J-atty

I like viewing old movies and most times they are more interesting when we watch them in context. The constructs are different as well as the production style. I went into this thinking that the ending would be full of pain and frustration, and unresolved. Most teacher - student relationships end either badly or ambiguously. I was suprised that this was not the case and was handled with the only outcome that best suit their situation.

The greatest asset of this film was that the players that were introduced were used effectively. Amakami entered the school as a new student and both recognized each other immediately, tho with different responses. Amakami with intrigue and pleasure. Aoi, the teacher, with fright and horror at the thought that he slept with a student. Amakami game of toying with him began.

Here we insert the other characters worth mentioning. Ichiyo and Riku. One spinless and the other ruthless. Ichiyo, Amakami's room mate, immediately was drawn to him while Riku, the school's bully, only felt disgust and jealousy. Amakami's aloofness and popularity irritated him. Coupled with the fact that Amakami refused to sleep with him, this set in motion events that change the lives of both Amakami's and Aoi.

Whatever business you enter, there must be a goal and a time to achieve it. Amakami's side gig as a prostitute wasn't any different but like any plan, it came with the unexpected. He didn't expect that one of his clients would be his soon to be teacher and the main reason for doing this, would no longer exist. The home he puchased would not be for his lost family. His brother had already forgotten him.

I hold no sympathies for anyone else other than Amakami. Aoi, constantly acting from a position of fear, could do nothing that would help Amakami. Ichiyo's actions proved how desolate he was and Riku's proved how depravity can thrive off of wealth and power.

What I didn't like were the quotes directing the audience on how to feel on the given scenes. Let the work speak for itself. What I liked at the end were the words spoken by Aoi to Amakami.

Amakami: Teacher, do you love me?
Aoi: Maybe
Amakami: Then would you kill me? Living like this will be a burden on us. I like this moment, I want to end it now.
Aoi: Is that so?
Aoi kisses him.
Aoi: Let's go home.

Later
Amakami: Are you going to kiss me again if I say I want to die?
Aoi: That kiss wasn't for a guy who wants to die.

Decent watch. If this is your type of film, I recommend viewing Suddenly Last Summer.