Prazzie

A Sweet Heart Beneath a Bleak Exterior

The attention-grabbing title didn't give me any indication of what to expect, whether comedy, romance or tear-jerker, but it made me want to find out.

As it turns out, this film is closest to slice-of-life, with two rather unique main characters. I was immediately interested in the unusual relationship between the two leads. The plot developed quickly without feeling rushed. At one point, I paused and was surprised to see that there were only about 15 minutes remaining, whereas I could easily have watched their story unfold for another hour or two.

This is by no means a sweet, fluffy romance. The overall look of the movie drives that point home: colours are desaturated, and the lighting is either dark and dreary or garish and artificial. The environments are generally quite depressing, with a few exceptions.

Despite the bleak atmosphere and transactional relationships, I didn't feel sad or upset while watching, but rather intrigued. There's an underlying sense of optimism throughout the story that kept me engaged and made me feel as though everything would turn out for the best. I was unable to predict the ending, but as it approached, I realised I would be satisfied with any of the possible outcomes.

I gave it a high rating because I found it an enjoyable watch, but I can see how it won't be for everyone. It was a refreshing and surprisingly realistic, low-drama movie with a sweet heart, despite its seedy settings.

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