penel

Abe Hiroshi never disappoints!

An annoyingly painful and realistic family drama that introduces many complicated themes about relationships, family, sisterhood, illness, religion and the different consequences of traumas among family members.
Moon So Ri, Kim Sun Young and Jang Yoon Ju were superb as the three sisters and depicted flawlessly and effortlessly their demanding character personas.

A subtle commentary about the gender discrimination, as well as the class, social and cultural barriers women in modern Japanese society have to cope with, through the elegantly restrained performances of Kadowaki Mugi and Mizuhara Kiko.

Aesthetically superb, with brilliant use of gray-scale cinematography, impressive choreographies and symbolism.
If not for the subpar storytelling with its many uninteresting subplots/intrigues and its slow pacing, this film could have been so much better...

Fast, fun, with a flawless finale!

A slow-paced, subtle but sharp story about loss, grief, regret, guilt, redemption and moving on.
Superb nuanced performances from Motoki Masahiro (with his complex, multi-dimensional character) and those two little kids.

An intriguing & informative look into the cultural and societal non-belonging feelings and isolation of different mixed-race “half-Japanese” (hafu) people.

When I found out about it, I thought it was the most intriguing part of this film :)

A moving, sincere and powerful story of love and loss, with beautiful, subtle and mature performances from both leads.

Mellow and touching story, with Lee Soo Kyung's acting and character being its greatest asset.

Gripping story, solid cast and acting, superb production, directing, cinematography and editing, but an anti-climatic and somewhat rushed ending.
Though Kim Soo Hyun and Cha Seung Won were great in their roles, I must admit that Kim Sung Gyu was the outstanding dark horse in this :)

The only saving grace of this drama was the ML!

A captivating mystery drama with superb performances from Mitsuki Takahata, Sumire and lady
Kaji Meiko.
The ethereal, eerie cinematography and music, the wonderful, delicate paintings and setting, the intriguing story...
Highly recommended!

A simple, laid-back character study of a former actress and her determination to live in the moment,
discovering the beauty of everyday's life that lies in front of her face.
With a graceful performance from Lee Hye Young, this subtle and melancholic film makes a solid statement that, indeed, life and its beauty is always here, right in front of our faces, and all we have to do is to notice and appreciate it.

He surely did! Though I believe the real scene-stealer was Yo Oizumi :)

A delicate, intimate biopic tribute to a unique, multitalented artist, Takeshi Kitano, and the beginnings of his career.
Yagira Yuya gave life to young Takeshi's character in an incredibly convincing way (his minimal expressions, his ticks, the way his mouth moves when he speaks, his posture), while Oizumi Yo was great as his harsh but caring mentor.

With many beautiful lighting fixtures and lamps, detailed and compelling narration about their designs, and some heartfelt, healing quotes, this drama and its unique concept was a breath of fresh air.
Time well-spent :)

"It's not easy hating evil. You have to stoke your own fury until you become evil yourself."

An intense, grim but stylish noir film, with a charismatic Mifune Toshiro.
A bit slow at first, but the well-crafted absorbing revenge plot, the brilliant use of music and camerawork made this 2,5h long film worth watching.

Heartwarming and fluffy, perfect for a holiday's watch!

Soothing and comforting, this healing slice-of-life drama depicts the frustrations, worries and struggles of everyday people and how finding a space to vent and a listening ear can help them move on with their lives.