JAPAN FILM FESTIVAL RECAP - PART 2

We continue with the films from Saturday and Sunday.

IMPERFECT ME - 7/10

Office worker Rinka Sugita works in the marketing department, where a man named Takashi Urita, who has recently been hired for an inclusion position, joins. After he helps her out in the office, she feels a slight attraction to him and sits down with him during their break. What begins as a slow conversation ends with Rinka asking him what his aspirations in life are.

Things that seem trivial to Rinka—like going to the movies together—are a challenge for Takashi, one he must overcome due to his illness. The film doesn't explicitly say what he's suffering from, but there are enough clues to provide the necessary context. At first, Rinka simply seems to feel sorry for Takashi, but soon she, too, is struggling with a side of herself she previously kept under wraps...

The film manages to create a dark atmosphere and particularly well portrays the moment when Rinka is "lost" and dissociates on her way to work. Anyone who has ever wondered whether what they've done with their life so far is the right thing will recognize themselves in this film and be able to understand the actions of the two main characters. Although " Imperfect Me " has a running time of only 40 minutes, the subject matter is well conveyed and has potential for a feature film.

FOR THE FAMILY - 9/10

A family of three siblings—an older sister and her two brothers—is barely managing to survive financially. Produced during the coronavirus pandemic, " For the Family " addresses the difficulties many people suffered and shows, albeit somewhat exaggeratedly, how difficult it was to care for one's family. With little help from the state, it was up to the eldest siblings to take on the role of breadwinner. The social and emotional pressures are intensely conveyed on screen, and even though the film doesn't explicitly depict some aspects, the feeling of unease remains.

The eldest sister, Mayumi, is forced to sell her body to raise money for the family. The youngest brother is paralyzed from the waist down and is cared for at home by his two siblings. The eldest brother, Shinji, earns some money, but one day he has an accident that puts Mayumi back in a situation she actually wanted to escape from.

A very intense film, which, according to the director, contained some fantasy, but it's easy to imagine that " For the Family " depicts the reality of many families. It was very interesting to hold a short Q&A session after the film.

POISON - 6/10

Yasser, an Arab, meets Eita, a Japanese boy, while playing soccer in the park. The boy claims to have seen Yasser's bike stolen and where the thief fled to. Yasser agrees and quickly realizes that Eita doesn't even know where his bike is, but he spends the day with him anyway – they play soccer, cook, and introduce each other to their culture. When Eita's mother returns late that evening, Yasser is already on his way home, giving us a glimpse into Eita's family situation. Nevertheless, the boy doesn't let it get him down and clings to his newfound desire to become a great soccer player like Yasser.

“ Tomorrow is another day ” is a phrase that definitely sticks with you after watching the short film. “ GIFT ” is touching, despite being rather simple.

Showa: Grandma House - 5/10

A quiet and slow-paced film. Kanako visits her grandmother's house, accompanied by her boyfriend's older sister, before it's scheduled for demolition. The last few days pass quietly, evoking many memories of old times. One wonders whether, toward the end of the film, the decision will be made to keep the house or to part with it. As the two women revel in nostalgia, the bond between them grows stronger.

No Night Lasts Forever - 6/10

Single mother Ritsuko notices that her daughter is skipping school. Neither of them manages to approach the other, and so they drift further and further apart. Ritsuko extends her breaks at work to spy on her daughter, getting herself into trouble. A bit of hypocrisy is looming, as Ritsuko admonishes her daughter for flaws. , which she herself has. The situation escalates when the school contacts Ritsuko and requests a meeting. A "meeting" also takes place between Ritsuko, her daughter, and her ex-husband, which ends in a major argument.

But perhaps this is exactly what the family needed, and they slowly grow closer. As the title suggests, no night lasts forever—no difficult time lasts forever, and eventually, morning will come and everything will be better.

The Blink of Time - 7/10

Five years ago, Wakana lost her photographer husband. His dying wish was for her to become a photographer herself. She fulfilled his wish and even created a course where interested people could learn from her. One day, at a job, she met Lisa, a blacklisted model. She smiles in every photo, even though her face isn't shown, and Wakana manages to capture a brief moment of Lisa's grief. What exactly did she feel at that moment?

By chance, the two meet again outside a supermarket and Wakana invites Lisa to join an excursion that will take place in a few days.

“ The Blink of Time ” gives you a feeling of nostalgia and, similar to “ Imperfect Me, ” the film addresses the uncertainty of whether you are pursuing the “right” goal.

A SAMURAI IN TIME - 8/10

Kyoto, the late period of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The samurai Shaemon is sent on a mission of revenge. As he confronts the enemy and their swords cross, they are both struck by lightning. Confused, Shaemon realizes that he is no longer where a battle had just raged, but has landed on a film set where one of the few series of the jidaigeki genre is being filmed. Of course, at first, Shaemon seems like an extra who just doesn't quite know what role he's supposed to fulfill. You feel as if you're on the set with him, getting to know the present time anew with him.

A charming film with a lot of heart and great humor, it's a clear love letter to the jidaigeki genre. The actors fit their roles perfectly and deliver strong performances. While the ending was a bit slow, " A Samurai in Time " is still a great film with a surprising twist. It elicited many laughs from the audience, even a few tears. Samurai fans will definitely get their money's worth here.

Here I Am! - 4/10

After an argument with her mother, the little girl Sakura makes a wish at a shrine to grow up quickly. Her wish is granted, and upon leaving the shrine, she is suddenly a grown woman! Wandering through Niihama, she thinks about how to reconcile with her mother while she searches for her daughter.

A sweet short film that is unfortunately completely spoiled by the summary.

Bold as You - 8/10

Tama Nanjo finds it difficult to connect with others and seeks refuge in a small cinema that shows niche films and is run by her "god." One day, she is awakened by the desire to become a professional guitarist and uploads a cover of her favorite band, which is unexpectedly seen by the singer. As Tama's world is thus expanded, a fire is ignited within her, but one that seems to threaten her with burnout.

“ Bold as You ” was created through crowdfunding and impresses with its lively characters, catchy songs and charming jokes.

If you’re a fan of music stories, you should definitely give “ Bold as You ” a chance!

A Few Moments of Cheers - 9/10

Asaya Kanata recently discovered the joys of music video production. One evening, he encounters a woman singing on the street in the rain. Completely captivated by her song, he decides to create a music video for her. The next morning, he discovers that the woman in question is his new teacher, Yu Orie. He immediately tells her how deeply moved he is and that he now has a desire to create a music video for her song. Initially confused and on the verge of giving up on her music career, Orie invites him to see the song performed live at a festival.

Will Kanata succeed in guiding Orie back to music through his music video? Or will she reject it completely and devote herself entirely to being a teacher?

A film that can be brought into conversation with “ Look Back ” when it comes to being creative. It motivates you to draw and create, and anyone in the creative field will recognize themselves in Orie and Kanata's friend Tonosaki. In the works since 2011, Popreq received the offer to make a film out of the blue. Popreq is actually responsible for MVs, so “ A Few Moments of Cheers ” certainly has some autobiographical elements. Inspiring, charming, gorgeous colors, and a great soundtrack. A few of the jokes were a little off, and some of the animation was a bit stiff, but that didn't ruin the overall package.

We continue in our third part, where you will find a summary of the event and the awards ceremony.