Karinanose

Family is whoever is there now

I wish I could explain thoroughly how this movie makes you feel.

The movie's highlight and message is a wonderful message. Family is something that we acquire and doesn't necessarily need to be blood related. I think this resonated beautifully in the movie. We have many different characters come together all due to the strong performance of Miyazawa Rie. Her character is the glue that holds these characters together. I thought her beautiful but quiet strength was a real highlight of the movie. It never strayed into melodramatic territory. Although that one gut punch scene with her and Azumi, that was hard. The movie has a bunch of different types of emotional scenes that will affect people differently but I found it all to be similar to a coming of age story.

Futaba's character was so well balanced. I think once you learn about her own backstory it makes her struggle through the movie so much more powerful. There was a grace about how she carried herself but a slight playfulness. Not to mention her slightly brash nature. I thought she was a well rounded character. I do wonder how they would balance with her young costar. The young Azumi was expertly played by Sugisaki Hana. Her scenes showed a lot of vulnerability and strength. I think most of us can relate to her growing pains. We experience through Azumi: Bullying, anxiety and emotional distress caused by school and then the weight of her loved ones diagnosis. Her eternal struggle to emote her feelings and the opposing force of her mother pushing her to act, It was all very moving. I enjoyed her progression in the movie into her own person.

Ayuko, the little sister played a nice roll in the dynamic of the family as an outsider. I felt her story needed some more plot as she was somewhat just there. I understood her character was meant to be like that but I needed more for her to truly resonate in the story. What we did get of her in the story was heartbreaking. Joe Odagiri's character, how should I put this? He isn't really around, but simultaneously has an effect on all the characters without even doing anything do to his character's progression. I would of liked more exposition on his character's reasons for coming back or why he did what he did. I think that's why we had carefree but distraught Takumi introduced. In a way it mirrored Kazuhiro and that was important for Futaba's acceptance of Kazuhiro in the end.

The cinematography was quiet and well framed. Body language played a part in any scene were the four of them were together. There was a particular scene with Ayuko after her big emotional scene that I thought was a simple yet affective shot involving a simple light pillar and her eyes. It was a clever way of showing a silver lining to hardships. The scene with Azumi and Kimie was also a scene stealer. It was probably my favorite scene in the entire movie. The soundtrack was nothing notable however the ambient piano allowed the movie to have a light an airy atmosphere.

Despite the movie's feeling of loss, I think the movie somehow maintained a sense of hope. I felt like it never allowed things to linger and every setback came with a win. I think it's message is important to people to consider. We don't always know how long we have on this earth, so we want to be able to know those we leave behind will be ok. Our family we create, they help you stay grounded and support you as your base.

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A Unwavering love for the world

A story that ultimately is more sugar then cake.

For a story such as this, you would expect it to go heavy into the drama territory. However it turns into a light hearted affair.
The criminal past story doesn't actually play too much into the story as heavily as one would think. I thought they would have major drama because of this. But instead it turns into a more positive spin. I think for that it deserves praise. Japan is hghly stigmatized when it comes to topics like this. It was refreshing seeing them tackle it with positivity. Mind you the crime wasn't actually that bad. In fact it was somewhat noble.

I enjoyed my time with these characters. It was a little hard to root for the relationship between Momoko and Manato, only because I felt the relationship was sorta abrupt to start but I can see the sentiment of having it be linked to their shared experiences and connection to those that are hurting. In a way Manato sees Momoko's inner turmoil despite her cheerful exterior. I believe that was their true link. She had so much she took on but now she has someone that can help her. Their shared experiences with having others affected by their actions is their bond. It's a unique link. One thing though is Manato's actor was my least liked character by the end of this only because the acting was kinda one sided. Comparatively the other characters felt like they had more range and sides to them. Momoko's actor blew it out of the water as usual with all the emotions. I liked seeing this side of her range. She was spunky and ferocious with a side of love.

The side characters are all so sweet and caring. It was one of the most supportive casts I've seen in terms of actual caring. Hinako is hilarious with her soliloquies. Satoshi was energetic and kind. Her brothers were very caring and had such a positivity brought on by their sister's raising of them. Her coworkers were all supportive and not catty. And the grand hero of them all, The security guard is the best actor haha.

For the cinematography, It was nothing special. Sometimes the scenes seemed to be too blown out with the white balance especially in outdoor scenes. I'm not sure if that was just the quality of the episodes I was watching. I led a few of small framing moments they had with the decoration scenes in the store. The score is cute. The main theme songs are much more enjoyable then the chaotic everyday themes. The main theme song "Brand New Planet," I'm not so sure I enjoyed it's inclusion. It was definitely put in as a positive theme despite some of the lyrics. Japan is known for this type of happy sounding melancholy. I just found it jarring ending dramatic scenes with the way the song presents itself.

I wondered where exactly they were heading with the plot. I have to say the "climax" scene I think was a little silly. But I think the director meant well. The series has a lot of abrupt starts and ends. But it tied together all at the end, with special little nods. I think it's mostly due to the drama's length of only 9 episodes. The scenes when they discuss emotional impacts and societal pressures really were well done. They were very down to earth and well phrased. I enjoyed when Momoko and Takako interacted . They had a very poignant scene about death that was heartfelt. The drama is silly at times. a little too much for my taste but it was good palate cleanser after heavier emotional scenes. It's a very odd tempo in this show. It goes from super happy to "damn.." so quickly.

I would probably recommend this show if you want a shot of reprieve from heavy dramas. If you just want to smile about the world this is the one to go to.

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When someone dies, are they really gone?

Well well that was a visually pleasing ride.

Story: I think the coffee being a large part of the story makes sense thematically. Coffee is an acquired taste that to some can taste very bitter. But some people have the ability to be able to discern those bitter flavors. It's a learned skill to understand the positives of the acidic and bitter flavours. Finding the positives in an otherwise negative like Yusuke said. Not to mention the circular motion you use to pour drip coffee for a perfect cup. This is another nod to Yusuke speaking about how the world is a circle and you eventually everyone ends up together again. The apples representing longevity speak to the movies message about the courage to live on no matter how many seasons pass.

Another thing that was enjoyable for me was the reinterpreted dialogue . I like that they came back to lines to really tug on your heart. As the story progresses it gets muddy in a good way. You can't really root for anyone here. It's actually so hard. You just want them all to be happy somehow. There just needed some creamer and sugar to really make this special.

Characters:
Saeko is immediately likeable with her struggles at the forefront. Kasumi always chooses to play characters who are gentle but will lock in and berate you when need be. It's a trait I look forward to in all her roles. Not to mention how her decisions are made with just her eyes. With expression and long dialogue cues, Kasumi is the star of the show.

Yusuke's consistent laughter felt a little fake, so it was hard to like him at first. I think they needed to build this character a little more to make the overall feeling more intense. I think this is one of the reasons why I didn't feel too strongly about the plot.

Naruse's character starts out kind of bland and boring but he opens up as the series goes on as it's one of the plot points lol. Although he says he changed personalities but it doesn't feel like it at all lol. He's at his best when he's conflicted. I think his character got better midway due to the various imposing forces on his mind but it didn't sit well with how sometime his dialogue was just “ah“

Miki, Nauruse's wife, seems to just all of a sudden be worried about change without much happening. It seemed kind of sudden. I felt that needed more time before her reacting. I can understand if you are seeing little changes and start to worry about your SO. But the initial worried reaction she had didn't feel deserved yet. You feel so bad for her though throughout the story. And also half the time you wonder where she is lol

Cinematography:
The show has movie quality shots.
I like how they chose Hawaii to film the initial episode. Not only is it beautiful, but to me it's meant to be a little insight into the feelings of the characters. A vast endless gorgeous world yet it feels a little lonely and isolated. There was a mirror like shot on the beach in the first episode that showed this sentiment. Throughout the episodes they go back to this feeling a lot with these scenic shots. It really establishes the mood of the series. There's also great balance of night and day sequences. I cannot stress how good the lighting is in so many shots.

Set design and music:
I enjoyed all the sets. I just wanted to mention how lived in they looked. The cafes, coffee plant and both homes were very picturesque with so much set dressing. Each set didn't feel barren, they were brimming with life. I loved the piano motifs in the movie. I'm sure many of you will now feel nostalgic hearing Jackson's fives "I want you back. " I enjoyed the theme song too.

Overall a decent series but I think some of the characters needed more scenes or dialogue to flesh out their motivations and impact.

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A subject that should be understood by all

When we initially get a glimpse into the lives of Haruko and Mikio, all seems well.. but then the cracks start to form. This is a perfect visual of what depression is. What we do and see on the surface is not always what we are screaming on the inside.

The very realistic depiction of depression in this movie is fantastic. Mikio suffers daily and consistently but without knowing why. He has a good wife and mundane job that slowly is eating away at him. The catalyst can be said to be the stress of work, but the movie immediately dispels this. Which is what is special about this movie. It seems the writers really understood the many things that break a person. In Japan's society depression and suicide are really pressing matters. The society tends to focus on the group good rather then the individual's needs in Japan and things like depression are known well but stigmatized.
We see this in how others tend to brush off his depression in the movie and think he's just being lazy.

Haruko's constant struggle to make her husband feel better is heartfelt and realistic. When we go through all the stages of support and love, we get a clear image of how much she cares for her husband. Mikio's actor Sasaki plays his role with such conviction. There was a real sense of emptiness in a few scenes and a real sincerity to how he approached the feeling of depression. Both of them worked so well together in all their scenes. I enjoyed the small moments of their relationship like the cooking, sleeping or caring for animals. It added a lot to their relationship. The church scene was beautiful. The side characters also allowed for growth with the interactions they had so it was overall a good cast.

The music played it's part well. The piano and violins added much feeling to the scenes. There was a sense of loss and defeat in all the little music segments.

The movie ended off on a really fantastic note. It's not always perfect but neither is life.

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A great movie but not a 1 to 1 adaptation.

My Broken Mariko as a manga is heartbreaking and hits a chord about strained relationships, love, loss and guilt. The movie adaptation follows through but loses some of it's balance that the manga had.

One stark difference is the Character of Shiino. In the manga she's much more animated and hot headed. In the movie she's more down to earth and more appropriately human. This change is good for the movie as it makes her grief aspect stronger. It does change the overall tone of the original work but the more grief driven Shiino was probably a better choice for the subject matter. Speaking of which, this movie delves heavily into the subject of self harm,suicide, rape and abuse. It may trigger a few people because of this. This is why I think the tone is more cohesive in the movie. The manga uses humor to help soften the blow before these harsh scenes. I think that's why there might be a little unhappiness with the adaptation for some.

Despite that however Mei Is basically soloing this entire move on her own. I think she carries the devastating emotion so well. Her facial expressions and tightness in body language really help sell Shiino. When she does need a few good yells it comes across well. The bar scene was not as good as the manga as I pictured it more combative but in context to the movie it was fine. Mei had some of her best scenes here with her emotional outbursts. Mariko's actor shows off a hauntingly childlike demeanor which was pitch perfect. As the two leads, they felt natural and fully realized.

A bunch of the scenes were also 1 to 1 of the manga panels which was admirable. I liked the placement of the additional extra in the movie. The feeling of loss was present through many of the scenes framing and lighting. The climax of the movie was well executed. They picked a beautiful space to recreate the scene. Kudos to the person who found the spot.

So while this wasn't a 1 to 1 adaptation it was really well done and great just as a standalone movie.

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A surprisingly strong story

I can't believe I didn't have faith in this movie. I just clicked because of the gyaru. But my my this movie is more then surface level. It's shows a brilliant understanding of the worth of people. The fact that this was based on a true story is even more impressive.

Sayaka is infectious and you cannot help root for her. Ito sensei was a perfect example of a teacher doing right by his students. Sayaka's mother also played such a great emotional anchor to her daughter. I really enjoyed the interactions she had with Sayaka. The acting by Yoshida was top notch. All the emotional encouragements and words of strength really made her character believable and real. The father and son relationship was hard to watch but sometimes it felt a little over the top despite it's seriousness. I also think it was fantastic the male lead also didn't turn into a straight romantic relationship. It could of easily fallen into that trap. I think the overall cast was fantastic but Kasumi though man, this movie made me want to get up and do something about my life. So many moments were warm and genuinely heartfelt. One scene that still stays with me is the onsen scene with her friends.

That is what is the most important message in this movie. And it doesn't just start with work hard and you will get everything you ever wanted. The movie repeatedly beats down Sayaka and it makes her journey so strong. I felt strongly rooting for her and felt all the losses. I think this plot is surprisingly realistic in that they depict having to continue working hard to get somewhere. It doesn't just happen. You need to actively participate all the time in order to get something out of life. But in order to do so, you need support. It can't all be done alone and I loved that movie showed this strongly.

The cinematography especially during moments of Sayaka's studying and heartbreak were gut wrenching. It was really engaging with uses of wide shots and beautiful lighting. Music was also really great. The piano and cellos played with your heart.

So watch this movie and trust me you will feel something special.

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How do we move on?

Call me Chihiro is a interesting little bit of drama. On the surface it seems to be like a perfectly balanced glass full of water. Everything is fine and everyone seems to be just getting on. But what if we add a few more drops to that glass? Will it spill out ? or will it maintain it's level and not spill. This is how I like to think of this plot.

The main plot of Chihiro deals with a young lady expertly played by Kasumi Arimura. Chihiro seemingly moves aimlessly through life in order to keep her self busy. On the opposite end we have Okaji who is quietly suffering inside because she is undoubtedly being suppressed by her family. Then we have Makoto, a young boy who is basically raising himself. I loved the chemistry between these 3 and how they helped each other grow by realizing different parts of their lives they had not yet experienced. Chihiro's warmth and spirit are the star here, helping everyone to grow and become better despite her own failures. I loved all the little character moments littered throughout the movie. All the background characters had profound effects on how Chihiro sees herself and it touched me.Her interactions with Tae are also some of the best character moments in the movie in my personal opinion. There's a scene towards the end that isn't even sad but it made me tear up because it contained so much warmth.

The cinematography in this movie is phenomenal. There's a few shots that capture that unique melancholic feel of being lost in your own thoughts and feelings and I think that it played a big part in the enjoyment of this movie. The music is beautiful and uplifting as well.

The ending might not be for everyone but if you understand Chihiro as a character it will make perfect sense. I liked how the ending was up to interpretation. The movie will feel different depending on how much hardship you lived in your life and I think it's ok if you don't feel strongly about this movie. But it's worth watching for some pure humanity.

I hope you find someone in your life to give an acorn to.

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Beauty in the mundane

I really enjoyed this movie. Will it be for everyone? No. What I can say is this movie is special in that it invokes feelings of distant memories that don't necessarily have to relate to this movie. I think that's the power of this movie.

Koreeda Hirokazu is a master when it comes to catching the beauty of the everyday. I loved so many shots in this movie. There were so many well thought out scenes as if we were reliving someone else's memories. I love this approach to slice of life movies. There was a certain tenderness to every scene and it really made me appreciate the movie's flow. Everyone's interactions felt lived in and real. The world building also made everything feel that much more real. It helps to really anchor the story they had going.

The leads were all fantastic particularly Sachi and Suzu's actors being mirrors of each other. I thought the performances were well thought out and even though some scenes felt like they didn't really add anything, these scenes were important in establishing the overall thematics of this movie. Suzu having to readjust to a new world with support from people who she never knew is a really interesting dynamic. The 3 sisters take on motherly roles each exploring different facets of life for Suzu and it was a interesting way of doing this. The plot also being about all their various lives with no real stakes was so refreshing. Even the main drama in the movie isn't that big of a deal in the movie.

The music is also beautiful and serene. Lots of beautiful flutes and pianos all over. The music is also quite sparingly used.

I felt like by the end of the movie I just wanted more and would of sat through like 5 hours of this. I love the way this film makes you feel.

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Is fate changeable?

The initial premise of this movie is a little out there, but it focuses on interesting topics. Topics such as Survivor guilt, life choices and living with purpose are all explored in the plot of this movie.

The way they weave together guilt and life purpose is mainly well done. The main character shin has a hard time deciding whether it was correct for him to be alive after a major accident. I liked that the movie used trauma in this way. For some of us we sometimes lack direction in our life, but Shin's had an extra layer of guilt for not moving forward because he didn't understand why he can. I think this allowed for some really good story beats in the movie. Aoi's character doesn't quite click until the end but you understand that she was a catalyst in the movie for change. They had semi decent chemistry in the movie and it did thankfully allow the ending to be good.

I must mention there was a little bit of dialogue concerning future couple plans that I found refreshing as it was not one sided in terms of "we must do this" There was collaboration in the chat and as a movie centered around a healthy relationship, that was something that caught my eye. In most Japanese movies there's always that expectation of steps taken in a relationship and this was a nice change from that.

I do think the ending was dragged a bit too long. There were multiple end points and that hurt the finish of this movie. It's always a gamble doing this type of ending were there was something we may have picked up on all along. When it's done correctly it's cathartic. In this instance it was a little too much and needed a edit down.

Music wise the film had a nice docile score. There's a sweet One Ok rock insert song that wasn't too distracting, although it's a little too simplistic compared to their other hits.

Cinematography was smooth and had a few nice scenic shots. Nothing too eye catching. The ending sequences were well shot and well planned ahead of time. The visual of disappearing bodies was done well too.

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Burn brightly like a distant star

When I started this movie initially, I didn't think I would like the movies premise. But you slowly get drawn in. I think this is really due to the chemistry between Takuya and Mamizu.
I think the core chemistry is the strongest selling point for this movie. I didn't think at first Takuya's actor was good. It felt like the same hollow protagonist you see a lot in these type of movies.

But as the movie progresses, we see othersides of his character and that's when you start to care. I do think the relationship between Takuya and his mom felt somewhat lacking and didn't really do too much to advance the plot despite the obvious reasons it should. Mamizu's gentle nature and curiosity had me really invested into the character. So when the scene finally happens you do tear up. I was expecting a much harder cry but I think because of how they allowed the characters growth you are kinda ok with it. It's like a gentle easement into death.

The plot of the movie is your typical someone is gonna die at the end. A hallmark of Japan drama it seems lol. But I liked how this story was basically a long distance relationship secretly instead of a terminally ill love story. They also handle a lot of the confession scenes really nicely I thought. They felt like really special moments.

One thing I think needed a little more time was some of the parent scenes felt less important and therefore certain scenes lost levity. The ending scenes also felt too long and drawn out. It felt like there were 3 endings.

Speaking of endings, there's a really nice montage for closure near the end as well that I think made the movie cohesive and worth the watch.

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Sometime we just need a little push.

I am a complete mark for Ai and Aoi as actors. I was estactic to find a movie with both in main roles.

The acting in this movie was fantastic. Hashimoto plays a really great range here. We see a narrow character become much greater then who she was all due to the actions of her deceased mother. She has great body language that evolves as the movie progresses. Aoi acts as a moral compass for her daughters journey. Her moments were all very sentimental. I thought the side characters were also really comforting. I particularly liked Ishii's storyline as it enhanced the main characters journey.

The journey in this movie focuses on self exploration and keeping someone's memory alive. Through the MC's choices we understand how deeply her loss affected her early on. I think it asks a really interesting question of when do you choose to live your own life for yourself and step out of your parents shadow? Many forms of parenting are shown through this movie and I liked seeing the different perspectives. Japan coming off age movies focus a lot on this subject matter. How will you serve society and have your parents done a good enough job raising you. I feel like in their society there's a disconnect among what is spoken and what is actually happening. Which is why these movies are always so fascinating.


The cinematography was fantastic and varied. Because of all the different locations the movie felt very alive. There were fantastic tracking and wise shots throughout the film.

The music was cute. The theme song in particular is real tear jerker when you hear it.

Speaking of which, the ending few scenes will break you. If it doesn't, you gotta be the most unhappy person on earth lol. It was actually sort of surprising honestly. I didn't expect what happened to happen. They lure you into a sense of closure early on, only to REALLY give you closure and it's so beautifully done.

If you are sentimental or experiencing some downs in life, this movie is a really beautiful way to cope lol.

Ps There is a post credit scene.

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Sometimes all you need are friends not lovers.

I caught this randomly on Tubi. It actually is what respured my investments in jdrama.

The story follows the up's and downs of 4 women in very different stages in their life romantically and professionally.

What I really enjoyed in this story was the varying ideas of what it means to be fulfilled in life. With Mako we explore someone who is always trying to fit in. With Saki it's about trying to prove yourself worth. Emi's story was that of understanding what they wanted in life and finally Shiraishi's story of reconciliation.
Yuriko(Saki) I think was the strongest of the bunch in terms of acting in this series. I felt the joy and crushing defeats along side her exploits. I liked the main casts chemistry as well. They had a interesting dynamic as they interacted only when at home really. It felt really like they were friends living together but not overly being involved in each other's lives.

The love stories were very well executed. I think Mako's was the weakest just because it was somewhat something that dragged on. You want to cheer Mako on but at the same time you want to yell at her to stop. Emi's love story was great for expanding upon love for the sake of love. I enjoyed Karina's little mannerisms as Emi whenever she was nervous. Saki's story was really investing because of the platonic love that was showcased. It was refreshing to balance out the other two. I felt Saki's story showed off a really interesting love story that doesn't get explored a lot. I think Shiraishi's story was really good for being the most realistic. It was much heavier then the other stories and you really felt for the woman.

The music was great! The main theme is a great balance of melancholy, memories and movement. You can hear all the internal conflicts and struggles people go through with a ray of hope at the end of the tunnel. The rest of the music is mostly close to what you hear normally in dramas. There's also a cameo from Namie Amuro who did the theme song for this show! There's quite a few songs from her actually.

The cinematography is nothing special but I did like the sequences when they do Emi's lighting jobs. Those felt like they had a little extra oomph. The feeling is very warm though through the series. It does for that that bloom issue where it's like the light of God is coming through the windows all the time lol.

In all I like to think of this story as a nice little warm hug from friends.

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Good concept, execution somewhat lacking.

Let's do this review in parts since the movie is somewhat an anthology.

The movie begins with a set of rules at this semi magical cafe. At first it seems like a straight up supernatural comedy, but things don't always stay the way they seem. Admist the mini stories, there's the main story layered in about the waitress Kazu who helps run the cafe.

1st story: The Story here involving a women's regrets was short and somewhere between bewildering and sweet based on the length of the story. It serves as an introduction to what the story is setting us up for. One cannot change the past. And if you could go back, would anything change if you said what you wanted to then? The story plays on the idea of how do you change rather then how does the other person change as a result.


2nd story: This one is little more sad as it deals with a couple and a debilitating human disease. At first you do assume it's going to be a specific character going back in time but it pulls a swerve. At this point, I realized the movie uses sugar as an way to comfort its characters after a major blow. The second story is something that is very real and was a nice way to look at the effects diseases can have on relationships. The acting was a little stiff in some parts so it didn't hit as hard as it could of but the sentiment is there. I will say the music transition to the past is very corny and kinda ruins the mood before anything happens.

There's some particularly pretty shots when they are outside the cafe oddly enough. The inside cafe interior is nothing impressive but it does a have a unique ambience. The set design in the cafe is fun but also boring somehow? The sequences they use to enter the past though is top notch.

Story 3: Damn this one hit hard unexpectedly. This is my second time seeing Yoshida San act and I'm impressed with her acting abilities. I really liked this one the most. It got so emotional so quickly. Definitely a strong segment. I wanted more of this one. They established backstory quickly and maintained a strong finish. I felt like if the movie had more of this feeling it would of been much higher score for me personally.

After this segment the movie feels like a completely different movie as it starts to refocus on the main character Kazu. I kinda feel like like at this point the movie should of condensed the movie into maybe 3 segments with a focus retaining on Kazu throughout each experience, instead of 3 stories with Kazu as a fourth. I understand each segment has a meaning to Kazu's overall story but I think the execution wasn't as smooth.

The ending segment with Kazu was well done but just can't shake the feeling it was dropped into without proper build up. Same goes with the relationship she has in the movie. I felt like by the end the main relationship was very surface level and not deep enough to warrant the payoff in the end.


And what was with those segments with the first people declaring their goals right into the camera?? It was a like a infomercial in America lol. This was very jarring to me.

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A easy story but needed more characterization

The one really immediately striking thing about this movie is the frantic energy in this movie. It's very anime feeling in it's pacing, character dialogue and movement. Although some of the pacing does feel a little episodic because of this. There seems to be definite chapters rather then natural flow in this movie.

There's a lot of background music in this movie, which is why it somewhat feels really more episodic. Each of the background tracks make each section feel unique and segmented. Not necessarily a bad thing but I found it noticeable.

I'm not sure how I feel about the acting in this one. On one hand the characters are likeable, but on the other hand it seems very surface level. Sometimes it feels really sentimental but then I think someone's line delivery sort of ruins the moment. Kaori's actor is a little wooden in her line deliveries. While Yuuki's acting is sometimes a little too over the top. This lends to that anime like feel of the movie I mentioned earlier. I also wished they would of expanded even just a little about the side friends. One of the characters got emotionally crushed but I didn't really feel bad about it lol.

The ending was nice and then really get your emotions going by the end. I think the payoff would of elicited more reaction from me with a little more work on why we should love these characters.

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An outlet to the future

Solanin is based on a popular manga with the same name. It refers to the poison which can affect certain types of vegetables in the nightshade family. It is a natural defense to protect the plant. This is important to the story, trust me.

Solanin is a deeply interesting look at honoring someone by living out their wish. Much of Japan's cinema talks about death and it's consequences on others. The brilliance of this movie is how they tackle loss in a unique way. Many people who come out of school don't know what to do with their adult lives. Sometimes dreams can die and then world comes crushing down on you. The movie's first half covers much of this mentality with a sense of whimsical love. We can continue living so long as we are blissfully unaware of anyone but ourselves. This dramatically changes after the loss of one of the main characters. A strong change of melancholy takes over the film in the middle of the movie. When we don't have a proper goodbye to someone. can we really move on? That is the central question the movie answers.

The thing I mentioned earlier about poison is a metaphor for the type of pain someone's unexpected death can cause on someone. We see the main character Meiko slowly go into a downward spiral of depression after the loss of her loved one. She finds solace in his music that he left behind and continues his dream in order to understand him better. The film walks with the idea that societal pressures can have lasting effects on someone's self worth and even though we may seem fine it's not always the case. There's scenes in the movie which touch on self worth and the transactional nature of adulthood. We sometimes must do things that we do not agree with but sometimes it's better to go with the flow of he river then against it. Younger to millennial generations will probably understand this movie much better then older generation.

The acting is very well done for the most part, the strongest being Meiko and Jirou. These two show the most growth I feel in the entire movie's arcs. Naruo I felt was a little weaker in characterization but it evened out with the chemistry he had with the rest of the cast. Jirou's actor had an amazing scene that made me crack the tears. Meiko's Aoi Miyazaki has a really emotional depth especially when it comes to her facial expressions and body language. The final musical scene is a real catharsis. I felt like this was one of her better performances as it went through a huge gamut of emotions.

Lighting plays a small roll in the movie as the bright and warm cheerful days are alongside the dark and muddy days of loss. You can see a stark difference in the movie's feeling in both halves, which is something I enjoyed. The movie is very easy on the eyes and has a really nice lived in feeling. I really enjoyed this little bubble.

I think the ending will resonate well with anyone who is facing their whole lives ahead of them and would recommend this movie to anyone looking for a little pick me up.

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