This review may contain spoilers
Ryusei stole the show.
I'm a fan of both Tori and Ryusei so imagine my delight when both were in this drama. Ryusei stole the show for me. I'm so impressed and proud of his evolution as an actor. I hated, sympathized, was angry with his character. He made me feel a myriad of emotions watching this: he outdid himself in this one. Tori as the main lead was amazing how he always is and I'm always in awe of his acting. I wasn't familiar with the lead actress prior to this so she did very well too.Warning from now on it's going to be full of spoilers.
I like how this movie showcased how domestic violence starts. It starts with red flags like being extremely controlling; checking where you other half is at every time of the day and even call their work to see if they left. Also expecting a certain behavior out of them and for them to obey you and suddenly escalate to violence.
My main gripe with this drama is that I completely understand the trauma that the Female lead went through when she was young but when she was an adult, she should have clarified what really happened. The male lead let her stay with her because of the daily trauma she was having at home. It's understandable that he was arrested for being a pedophile but technically he was not. His life as an adult in the public eye was completely ruined because of this and their subsequent meeting, him continuing to be persecuted, her apologizing for continuing to ruin his life when she could have came clean about what really happened. Sure not everyone would believe her but it will at least clear his name publicly. I don't know why she was still protecting her awful aunt and his son by staying quiet and ruining this man 's life..I just didn't like that it ended without this happening. I also have another question about his condition that I'll ask in the comments.
It's an amazing movie....with outstanding performances..... give it a go !!!
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Momadic Moon
“Nomadic Moon,” with its formidable 150-minute duration, might initially seem like a lengthy commitment. Yet, the film effortlessly envelops you in its world, making the time pass unnoticed. This is a testament to Lee Sang-il’s exceptional directorial prowess. His talent for crafting a story that’s deeply engaging without relying on flamboyance is remarkable.The performances of Suzu Hirose and Toma Matsuzaka stand out, clearly a result of Lee’s deep commitment to the film. From my perspective, these roles could be considered the pinnacle of their acting careers thus far.
While “Nomadic Moon” has a delicacy that may not resonate with all audiences, its subtle interplay of themes like the moon and water leaves a lasting impact, prompting thoughtful discussions—an enriching experience especially for adult viewers.
Additionally, the performances by Ryusei Yokohama and Mikako Tabe are noteworthy and add depth to this beautifully crafted film.
It's fascinating to explore how societal norms and perceptions of mental health evolve, influencing our interpretation of characters and narratives in media.
The term "Lolita complex," known in Japanese as "rorikon," originates from Vladimir Nabokov's novel "Lolita." It describes an adult's sexual attraction to young girls, typically those who are prepubescent or in early adolescence. In Japan, this term is prevalent in both clinical and popular cultural contexts, though its interpretations can vary widely.
In this film, a young man shelters an abused girl, which places him in a delicate social position. Society swiftly categorizes him under the stigmatized label of 'Lolita complex,' regardless of his true intentions. This scenario mirrors a larger societal trend of quick judgments and ostracization based on superficial assessments or misinterpretations, without fully considering the complexity of the circumstances.
The movie challenges its viewers to reassess their biases and the simplicity with which they might label someone with a 'Lolita complex.' It weaves a narrative that obscures the line between societal labels and personal actions, prompting the audience to reconsider their viewpoints. The film's deliberate ambiguity suggests that judgment is in the eyes of the beholder, reflecting their personal prejudices or sympathies.
This method of storytelling, where the audience's interpretation becomes a mirror of their personal thoughts and societal conditioning, is compelling. It not only narrates a story but also engages the viewers in profound introspection about societal norms, mental health stigmas, and the often unfair practice of marginalizing individuals based on misinterpreted actions or misconceptions.
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This review may contain spoilers
This is such weird one
Wandering is one of those movies that doesn’t sit right. You watch it, and afterwards you feel this strong urge to talk about it, to explain what it made you feel, but the words just don’t fully come. It’s unsettling.Plot**
The story follows 9-year-old Sarasa, who loses her father to cancer and is sent to live with her aunt, her aunt’s husband, and her 14-year-old cousin. Her aunt sees her as a burden and as someone who will only cause trouble. The worst part is also that her cousin does bad things to her every night. Sarasa already feels unwanted and out of place.
One day at a park, she meets 19-year-old Fumi. When Sarasa tells him she doesn’t want to go home, he tells her she can go with him. Weeks pass, and the entire country becomes consumed by the news of a kidnapped 9-year-old girl. Years later, when Sarasa is an adult, she meets Fumi again.
The story feels strange, and I’m still not sure if my understanding is completely correct.
When you watch the movie, you mostly see things from Sarasa’s perspective. In her memories, she is living in a house with a 19-year-old who feeds her and provides for her. It sometimes feels calm. Almost normal.
But then there is the world’s perspective: a 9-year-old girl has been taken by a 19-year-old man ( if you know what I mean). That is kidnapping. That carries obvious and disturbing implications.
As Sarasa grows up, her flashbacks sometimes make their relationship seem almost platonic. Yet there are small moments that hint something isn’t right, subtle signs that make you uncomfortable and question Fumi’s intentions. The film never clearly defines him as purely evil, but it also never lets you feel safe about him.
That’s what makes it so hard to interpret.
It becomes even more conflicting because Sarasa’s life before meeting Fumi was already painful and unstable. Compared to the emotional neglect she experienced at home, her time with him might feel different in her memory. And that creates this uncomfortable grey area that the film refuses to resolve.
So I wonder, is she remembering it as safer than it was? Is trauma reshaping her perception? Is the movie intentionally blurring the lines between personal memory and social reality?
I found it difficult to fully grasp what the film wanted me to conclude. It doesn’t guide you toward a clear moral statement. Instead, it leaves you in that tension, between sympathy and discomfort, between perspective and reality.
Wandering isn’t an easy watch. It’s not a film that wraps things up neatly. It leaves you questioning what you saw and how you feel about it, and maybe that lingering confusion is exactly what it’s meant to do.
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Interesting...
Under normal circumstances, I would never have given this movie a chance based on the description alone. However, I randomly saw a short TikTok edit about the film and wanted to see the ending. This movie is… interesting, to say the least. A young girl is “kidnapped” and lives with a pedophile for two months. Eventually, she is found, and he is arrested. Cue start of movie when she’s a young adult.To think that her time as a young girl with this man for two months is the LEAST of her problems is actually insane and just goes to show that the movie had quite a bit going for it in terms of story. I think that’s why I enjoyed it. It subverted expectations. I went into it not liking the topic but was pleased with the story it was telling.
The acting was good, it’s shot well, and the original soundtrack is nice. It never crosses the line in terms of visuals if you know what I mean. The other stuff she goes through is far worse if you can believe that.
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