2023年1月20日から2月3日まで,年次日本のえいがさい(映画祭)は起こりました. ことし私は9映画を見ました.
This 映画 is probably the best日本のぞく の ドラマ I have seen yet. Starting out the film to four seemingly unrelated protagonists whose stories eventually converge in a climactic reveal that half of them are set in the past, and that two of the main characters introduced are actually one person in different times of her life. Released in 2021, it is based on a novel which won the 16th Japan Booksellers' Award in 2019.
The two timelines are woven together by senior high schooler Yuko Morimiya and her passion to play the piano, played with infinite charm by 永野芽郁. While perceptive little Miitan (稲垣来泉) and her (seemingly) narcissistic stepmother Rika (石原さとみ and her incandescent smile) feel written in from another story as they struggle for a stable life through 3 marriages. Later, we realize that another driving force have been there all along. And spoiler alert: it's love. A parent's love to be more specific. As we are led to believe Rika is a "nomad" who jumps from one impulse to another, entangling people who are of use to her, we are thus led to inevitably hate her as she selfishly leaves behind the ruins of her departure. Giving the powerful reveal of the ending that all she did, she did for love of her daughter.
It is commendable to see the portrayal of many different degrees of parent-child dynamics within the same family, giving highlight to Yuko's development from a child to her teens, as well as subtly portraying that filial love comes in all forms, even unexpected ones. Director Tetsu Maeda (前田哲) was conscious enough of the unraveling of the stories that every piece mesh into the tear-jerking final scene, which in true Asian fashion, is a funeral.
On a slightly negative note, the whole essence of "passing the baton" i.e. Yuko somewhat brings in questions of anti-feminism and male characters unknowingly shadowing the lead female's persona and belittling her struggles for character growth. It is somewhat staggering to still see a female lead whose end-game is still in this day and age to marry her high school sweetheart, but it may simply be a cultural thing.
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