This review may contain spoilers
who is the real you?
I don’t think I can truly find the right words to explain what this movie is about, but what I can say is that it was absolutely amazing! I have a deep admiration for Sakura Ando and appreciate the projects she chooses; she is such an interesting actress with a remarkable range in her performances.
This movie explores themes we don’t often discuss: identities. One's identity is the most important part of who we are, yet for most of us, it can become something we want to reject in order to be someone else. When we do that, who is the real you? This film not only addresses identities but also examines how society can persecute individuals based on who they are.
The movie also highlights a phenomenon known as "evaporation," which refers to how tens of thousands of people in Japan voluntarily disappear from their established lives each year without a trace. Driven by overwhelming social pressure, shame, debt, or failed relationships, these individuals abandon their families, jobs, and identities to live anonymously, often aided by a specialized industry of "night movers" and this pretty much what Mr X used ( fake Daisuke).
How much can societal labels affect you? I think we all understand that feeling when the world sees you as someone you are not and stamp on you label or an identity. This is illustrated through the character Daisuke Taniguchi, who, as the son of a convicted murderer, changes his identity to start anew after being defined by his father’s actions. We also see Akira, who was born and raised in Japan and speaks only Japanese, he is constantly belittled due to his Korean heritage and feels like an outsider. Similarly, Yuto struggles with his identity after his mother changes her surname following her divorce and remarriage, resulting in confusion about who he really is.
The film delves into the complexities of identity, often showing that people do not truly know one another. For example, Rie, who was married to a false Daisuke, wanted to uncover the identity of the man she thought she knew. Ultimately, she realized that she didn’t need to know the “truth”; Daisuke’s name became irrelevant because he was the person she knew at that time. This emphasizes that we can only truly know each other through interpersonal connections. A person can embody many identities at once or change quickly, and none of those identities are any less “real” than another.
This is just a beautifully crafted movie, and I can’t fully convey all its elements in this review. It is filled with depth, thought-provoking questions, and insightful answers. The story is powerful and made me reflect on my own identity. I highly recommend this film as a masterpiece of Japanese cinematography, and I hope it reaches the right audience to appreciate the gem it truly is.
One’s identity is a vital aspect of who we are; however, for some, it can define them in a way that makes them yearn to reject it and become someone else. If or when this transformation occurs, who is the real you?
My only complaint is that I wish Sakura Ando had more screen time. She is an extraordinary actress, and her expressiveness makes her performances uniquely talented.
This movie explores themes we don’t often discuss: identities. One's identity is the most important part of who we are, yet for most of us, it can become something we want to reject in order to be someone else. When we do that, who is the real you? This film not only addresses identities but also examines how society can persecute individuals based on who they are.
The movie also highlights a phenomenon known as "evaporation," which refers to how tens of thousands of people in Japan voluntarily disappear from their established lives each year without a trace. Driven by overwhelming social pressure, shame, debt, or failed relationships, these individuals abandon their families, jobs, and identities to live anonymously, often aided by a specialized industry of "night movers" and this pretty much what Mr X used ( fake Daisuke).
How much can societal labels affect you? I think we all understand that feeling when the world sees you as someone you are not and stamp on you label or an identity. This is illustrated through the character Daisuke Taniguchi, who, as the son of a convicted murderer, changes his identity to start anew after being defined by his father’s actions. We also see Akira, who was born and raised in Japan and speaks only Japanese, he is constantly belittled due to his Korean heritage and feels like an outsider. Similarly, Yuto struggles with his identity after his mother changes her surname following her divorce and remarriage, resulting in confusion about who he really is.
The film delves into the complexities of identity, often showing that people do not truly know one another. For example, Rie, who was married to a false Daisuke, wanted to uncover the identity of the man she thought she knew. Ultimately, she realized that she didn’t need to know the “truth”; Daisuke’s name became irrelevant because he was the person she knew at that time. This emphasizes that we can only truly know each other through interpersonal connections. A person can embody many identities at once or change quickly, and none of those identities are any less “real” than another.
This is just a beautifully crafted movie, and I can’t fully convey all its elements in this review. It is filled with depth, thought-provoking questions, and insightful answers. The story is powerful and made me reflect on my own identity. I highly recommend this film as a masterpiece of Japanese cinematography, and I hope it reaches the right audience to appreciate the gem it truly is.
One’s identity is a vital aspect of who we are; however, for some, it can define them in a way that makes them yearn to reject it and become someone else. If or when this transformation occurs, who is the real you?
My only complaint is that I wish Sakura Ando had more screen time. She is an extraordinary actress, and her expressiveness makes her performances uniquely talented.
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