The epic story of Hu family during the turbulent times of the 2nd Sino-Japanese war between 1939-1945. A story of war, family love, romance, bromance, with some lovable, loyal, dependable and some weak, annoying characters, just like every family has. Their journey through hope, endurance, devastation, separation and loss was a great, memorable watch, with many well-balanced funny, touching and heartbreaking moments. Ren Cheng Wei and Wallace Huo and their entrancing roles were the definite stars of this drama.
An interesting realistic study of Japan's patriarchic family structure, as well as a sharp social commentary on the cultural and gender-biased tradition of the family name continuance through a male heir.
A little gem, a breath of fresh air in between some more complex, angsty and demanding dramas. A feel-good, soothing experience, depicting the magnificent scenery and natural wonders of rural Japan. Time well-spent :)
"- You are tough. I love tough guys. - I wouldn't carry a gun if I were tough. - But you can shoot fast. - I shoot fast because I get scared first. - But you are not afraid of dying. - When you are scared all the time, you almost wished you were dead."
A delicately affectionate, beautiful study on how death can be seen as a dignified, reconciling and comforting part of life process, with some very strong emotional moments and full of the Japanese calmness, discipline and attention to details. Impeccable acting from Motoki Masahiro and Yamazaki Tsutomu, wonderful music score from Joe Hisaishi, it leaves you with a very warm, soothing feeling.
A late coming of age drama about a woman in her 30s, Mitsuko, who’s been single for many years and has an imaginary friend/alternate version of herself in her head, named A (for Answer), who keeps her company, cheers her on in life and helps voicing her desires, fears, frustrations, social anxiety and loneliness. When she falls for a younger man, Mitsuko's inner battle starts, torn between her desire to be loved and stay within her comfort zone. Non was able to carry the whole film holding my attention tightly, through the slow-paced 133 minutes, with her quirky monologues, her almost effortless and natural mental breakdowns and self-sabotaging, her charming anxiety, her vulnerable loneliness and her offbeat comic moments that resulted in an impeccable performance, an awfully real depiction of a mentally fatigued introvert.
"Everyone in life experiences losses, which we're all afraid of. Yet when it happens, the most powerful weapon we have against it is to live each moment to the fullest. Every second counts."
Jackson Yi made this typical cancer themed movie a very interesting watch - he's indeed a very talented and charismatic young man!
Bittersweet slice-of-life movie addressing many serious social problems such as single mothers, orphans discrimination, illegal adoptions, debt bondage, high childcare and healthcare costs, etc. Kim Hyang Gi, with her solid performance, was the star among a great cast.
The story isn't that great, but the excellent performances from Sasaki Kuranosuke and, especially, Nagasaku Hiromi, with her bickering, sarcasm, piercing sincerity and endless support, made this movie worth watching.
What else can be more heartwarming and comforting than food and family warmth combined? What else can be more touching than a father subtly communicating his love and devotion for his daughters by cooking some incredible gourmet chinese dishes for them? That opening scene with him cooking was pure perfection!
A hauntingly seductive and painfully elegant story, with an impeccable nostalgic & sci-fi futuristic atmosphere, a captivating musical score and superb performances full of passion, longing, desperation and quiet tears.
“Love is all a matter of timing. It’s no good meeting the right person too soon or too late.”
Balancing between sudden bursts of brutality, subtle moments of black humour, colourful artistic statements, laconic dialogues, pondering silences and unspoken tenderness, "Fireworks / Hana-bi" is a haunting, violent, uncomfortable, but also very sad and emotional urban crime film. For those who are familiar with auteur Kitano's unique idiosyncratic, one-of-a-kind directing and acting style and the wonderful music of Joe Hisaishi, this is a very rewarding, impressive work of art.
A delicate, compassionate and honest story that explores motherhood -with all the love, sacrifices and hard decisions it requires- through the difficult and very sensitive themes of teenage pregnancy and child adoption, enhanced by a wonderful performance from Makita Aju.
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A story of war, family love, romance, bromance, with some lovable, loyal, dependable and some weak, annoying characters, just like every family has.
Their journey through hope, endurance, devastation, separation and loss was a great, memorable watch, with many well-balanced funny, touching and heartbreaking moments.
Ren Cheng Wei and Wallace Huo and their entrancing roles were the definite stars of this drama.
A feel-good, soothing experience, depicting the magnificent scenery and natural wonders of rural Japan.
Time well-spent :)
- I wouldn't carry a gun if I were tough.
- But you can shoot fast.
- I shoot fast because I get scared first.
- But you are not afraid of dying.
- When you are scared all the time, you almost wished you were dead."
Impeccable acting from Motoki Masahiro and Yamazaki Tsutomu, wonderful music score from Joe Hisaishi, it leaves you with a very warm, soothing feeling.
When she falls for a younger man, Mitsuko's inner battle starts, torn between her desire to be loved and stay within her comfort zone.
Non was able to carry the whole film holding my attention tightly, through the slow-paced 133 minutes, with her quirky monologues, her almost effortless and natural mental breakdowns and self-sabotaging, her charming anxiety, her vulnerable loneliness and her offbeat comic moments that resulted in an impeccable performance, an awfully real depiction of a mentally fatigued introvert.
Yet when it happens, the most powerful weapon we have against it is to live each moment to the fullest.
Every second counts."
Jackson Yi made this typical cancer themed movie a very interesting watch - he's indeed a very talented and charismatic young man!
Kim Hyang Gi, with her solid performance, was the star among a great cast.
What else can be more touching than a father subtly communicating his love and devotion for his daughters by cooking some incredible gourmet chinese dishes for them?
That opening scene with him cooking was pure perfection!
“Love is all a matter of timing.
It’s no good meeting the right person too soon or too late.”
“All memories are traces of tears.”
“Nothing lasts forever, anyway.”
For those who are familiar with auteur Kitano's unique idiosyncratic, one-of-a-kind directing and acting style and the wonderful music of Joe Hisaishi, this is a very rewarding, impressive work of art.