did excellent work at portraying the deeply flawed characters and their mixture of gravitational attraction and repulsion.
-- I didn't like the inconclusive ending. Some people like being able to "write their own ending," but I don't. After the fact, reading reviews and comments on this site, I learn that the original manga actually had a happier ending. I think I would have preferred that.
-- The sex scenes were quite explicit, without actually showing the family jewels. I was surprised by that, but it didn't bother me. I do think that the nature of the sex scenes (who was doing what to whom) really conveyed important symbolism about the relationship of the two leads.

As to the characters: in some movies or series, my heart just embraces the characters from the beginning, and I want nothing but the best for them. Even if they are flawed. (like Gao Shi De, in We Best Love). But not these characters -- they are just too flawed, and frankly, unable to draw logical conclusions about themselves. I watch them; I never feel for them.

The moments when my heart rejected the characters were:
a) When Otomo, having left behind the wreckage of several different relationships with women, and having made enough of a commitment to his gay lover that they were living together, decides to pursue another woman to the point of getting engaged to marry her. What kind of idiot would DO that -- I understand people who find truths about themselves after marriage and try to maintain loveless marriages and have affairs on the side, but his marriage had ended and he was a free actor. Actively chasing yet another innocent woman when all his signals had been flashing consistently red for some years? How unfair to her and how untrue to himself!
b) When Imagase, who was so head-over-heels in love that he pursued Otomo for years, finally achieves his heart's desire, and then decides to leave, and throw it all away. It doesn't help that Imagase (despite being a fairly sympathetic character) turns out to be a controlling b**** who trolls through his lover's phone, looking for evidence of affairs.

So the fact that these two ended up not together didn't move me much at all. Ho hum....on to the next pair of drama queens.

I also didn't like at all one of the central philosophical constructs of the film: that there is a "straight world" and a "gay world" and people have to choose which type of person they are and which world they will live in. People are not either/or -- they occupy points on an infinitely-detailed spectrum. Clearly, the film seemed to make a bit of an attempt to convey that the "gay world" trope is a dysfunctional imposition by an overly-rigid society, but then in the end the lead characters seem to buy into it, not challenge it. Bleagh.

Interestingly, the audience in the cinema seemed to be largely female (BL fans, I guess) and I am male. So that fan base may not share some of my reactions to the characters, which are no doubt influenced by the fact that in some ways I have actually lived the "different worlds" trope. But that's why I feel so strongly that it needs to be rejected.

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Good!!!

This was a good movie, i'm typically not a fan of the whole cheating/affairs trope however thats a personal preference and this was executed quite well! Overall, the movie had some amazing aspects however I felt like there were quite a few 'hole' within the storyline with somr things not mentioned or explained and sudden aspects that happen out of knowhere.

The movie was very gritty and the characters show a lot of flaws, and is very slowburn. And aside from the above points its a very good adaptation!

However, one thing I really did not like was the ending. I understand how it ends but at the same time I don't. I'm a sucker for happy endings but this one was so ambiguous I have absolutely no idea where it would go. Why are there never any super happy endings in lgbt dramas lol.

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a brutally honest portrait of love, change, and emotional accountability

this isn’t the kind of BL film that wraps itself in idealized tropes or gives comfort in romance. it’s an uncomfortable, messy, and deeply human story—and for that reason, it's one of the most powerful i’ve seen.

at its core is kyouichi, a man who lives a pitiful and hollow life. a womanizer and emotionally vacant, he gets married not out of love, but out of a vague sense of obligation—because it’s what society expects of him. he’s never really stopped to think about what he wants, who he is, or how his behavior affects others. he moves through life selfishly, detached, never truly caring about those who try to get close to him.

then there’s imagase, who represents everything that challenges kyouichi’s emotional stagnation. his love is obsessive, manipulative—even predatory at times—but it’s also raw, honest, and unwavering. his searing line, “you have a weakness for people who love you, but you don’t trust that love in the end, and sniff around the feelings of those who approach you,” cuts deep, not just into kyouichi’s character but into the emotional detachment that defines many modern relationships.

and yet, what makes this film resonate is not the toxicity—it’s the potential for growth. kyouichi isn’t a likable man, but he is human. and for all his flaws, he proves capable of change. he begins to accept who he is, stops running from himself, and starts taking emotional responsibility—not just for his own life, but for the people he’s hurt. that willingness to grow doesn’t come easily or quickly. it comes from being challenged by someone who, despite everything, truly loved him.

this is beautifully encapsulated in the final scene. kyouichi sits alone at the barstool—on the same stool where Imagase always waited for him. the ashtray is no longer thrown away but placed gently on the table, washed and cleaned. the curtains are white and sheer, replacing the tacky blue ones. small, quiet details, but they say everything. he’s not waiting for someone to fix him anymore. he’s doing what he can, on his own. as he puts it, “i want to wait. by myself. i want to do what i can.”

in the end, imagase's love—unconventional, obsessive, but undeniably pure—becomes the catalyst for kyouichi’s growth. and in that sense, the film suggests that to truly love someone is for them to become your only exception.

it’s not romantic. it’s not easy. but it’s real—and that’s what makes this story unforgettable.

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Completely Raw tense at times yet presented Beautifully

Indeed a gem.
Got completely involved with the charecters even after having multiple affairs and other charecters with kyoki watching kyoki and imagase together was so intense.
The scene where imagase asked kyoki to keep him near he doesn't want anything in return even if he can just see him once ....uff i badly wanted to hug the charecter of imagse.
STORY LINE :- So the lost character of kyoki continuously cheating and denying to realise himself a character imagse came who loved him since the university where they first met since 8 dammn years without a sign of getting him (although how he made it you will know in the whole story )made a huge change in kyoki which was obviously slow and frustrating at times because your heart will ache for imagase. I was cursing kyoki to be left alone in journey but the scene when he went to bar and left crying convinced a little hope in me like yes he could be given a chance may be which still was too much for a character like him but somehow i tried to understand him too. he kept dragging imagase in because somewhere he didn't want to make him unhappy but he kept doing it wrose and was not ready to accept his trueself
SIDE CHARECTERS:- i liked most the charecter of okamura and felt really bad for her, kyoki's wives charecter was also good and screaming of a completely cold and dead relationship between them which was meant to be end.
The charecter of kyoki's ex from university potrayed best that you will definitely dislike her and will want her to leave soon which i was glad not dragged too much
SEX SCENES: i saw some reviews saying its nudity and porn there is nudity but hello you are supposed to make your choice seeing r rated of the movie wether to watch it or not
If you are here then you must not be going to serve any lullaby
So In the short kyoki just wanted to settle his cheating agenda with the kiss but you will see how he resists but could really not deny imagase with time
He keep saying he is straight and cant do that but
in short You will see the difference in poured passion how kyoki was with the other and was with imagase when he finally couldn't say no to him .He was the one to hold imagase when he said its just a yes or no , if its a no after that i will never touch you .
ENDING:-
People might be getting dissapoint over the ending that oh no its sad or little more legit will say its open ending but trust me for me it was beautiful the two last scene one the beach one where imagse said "when you truly love someone they are your only expectation/ exception"
And he shouted that "i did love you truly"
Analogy to this scene where kyoki went to finally broke up with okamura and she asked do you trust that they will return kyoki definitely had no answer but he was willing to wait for the love he finally realised he wanted to make imagase the only exception for him and for me he might not had the answer if imagase will comeback but he trusted when he said he truly loved him and might consider to make him his exception.
The relationship was toxic and intolerant at times but i fell in love with imagase for having the courage to kept holding And for imagase he definitely deserved the wait he made the man like kyoki willing to wait for him.
The one flashback scene where imagase cried while they were making out made my heart ached for him at that point it was right for him to leave. Kyoki was changed but i couldn't imagine the loss and harm imagase was at but thats what the point of his charecter that he was willing not to count that like us and came so a long way to make the things happen he himself might not have ever thought. But in course he was probably lost and tired loving kiyoki which he didn't in 8 years when he was not with him.
The slow gradual and wanted change in kyoki was so satisfying to see and the at last scene when he washed the ash tray which imagase threw in dustbin while leaving which he himself once gave kiyoki too keep when they last broke up ,,,was beautiful. The exact end with kyoki crowling on the stool sitting like imagase used to do and kept waiting for him was satisfying.

JUST IN CASE:- i know it is based on the manga but if just in any case I would love to see a sequel of it and for the end i would still say i m not obssesed it to be them coming back together and a typical happy ever after. i want to see more of imagase want him to be at peace want to see his strong determining self when he decides something. ( whether it was to love kyoki 8 years ago or to leave him in the end)

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Very powerful

Wow what a good movie. I wasnt expecting too much out of it but i really loved it. I'm ecstatic to see bi representation, even though he was claiming to be straight for 90% of the movie.

The sex scenes were steamy and really well done. The two lead actors had major chemistry. The ambiguous ending wrecked me, i probably should read it to see if there's canonical closure.

It would be awesome to see more idols take on roles like this. It was a breath of fresh air to have a movie tackle issues like this, Okura's character was a huge jerk but he finally grew at the end, however not without the expense of others. Overall, its a favorite of mine now.

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Beautiful Chaos

You know what? I still can’t believe how much I like this movie.

Backstory: I had thrown this show in my “never to watch” BL list. (Yes, I have a list like that haha) Why? Well, cos I read the synopsis and thought “Infidelity? Hell no.” And on that note, let me just say, the synopsis isn’t really doing the movie justice. There’s more to this movie than you’ll read in the “about.”

Now, yeah I know it’s a manga adaptation and as someone who hasn’t read the manga and only watched the show… I love it.

Someone is probably thinking, “So, how did you end up watching this when you swore never to watch it?” Good thinking… it was on a Thursday evening when I had nothing else to watch and I was bored out of my mind , then I revisited my NTW list; this was the first show on the list.

And that was how I started it.

Let me just add that the title “The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese” is metaphorical. And this story is a metaphor that touches various sensitive themes.

Many people would interpret this story differently but what the story is to me is about a man who is inherently gay but unaware about his own orientation (hence never found satisfaction with women and always chooses infidelity) this man meets another man who is openly gay, and the openly gay man helps him figure out his romantic and sexual orientation.

And for the first time, the man who is gay and unaware found a reason to love and stay committed but he found it in another man.

TCMDOC has made it to my “Best JBL movies” list and found its place in my top 3.

If you’re like me and you’ve written this movie off, please watch it.

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This award -winning Japanese film, made in part by manga, is a good mystery into the immense depths of the human soul, human fates and the complete intricacy of relationships and sexual orientation. I haven't seen such a valuable picture to portray these features with gay themes. Yes, for example, some less susceptible viewers or those who cannot assemble the story and realize the context, like me as much as I do, but I think those who are empathing in the story despite their own life experience will sit like an ass on a pot .

Dark, rough, real film 18+ I got inside and despite all the evaluation criteria for me 10 I liked the most acting two characters. In the opening photo it looks like they are playing teenagers, but it's a story about adults. At the time of filming 34 -year -old singer and actor Okura Tadayoshi and 26 -year -old model and actor Narita Ryo, who totally got me by portraying the character Imagas, which I initially perceived rather antagonne (find myself, have the courage to accept who I really am .


Tento oceněný japonský film, natočený zčásti dle mangy, je pořádný záhul do nezměrných hlubin lidské duše, lidských osudů a naprosté spletitosti vztahů a sexuální orientace. Tak hodnotný snímek pro vykreslení těchto vlastností s gay tematikou jsem ještě neviděl. Ano, nemusí se třeba některým méně vnímavým divákům nebo těm, co si nedokážou příběh poskládat a uvědomit si souvislosti, líbit natolik jako mě, ale myslím, že těm, kteří se vcítí do příběhu přes své vlastní životní zkušenosti, bude sedět jak prdel na hrnec.

Temný, drsný, reálný film 18+ se mi vryl do nitra a přes veškerá kritéria hodnocení pro mě 10 se mi nejvíce líbily herecky hlavní dvě postavy. Na úvodní fotce to vypadá, jako že hrají náctiletí, ale je to příběh o dospělcích. V době natáčení 34 letý zpěvák a herec Okura Tadayoshi a 26 letý model a herec Narita Ryo, který mě naprosto dostal tím, jak ztvárnil postavu Imagase, kterou jsem zezačátku vnímal spíše antagonně (najít sebe sama, mít odvahu přijmout to, kým ve skutečnosti jsem, bojovat předem prohraný boj o lásku svého života a případně přijmout prohru ...), ale kdoví ... více neprozradím.

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what

what the hell did i just watch even like a man assaulted some guy he liked in high school for an hour and then somehow got that guy to fall in love with him just to be like lol nvm i dont trust u bye oh wait yeah lets fuck even thoguh u have a fiance now like what did i just watch i cant do thi slike genuinely and then at the edn the guy thats been cheating on everyone and their mom the entire movie was like wait maybe i shoukdnt cheat on ppl let me clean this fucking ashtray WHY DOES THIS REVIEW HAVE TO BE 500 CHARACTERS FUCK U MYDRAMALIST IM DONE WITH MY REVIEW LET ME FUCKING POST IT

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a different kind of love story

Just like what other says, it is a toxic kind of relationship. althought it is a toxic love i personally love this movie. I love the flow of the movie, and how it makes the character change. this is not a typical gay movie that we all watch, this is something new that everyone should watch. There are many lessons that we can learn to the characters and to the their actions. Just like "If you love someone too much, youll lose yourself and shatter". So in the movie, you will be questioning the actions of the characters because those actions were painful that you hope that he or she will do the opposite thing. But i really like how otomos character improved throughout the movie, imagase's character can be seen in some relationship where they tried to do everything for there love even if they hurt themselves.

I really commend the actors in this movie and the directors, producers and other staffs for producing such an excellent movie.

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The movie is about flawed characters and their tangeled life.

The movie is about flawed characters and their tangeled life. Which I do not mind, its just that I do not have to like them and/or sympathise with them. The character Imagase is obsessed, a stakler and kajoled his "Love" into having sex. He pushed him to a point where the other guy "Falls" in love with him and longs for him. Appeared to me as some form of Stockholm syndrome. Otomo repeatedly and continually cheats. He has no respect for anyone else's feelings. I think he is a sociopath. Extremely self-obsessed and emotionally immature. Yes people like these are all around us and in a movie we would like to see the redemption part of such characters. Here I felt that was missing. There was no redemption for Imagase. He is still as obsessed with Otomo as he was before to a point tha he cannot even enjoy sex with someone else, even though he chose to leave Otomo. Otomo appears to have redemption by falling in love with Imagase, which is really unrealistic, cause this is a realistic movie and sociopaths need serious rehabilitation. By loving someone you cannot redeem yourself. There was no serious consequnces for the two lead characters, they have treated other people with such disrespect that the movie should have shown some consequences for them. Yes, one can argue that they did not end up together and there was no happy ending. To be honest these two characters cannot be happy together unless they work on their issues. May be at the end the makers wanted to show some glimpse of road to redemption by Otomo, but Imagase was left hanging. All in all it was not a satisfying expereince for me to watch this. I am all for movies portraying complex characters who are ruthless and self absorved. But I am against glorifying them and I think in this movie both these characters were glorified and the director wanted us to sympathise with them. Sorry I could not.

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painful love tangle

very good but painful film〜 appears to me a classic story of a man unable to love himself and therefore unable to be loved by others、protecting himself from vulnerability by pushing them away and leaving emotional havoc behind： I think especially with the women he so easily attracts trying to sustain the outer image of a conventional straight relationship which is false to his (maybe unconscious) real self which Imagase begins to pull to the surface。yet it seems Imasage ultimately fails too。 I detect irony comparing Otomo's relationship to Imagase at the start and the end of this film as it seems at the end Otomo needs Imagase as well as the other way round where before Imagase alone pursues Otomo： finally we are left with images where Imagase experiences the pain of real love but Otomo is left literally with an empty room reduced to fantasy ーusing an ashtray of Imagase to evoke Imagase but without the cigarette ends that would show Imagase is actually there himself

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