The Dancing Okami

Japan Film Festival Special Program
Journey through Japan on Screen in Manila 2025

Cinema 1, Red Carpet Cinemas

Edsa Shangri la Mall 

I missed the run of the Japanese Film Festival because I was in Hongkong from 03 January to the 9th of February 2025. Luckily, this weekend they had a special screening of a few Japanese movies but I was able to secure only one ticket (35 pesos booked online with QR code) because the others quickly sold out. 

First of all, an okami refers to the traditional manager (specifically females) of a Japanese inn known as ryokan or onsen (spa). They are the driving force behind the success of many resorts in rural as well as urban Japan. There are whole towns in Japan known for its traditional ryokans which locals as well as tourists visit for much needed R & R.

Yuka is a young lady fascinated with tap dancing so she ventures to Tokyo to hopefully become a famous tap dancer. But after several auditions which don't go in her favor, she decides to go back to her hometown after her mother, an okami falls ill. Putting her tap dancing dreams on hold, she has to step up and learn the ropes of becoming an okami so she can take over the family business.  Back home is a gorgeous rural small town in the Kaga Onsen region, where everything is simplified, less hectic but still peppered with interesting and colorful characters. 

For a supposed to be dancer, she is pretty clumsy and has difficulty in her training as a landlady. Being an okami is hard work, one must be equipped with special skill sets not just in doing physical chores but also maintain a proper decorum with impeccable character and integrity.

The film then pretty much turns into a tourism campaign of the various inns and onsens of the Ishikawa Perfecture in the Kaga Onsen region. A contest is launched in the small town so Yuka along with her fellow okami trainees, decide on an extensive song and dance presentation featuring what else but tap dancing. The other land ladies all struggle with the steps yet persevere until the very end in order to showcase the onsen industry.

Good acting from the ensemble cast as you can truly feel their struggle in their dancing lessons, this inspiring tale of guts and glory towards a common goal - to promote the beauty of their town - will likely motivate the audience to never quit on their dreams, even if the journey is paved with obstacles, to keep dancing, with a never say die attitude and a whole lot of perseverance.  Everything is worth it, in the end!

I am what I am

 Japan Film Festival
Online 2024

Kasumi is a 30 year old single female. At her age, her family is worried she won't settle down so they set her up with a potential prospect who I would say is "husband material". The son of the owner of a ramen shop where Kasumi is a regular customer.

There is one problem, though.

Kasumi is not interested. She does not fit the mold of a single Japanese female looking for a partner to settle down, raise a family and live happily ever after. 

You see, Kasumi is asexual. This refers to someone who is not sexually attracted to a person of any gender. It is actually quite common nowadays among the younger generation. After a few serious dates, Kasumi expressly mentions to 'potential husband' that she is not in any way attracted to him. A sort of it's not you, it's me, so don't take it personally situation.

The film is interesting and refreshing as it delves into the lead character's persona without any judgement, condemnation nor mockery about her preference. Kasumi seems content with her job in a nursery for small kids after she has given up her dream to become a cellist. She has a good social life, a few friends who are supportive and her family even though they don't really understand her status, they have more or less accepted her fate.

In Japan with its age old traditions steeped with cultural and historical dimensions, an older generation getting older and a persistent decline in the child birth rate, it is rare that a film focuses on a sensitive subject dealing with gender preferences and sexualism. More often than not, they are misunderstood, jeered for not conforming to society's ideals of normalcy. But seeing Kasumi thrive,  we learn to accept her new normal and it doesn't require much effort on our part.

Yet in a universe where there is too much hatred, bashing (for lack of a better word) and violent reactions both online and in the real world, it pays to be kind, tolerant and more agreeable to live freely without any prejudices towards our fellow human beings, no matter their race, gender, religious beliefs and whatever else we judge people with these days.

Anatomy of a Fall

 2024 Oscar Awards

Best Picture Nominee
Sandra Hüller: Best Actress Nominee

Sandra, a German writer lives in a wooden chalet in the French Alps with Samuel, her French husband and their visually impaired 11 year old son Daniel. After an interview in their home is cut short because of Samuel's ruckus band practice, Sandra retreats to her room. Daniel comes back from his daily walk with his service dog, Snoop to discover the lifeless body of Samuel in the snow near the facade of their chalet. 

Did Samuel fall, commit suicide or was he pushed from the attic of the chalet?

As it is the norm in questionable deaths, the wife is always the prime suspect. Sandra claims she is innocent, and hires a lawyer to defend her as a murder trial begins to determine the exact cause of Samuel's fatal fall.

During the trial, the frosty cracks in their marriage are brought to the surface. Issues of sacrifices, infidelity, isolation, insecurities in their career and personal life, guilt feelings, regrets - all crop up like mushrooms. Their constant bickering, sometimes even violent arguments are presented during the trial through flash backs and taped audio recordings played in the court room. No stones are left unturned by the prosecution who are out to prove that Sandra did 'kill' her insecure husband. Innocent pawn in the whole mess is their only son, Daniel who just might provide the missing link in the murder case. 

Dialogue is mostly in French and some are in English. Sandra speaks in English as a compromise because she feels like a fish out of water in that secluded chalet in some remote town. Filmed in a drab court room, deviod of any fanfare, interspersed with scenic images of the vast snowy terrain, Anatomy of a Fall manages to capture our attention because we are intrigued by Sandra's fate. 

Even though, the verdict is not really a big surprise. We can't help but wonder: Did she or did she not murder her husband? As expected from a European movie, the conclusion is open ended. We are not fed with the truth and we are left to form our own opinions.

Sandra Hüller's portrayal of the novelist's stoic and calm demeanor is engaging. Good performance too from the young actor who plays Daniel. Even though the plot moves at a snail pace, and the setting is limited within the confines of the small court house, this film serves as a good analysis on the complexities of a marriage and its implications on the family.

Society of the Snow

2024 Oscar Awards

Best International Feature Nominee (Spain)

Netflix

J.A. Bayona, the Spanish director of The Impossible about the 2004 tsunami which devastated Thailand is back with another true-life disaster movie. The 1972 crash of a Uruguayan airplane in the Andes mountain. Its passengers were members of a rugby team along with some officials and supporters who were going to Santiago, Chile for an exhibition match.  

Out of the 45 passengers, only 16 survived for 72 harsh days battling serious injuries, starvation, intense frostbite, brutal avalanches, watching their team mates in excruciating pain deteriorating in front of their eyes, staring death in the face.  .

Their deep Catholic faith, along with their camaraderie sustained them during those gruelling 72 days. Cheering each other up, not losing hope that they will be rescued and they even give each other permission to feed on their dead bodies when they die. 

Although that sounds gruesome, it was a reality they had to face in order to survive the elements. Society of the Snow succeeds in its narration of this tragic accident because it focused more on the friendship and their will to survive. It does not highlight the cannibalism  which really occurs during any catastrophe of such magnitude. That aspect was handled well.

The vast Andes mountain range provided a bleak backdrop as it stood witness to the devastation of the airplane crash. Excellent make-up and costume design visibly transformed the virile young lads into weary, battle torn and despondent survivors. 

The scene which stood out for me is during the actual crash landing of the airplane as it hit the mountain, then slided bounced off the deep snow, the body of the aircraft is sliced into half, the tail is torn off, bodies ejected, could hear the sound of bones breaking as the victims were slammed against metal. It was very vivid, and violent yet at the same time you couldn't keep your eyes off the screen. It was very realistic, thrilling and quite shocking too. One of the best depictions of an actual plane crash I've seen so far. 

In movies about disaster, one tends to keep guessing which victim will survive, which victim will not make it. The passengers all looking alike and blending into a big blur. But Society of the Snow was different. It was a humane, poignant and realistic rendering of a tragic accident. An entirely moving and hopeful tale about survival, strength and determination that God won't abandon us during insurmountable hardships.

A Man

 Japanese Film Festival 2024

Cinema 4, The Red Carpet
Shangri-la Plaza Mall

An intriguing premise abounds in this dramatic thriller that begs the question: how much do we really know someone? Even in the context of a marriage, there are certain truths/secrets/lies that spouses keep from each other especially when it involves some sordid past. We only know a person based on what s/he reveals about themselves.

Rie, a divorced single mother meets Daisuke, a reticent tree faller. She owns a stationery shop that sells art supplies and he frequently buy his sketching materials there. Four years later, they are married and have a daughter and Daisuke is also a doting father to Rie's pre-teen son from her previous marriage.

A tragic accident claims his life and Rie is left to pick up the pieces. At Daisuke's wake, when Kyoichi, Daisuke's estranged brother takes a look at the picture of the deceased, he asserts that Rie's second husband is NOT his brother. To get to the bottom of this whole mistaken identity mess and for the life insurance, Rie hires her former lawyer Akari Kido to do a background check on the true identity of the person she married.

In the blink of an eye, the movie's plot shifts from a story of a happy family unit to a convulted, dark narrative of deceit and hidden identities. It doesn't really delve into the technicalities like identity theft, forged documents or counterfeit. As Atty. Kido probes deeper in his quest, he encounters several characters who shed further light into the true persona of Mr. X. We discover who he really was, the real sad reason he wanted to be someone else. Until slowly, we overlook the deceit and feel more empathy towards him and his hapless existence.

Overall, good performance from the entire cast who all play sympathetic characters. Each of them dealing with their inner demons. Rie is neither a wife nor a widow. Her son is tormented by the fact that he needs to change his surname, yet again. Mr. X was desperate to be 'reborn' to escape the stigma of  his father's transgression. Despite being a top lawyer, Atty. Kido is an outcast, being the son of Korean parents living in Japan which I found out is a big issue there. They are called Zainichi Koreans.

Googled this: "You're only a Zainichi Korean if your Korean ancestors settled in Japan during the Japanese colonization period. Zainichi Koreans have a special residential status, they are Korean citizens, but they are also protected under the Japanese law and have most of the same rights as Japanese citizens apart from voting I believe. Zainichi Koreans are also not required to do mandatory military service if male so there's really nothing much to lose if they don't become a naturalized Japanese citizen."

Father of the Milky Way Railroad

 Japanese Film Festival 2024

Cinema 4, The Red Carpet
Shangri-la Plaza Mall

Filmed in muted tones and set in an idyllic rural Japanese town, laden with heavy dramatic scenes buoyed by sad instrumental background music, this biopic of Kenji Miyazawa an early 20th century Japanese poet and novelist (said to be the Hans Christian Andersen of Japan) runs for 2 hours and 8 minutes.

The plot centers on the Miyazawa family. In a small town, Masajiro Miyazawa is a wealthy pawn shop owner who lives in a humble abode with his father Kisuke, his wife Ichi and their 4 children. He goes above and beyond what is expected of a typical Japanese father and is really hands on in rearing up his children. 

He dotes on his first born son Kenji who is expected to inherit the pawn shop. After free spirited Kenji is done with his studies in an agricultural school, his flair for writing poetry and short stories is developed. All of these elements clashes with Masajiro's desire to retire so Kenji can take over the family business.

Will Kenji be allowed to pursue his passion or would he be forced to manage the pawn shop?

The answer to this question unfolds in several melancholic scenes that is well acted out by the two lead male characters. An inner struggle develops within both Masajiro and Kenji. Their relationship is tested, but their love for each other never wanes. I had no idea who Kenji Miyazawa was nor am I aware of any of his writings, so it was hard for me to feel invested in his story. 

Yet the universal theme of the power of family and the unconditional love of a father for his son amidst hardships and obstacles make good fodder for any tragic biography.

Full River Red

 18th Spring Film Festival

Set in the 12th century during the Song dynasty, this period drama by director Zhang Zimou can make your head spin with the numerous plot twists that a motley crew of wily and cunning characters need to navigate. 

On the eve of an important meeting between rival factions, an emissary from the Jin delegation is murdered and a letter in his possession has gone missing. Qin Hui, the frail and paranoid prime minister of Song orders his underlings and his fleet of soldiers to find the murderer and the missing letter. He wants it all solved in two hours before they set out for the meeting at dawn.

The search is headed by Sun Jun, a deputy commander of the household battalion and Zhang Da, an incompetent soldier/corporal who also happens to be Sun Jun's nephew although Zhang Da is much older. Together, the unlikely duo encounter obstacles upon hurdles as all their 'suspects' have their own hidden agenda and nothing is as it seems.

A fast paced tale of treachery, duplicity, political maneuverings replete with skillful sword fights, well choreographed stunts buoyed by the stellar performance from the entire cast. It all unfolds within the confines of a serpentine grim fortress. 

Running at almost 3 hours, the plot loses steam midway then perks up again towards a climactic ending. It works because it has the correct mixture of comedy, drama, suspense, a haunting musical score and historical references. Loyalty, intrigue, betrayal (used as a survival tactic), and patriotism all weigh in heavily in this masterpiece by Zhang Zimou.  

By the way, Full River Red is a famous poem by Yue Fei, a brave 12th century general who fought against powerful invaders. During the pivotal final scene, the poem is recited out loud by the whole battalion as a battle cry and homage to General Yue Fei. Beautifully shot with and I am guessing here, drones and wide angled camera shots. 

It is China propaganda at its finest, if you ask me yet at the same time it somehow felt appropriate. After all the wild chases, the senseless pursuits, the conniving and all the intrigues - everything just falls into its rightful place, finally!

Parasite(Gisaengchung)

"Misplaced Familyhood"

I don't watch Korean movies or their TV dramas which are all over the boob tube, or online. 

BUT.

With all the fuss about "Parasite", not to mention it winning all the best movie awards from Europe to America, I got curious! 

It is only now that the world is opening up to Director Bong Joon Ho but it seems he has been actively making movies in his native land, South Korea. This tale of two families from very different spectrum of society tackles class conflict and discrimination which the audience no matter our social standing, can totally relate with on many levels.

The Kim family are bottom dwellers, for lack of a better word but they embody it in every sense of the word. The family of 4 - middle aged parents, Ki-woo, their son and their daughter Ki-jung - live in a sub basement of an apartment, getting 'free' pest control (even if they are bathed in toxic chemicals), leeching off the wifi connection of their neighbors, yet they do earn from folding pizza boxes for a small company.

Ki-woo's friend will be studying in the US so he asks Ki-woo to replace him as the English tutor of Da-hye. She is the naive yet smart daughter of the Park couple. She, together with her younger "troubled" brother and parents live in this beautiful house which was designed by Namgoong, a famous architect. The builder of the house had a housekeeper Moon gwang who now works for the Park family. Through a conniving plan, the entire Kim family are also employed by the affluent family as their art therapy tutor, driver and housekeeper.

One rainy night when the Parks are out of town, their former housekeeper shows up at the residence and all hell breaks loose. This occurs about one hour into the film, a twist is revealed through very clever film editing. This otherwise ordinary film suddenly evolves into a morbid and violent tale, a twist of fate which adds more layers to an already complex story line. In this regard, I believe this twist + the "did.it.happen.or.did.not.happen?" ending sets the perfect stage for "Parasite" getting all its accolades, and deservedly so.

It was filmed in some Seoul shanty town depicting the very bare existence of the Kim family. Yet the luxurious mansion of the Park family was built from scratch in the studio. Great visually vibrant sets (the poor district & the upscale neighborhood hidden behind high walls) that highlights the huge social and economic divide between the two families. 

To end - if you ask me, who does the title refer to? I believe, all of them are parasites. The Kim family conniving their way into the household and the good graces of the Parks. The wealthy yet lonely and snobby employers looking down on their 'servants' like insulting their smell. The real bottom dwellers, 3rd part of the equation, yes there are more characters. They are also free loading off the totally clueless Park family. So yes, I get where Bong Joon Ho got the idea behind his award winning critique on the socio-economic barriers between the haves and the have-nots.

100 Dinge(100 Things)

4th German Film Week

SM Megamall

Toni and Paul are best friends since childhood. Together, they develop an app for mobile phones called NANA. It is like SIRI but it can be customized to suit the personality and preferences of the owner of the cellphone, working based on complicated algorithms. 

They rush in Paul's dilapidated car to present it to the wealthy owner of a famous software company named David Zuckerman (hint: slight resemblance to Mark Zuckerberg), along with a thousand other app developers who all aim to secure capital for their inventions.

Through some twist of fate, even if they are the last ones to present NANA, Zuckerman is so taken with their app that he immediately present them with 4 Million Euros for their app. Drunken party ensues with Paul & Toni celebrating their victory with the employees of their company. In a drunken state of mind, they both agree to a bet - they will get rid of all their possessions for 100 days and only get one item back, each day at midnight.

Next scene, we see both guys naked, their huge loft type apartments stripped bare. A big hangover still clouds their vision and judgement as they realize their employees emptied them of their precious belongings. Running naked across town to the storage area where their things have been placed is one of the funniest scenes I have seen in a while.

The film focuses on Paul & Toni trying to come to terms with a drastic change in their lifestyle. Toni is methodical, the salesman among them and is very conscious of his looks - taking pills for hair growth, wearing contact lenses because he hates wearing glasses. While Paul is the developer of the app and totally obsessed with his cellphone as NANA who dictates his every movement from buying the latest sneakers online, to even what he has to wear every day.

As we see how the deprivation of material possessions take a toll on their lives, (Paul is like a zombie without NANA while Toni's hair is unruly, has to wear glasses after infecting his eyes from week long contact lenses, OUCH!!) - they also come to terms with meeting realistic goals. Learning that friendship is more important than fancy rubber shoes or a well coiffed hair. Spending time with family and a potential love interest is way better than being obsessed with material things. 

The first part of the plot is engaging as we see how they cope with the bet, how they try to not 'cheat', the frantic race to win the bet. Middle part gets a bit murky with too many side plots distracting away from the main theme with the introduction of a love interest named Lucy for Toni. She is an interesting character with her own 'disability', having an enormous credit card debt, a victim of commercialism as well. 

The ending is rightfully predictable. Even as Zuckerman stole their creation, NANA, passing it off as his own, thus raking in profits, all is not lost for penniless Paul & Toni. A cunning twist manifests itself as sweet revenge. That was brilliant, I didn't expect that at all. A good way to end a comedy that went through many scenarios, naked butts et al, to essentially prove a very compelling point.

Balloon (2018)

4th German Film Week

SM Megamall

"For freedom, they Risked it All"

2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the reunification of Germany. The Berlin Wall which divided the West (democratic) from the East (communist) fell after a peaceful revolution. 

Life in East Germany was very restrictive, to say the least. The Ministry for State Security, commonly known as the Stasi was the official 'police'. They were a very ruthless and strict force who mostly relied on surveillance to keep tabs on its citizens. Openly engaging in domestic, foreign and political espionage which was overseen by the Communist/ Socialist party.

Many East Germans tried to flee across the border to West Germany. Risking their lives just to be free from authoritarian rule. This movie documents a major risk, two families took to escape from East Germany - using of all things, an easily visible hot air balloon. It was set in 1979 - Ten years before the fall of the Berlin wall.

It shows their futile first attempt when the balloon starting leaking due to the cold air at such a high altitude. The material they used was not water proof so the balloon came crashing down in a forested area, just a few meters from the border. That was heart breaking, shocking and really frustrating.

But luckily, the Strelzyk family were not caught since it was the dark of night. They managed to walk back to their car through the thick forest and simply went home like nothing happened. But still very shaken from the unfortunate incident.

Their inflated balloon though was discovered by a local who chanced upon it the next day. The Stasi as well as the border patrol is alerted and their search for the 'owners' of the balloon also unfolds simultaneously as the Strelzyk family along with their friends, the Wetzel  family decide to try escaping yet again.

They source their materials from different clothing stores as Gunter Wetzel gets to sewing the patches together to form a large balloon. They also tweak the main frame where the oxygen gases are situated and built it a bit larger to fit all of them.

The fast pacing takes on an intense nature once the second attempt on a much larger hot air balloon, begins. You are on the edge of your seat as you feel your pulsating heart beating fast. Probably the exact feeling they all felt that night. Adding to the drama is the fact that the Stasi have discovered about their second try so it is a race between the families flying to freedom and the authorities, fielding all of their gears, hot on their tail. 

Scenes are mostly shot during the night for the escapes. But the camera work is steady so you don't have to squint to see what unfolds on the screen. It is set in the 1970s so the wardrobe is realistic, as well as the furnishings inside their household. A typical East German vibe, if you know what I mean, permeates through the row of similar looking houses on their block.

The first balloon is already 'made' so it mostly focuses on the plotting of their second getaway.  Not much information on the why, when, and where this idea of escaping on a hot air balloon is provided. I guess, every East German's dream was to flee to freedom but it would have helped if we knew what triggered their intentions.

The end credits show the real characters upon whom this film is based, as well as their first inflated balloon cordoned off in some forested area. They are also shown reacting to the fall of the Berlin wall, safely in the Bavarian region which is located in the west part of Germany.

Overall, it is a fitting tribute to those who tried to escape, either successfully or resulting in failure. But it is human nature to cheer on for those deprived of their basic human rights and this average film deals with very inspirational characters who did not give up until they tasted freedom, in every sense of the word. 

El Reino (The Realm)

Pelikula 2019
Spanish Film Festival
Greenbelt 3 Cinemas

I only managed to catch one film at this year's Spanish Film Festival. A political thriller about money laundering, dubious land deals, conspiracy and corruption. The main character, Manuel is a local politician who has a luxurious lifestyle but this all comes crumbling down when he and his peers in a political party are accused of wide scale corruption.

The whole 2 hours and 12 minutes deals with Manuel trying to get support from his peers who have either made deals with the government or are tight lipped about their involvement in the corruption. The saying that 'you only know who your true friends are in times of trouble' fits perfectly here. Trust issues rear their ugly head as Manuel is running out of time to prove his innocence or at least lessen his complicity in the corrupt practices of his entire political party. So he decides to take revenge and in the process try to redeem himself.

Pacing is balanced with car chases as well as dialogue driven sequences. The ensemble cast are credible as they do seem like corrupt politicians from their demeanor to the manner they converse. But kudos goes to reliable actor Antonio de la Torre as Manuel - the stress of his character visibly painted on his face and his behavior as he turns from scapegoat to whistle blower in a span of a few minutes towards the last part of The Realm.

The narrative is universal as corruption is common among most politicians in any country where the system has failed people. Citizens are not protected, unemployment prevails, the divide between the haves and the have-nots widens, borders are not safeguarded, immigration issues. Basic services are not provided and other prevailing problems which plague a nation rocked with corruption. And this can come in the form of dishonest politicians as well as unscrupulous business owners who overcharge people for their services.

Alright so I got sidetracked! Look what any talk of corruption triggered in me. These were precisely the thoughts which entered my mind as I watched this movie. A well crafted film about a desperate man struggling to right the system which he contributed to. But is it too late for him? Is there any chance of reversal both for him and the system? Questions we are left pondering from the abrupt conclusion and dare I say the answers cannot be replied with a simple 'yes' or 'no'. So think about it!

10,000 KM

Cine Europa 2019

Cinema 1, Greenbelt 3

This movie is Spain's offering in this year's Cine Europa. It commences with a couple having sex in the hopes of conceiving. They are Alexandra and Sergei, in their early 30s, together for 7 years and live in Barcelona. Sex, breakfast and an important work email for Alex on a lazy Sunday sets the tone for this simplistic film about a long distance relationship. 

Alex, who is British accepts a year long stint as a photographer in Los Angeles while Sergei remains in Barcelona to prepare for his teaching board exam. Soon the setting shifts to a white minimalist apartment of Alex and their shared place in Spain. They keep in touch, despite the time difference through video messaging. Updating each other about their lives and their occupations. 

The problem with long distance relationships (believe I know since I was once in one) is your mind never stops wandering and wondering. Simple things such as what the other person had for breakfast, did he go to the gym? or did he remember to water the plants? - they get highlighted not because you don't trust the other person. But you have this need to still feel like you are part of what used to be your routine as a couple. That connection to each other remains a vital part of the communication. With modern technology like high speed internet, a laptop and a computer with webcams, keeping and staying in touch is way easier in this wifi loaded era.

Naturally, when you see the other person posting pictures with new people, you can't help but wonder if it isn't just platonic. You both set a certain time for the video call and when the other person does not answer the call, you can get paranoid. Is he ok? Did he get home, safe? Is he out with someone else? It is a crazy mental exercise to stay sane when one is part of this type of relationship. 

All of the issues I mentioned above are well portrayed in 10,000 KM. Sergei and Alex have a major argument, deciding to stay away from any forms of communication for some peace of mind. Their relationship reaches its breaking point when Alex wants Sergei to join her in California. This triggers Sergei into thinking she doesn't value what he does for a living. She points out that for the longest time, she was supportive, even living in Barcelona so they can be together.

The last few minutes was vague, in some way a surprise yet not totally unexpected in any LDR. Someone has to indeed sacrifice, make a bold move and hope it works out. In this case for Alex and Sergei, I have my doubts it was the best thing to do. But that is the sarcastic me, being negative. The positive part of me, however small, would like to believe Sergei and Alex will grow old together with their kids, no matter where they decide to live and raise their family.

Shoplifters

Eiga Sai 2019

UP Film Institute

This offering from director Hirokazu Kore-eda raked in millions when it opened in Japan, last year. A heartwarming story of a 'family' who shoplift basic necessities like shampoo, food items to tide them over. We soon decipher they are not related by blood but still consider themselves a family. One evening, Osamu (the father) and Shota (young pre-teen son) are heading home after stealing, they spot a young girl of about 5 years old crying on the porch of a house. A chilly night, they take pity on her and bring her home with them where more members are introduced, Nobuyo (the mother), Aki (teenage daughter) and grandmother Hatsue.

Nobuyo works as a presser (irons clothes) in a factory while Osamu is a construction worker. They name the little child Juri and it is established that she lived with abusive parents from the scars on her body. She tends to follow Shota around so he teaches her the tricks of the 'trade'. They all live in Hatsue's house which is tiny and cramped with their things. Hatsue receives a monthly gov't pension while Aki is the granddaughter of Hatsue's husband's second wife. The parents of Aki believe she is studying in Australia even though she ran away from home. They also give Hatsue a certain sum of money because their father was 'stolen' from Hatsue by their mother. 

For me, one of the best parts of the movie is when they learn the police is searching for the missing child. They cut her unruly hair, shoplift a swimwear for her and all go to the beach. The scenes depict a warm, humid spell has hit Tokyo so a train trip to the beach is just what they all need. The change in scenery from their drab house in the suburbs of Tokyo to the sea shore is refreshing. A welcome shift from the travails of their daily lives. The most fun they had before the push turns to shove as things pretty much unravel after that beach outing. 

If the family dynamic was complicated enough, more issues are put to the forefront after Shota is caught by the police for shoplifting. The pace picks up, as the background of each character is revealed while being interrogated by the authorities. It was bound to happen as crime doesn't really pay, no matter how attach we become to these characters. By the end, things are put into their proper order. Each of them back to where they truly belong even though a tinge of sadness is reflected on their faces. 

Kore-eda made us fall in love with his well developed characters, who even though are strangers form a dysfunctional family. We commiserate with them because we know they escaped from a harsher life before they all came together under one roof. Characters who utter "whatever is in a store, doesn't belong to anyone yet" to justify their stealing.

He tackles familial relationships, the social welfare structure in Japan, the corrective justice system, the lives of blue collar workers. Difficult yet relevant issues which can affect any country, but particularly Japan which is known to adhere to strict measures to effectively make it a progressive nation. 

Shoplifters is well crafted with beloved characters interacting in a poignantly realistic plot and it truly deserves the Palme D'or award at the 71st annual Cannes Film Festival, last May 2018.

The Crimes that Bind

Eiga Sai 2019

The Red Carpet @ Shang

This complex crime thriller had numerous side plots which somehow connected to the main story line, that is if you really pay close attention. It starts in the 1960s where a young woman is looking for a job. We follow her story through a fast jump through the years until her death. In 2017, her estranged son, a well known detective is notified of her demise. He has been searching for her for 16 years. His only link to her past life is through a mysterious old man who was her partner for several years. A man who is elusive, and Detective Kaga has been trying to find him since his mother's death.

In a completely unrelated story, the body of a woman is found strangled in a small shack. Days later, the burnt body of a man is found. Could these two murders be related? What is their connection to the detective's late mother? Could the burnt man be the elusive partner of his late mother? Can the detective finally find the answers to his mother's past life? There are many questions which needed answers and some, if not all of these questions are slowly resolved by the conclusion of the film. 

As I mentioned above, one needs to be alertly aware of each subplots so you can completely understand the main issues which the characters face in the various situations. Issues like parental neglect, not losing face, hiding secrets, as well as being true to oneself are coherently tackled. It helps that the pacing of the film is slow so the audience is given the chance to put two and two together to get to the bottom of this crime mystery.

The main characters are well developed and their storied pasts are sometimes shown through several flashback scenes or narrated in the dialogue. These flashbacks are well intertwined, quite flawlessly slip into the present day scenes. I also like how they were able to find closure in their quest for answers. The English subtitles flow by rapidly so you need to read fast. There is probably a lost in translation phase but overall, the plot is easy to understand as its pacing is well stretched out. 

I like the fusion of numerous side plots in movies. It keeps me thinking throughout and it thrills me to no end. I'm usually fast in knowing the who, why, when and how, yet for some reason (perhaps reading subtitles) I was utterly lost in "The Crimes that Bind".  Yet in this instance, it was a good kind of lost, so I'm good.

The Third Murder

Eiga Sai 2019

The Red Carpet @ Shang

The first scene shows a man murdering another man with a hammer, beating him to a pulp then burning the body. This sets the pace for a complex legal thriller filled with mysterious motives, a dubious confession, the looming sentence of a death penalty and several questions to further make it more complicated than it already is.

Misumi confesses to killing his boss and torching his body. Yet his motives for this brutal crime keeps changing and his legal team have a difficult time believing him. Enter Shigemori, a renowned lawyer brought in to help the defense team. Shigemori has a connection with the defendant as he is the son of the judge who convicted Misumi for a previous crime. A crime for which he served 30 years yet is never clearly mentioned what it was about, merely alluded to. Shigemori starts investigating by questioning several witnesses who vouch for the character of Misumi - the quiet yet strange type who keeps to himself.

Shigemori faces a stumbling block when an article in a tabloid narrates an interview with Misumi. He says that the widow of his boss contacted him through email to hire him to kill her husband and he will be paid for it. They would also share the money from the life insurance she will get. Confronting his flippant client, Shigemori probes him for more details. 

Yet another angle surfaces from the close friendship between Misumi and Sakie who is the daughter of his boss. Sakie has a brace around one leg, walks with difficult and  the real reason for her brace is also as doubtful as Misumi's various motives for the crime. Shigemori also discovers that Sakie's father abused her sexually so this presents as another motive for Misumi to kill his boss.

Another masterpiece from noted director Hirokazu Kore-eda whose films usually focus on family relationships and all its complexities. Here, he explores a common factor among the three main male characters - Misumi, Shigemori and the victim. They are all fathers with tangled ties with their daughters. Misumi is estranged from his now grown up daughter mainly to his 30 year prison term. Shigemori is divorced and hardly has any bonding time with his own daughter. A high school age girl who stole from a store, an act for her lawyer father to come to her rescue. The victim, himself who it turns out was preying on his daughter Sakie.

The third murder also has a vital focal point  - the Japanese legal system which still imposes the death penalty for certain gruesome crimes. A major contention was whether Misumi stole his boss' wallet before or after he burned the body. It seems there is a different sentence just from burglary then murder and/or murder than burglary.

The mininalist cinematography consists of snow capped mountains, courtroom scenes, a small town locale and consultations in jail between Misumi and Shigemori. These sessions are separated by a glass window with a small round circle to hear and listen to each other. 

After the verdict was read, Misumi and Shigemori meet again for their last session and their faces are intertwined as seen from the reflections on the glass partition. It is a memorable scene, one showing they might be the one and the same person in more ways than one. In most movies dealing with a legal drama, this segment would be where the defendant would come clean to his lawyer, either admit or deny he committed the crime. But in true form, this film remains as vague as Misumi and as perplexed as Shigemori. Enough said!

1001 Grams

Cine Europa 2018

Shangri-la Cinemas

From Norway comes a quirky and delicate love story between Nordic Marie and French Pi. Marie is a scientist who specializes in measurements. Her daily routine is going to work, conversing with her father who is a colleague at work and having meals alone at home. 

Her father Ernst is the one who brings the national kilo of Norway to Paris, France for some annual gathering of other like minded individuals for a conference on weights. When her father succumbs to a fatal heart attack, Marie is the one assigned to attend the Paris symposium. 

Marie strikes as a lonely, taciturn woman whose whole world revolves on her work and her close relationship with her father. There are hints/scenes of a ex husband/boyfriend moving out of their apartment although they never exchange any pleasantries. So Paris provides a welcome break from her routine as well as her grief upon the sudden loss of her beloved dad.

She meets Pi, a French professor/scientist who also volunteers at the institute where the weights are measured. They hit it off as she speaks a fairly good amount of French and an unlikely romance between them. 

Pristine cinematography invades our senses with great Nordic scenery, French countryside where the seminar is held  as well as the quaint little streets of Paris.  Never in my wildest imagination did I think that there is a whole industry devoted to the actual weight of a kilo, fascinating science stuff indeed. Dialogue is in Norwegian, English and French with English subtitles. 

It is a delightful art movie that tackles disappointment, grief and love in an unusual place for two less lonely people in the world. 

P.S.

1001 grams refers to the weight of the cremated ashes of Marie's father. An eerie yet interesting thought. 

A Vizsga (The Exam)

Cine Europa 2018

Edsa Shangri-la Cineplex

"Don't trust Anyone. Don't trust Yourself"

This 2011 Hungarian movie is set in 1957, Budapest. A period of uncertainty as the loyalty of every National Security officer is tested. Andras Jung is a young ambitious cultural NS officer disguising as a teacher who teaches German. In all eventuality, he is a government spy who gathers information and forwards it to his immediate superior, Marko. The older spy is a war hero and famous in the espionage industry. 

Marko is tasked to test Jung's loyalty so he clandestinely monitors his 'pupil' from the opposite building. Hidden hearing devices are planted, cloak and dagger tactics are employed - anything to prove Jung is a faithful and reliable agent.

The film is in the Hungarian language so the words are totally foreign to me. The spy game plays out well in the movie but for all intents and purposes, the filming shows an amateur streak. The cast are believable in portraying spies. The narrative gets murky when you lose sight of who is actually spying on whom. 

Yet the film succeeds in exploring the travails of a communist country (Hungary) in the dark era of the Cold War. A very volatile period for the espionage sector as the leaders are paranoid and need absolute loyalty from the members of the national security community. The Cold War is a sad period in Europe's rich history, it was plagued with violations of human rights, extreme poverty, a strong totalitarian government and no equal opportunities for all.

Todos lo Saben Everybody Knows

Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem,

Ricardo Darin

"Who did iT??"

Iranian writer-director Asghar Farhadi (A Separation) presents a crime drama in the Spanish language with real life couple Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem in the lead roles. A tale of secrets and revelations + all the necessary ingredients of a whodunit saga.

Laura (Penelope Cruz) living in Buenos Aires returns to her hometown near Madrid with her two children  to attend the wedding of her sister, Ana. It is a typical small Spanish town where everybody knows of each other. A town rife with intriguing whispers and gossips which is a typical mentality among the local folks. On the night of the wedding, Irene the teenage daughter of Laura goes missing.

Frantic and panicking, Laura is distraught and seeks the help of the family's close friend, Paco (her former childhood sweetheart) who is now married to Bea, a teacher. She also contacts her husband, Alejandro (Ricardo Darin) in Argentina to inform him about the abduction. The entire family is drawn into this disturbing incident and try to come up with answers without causing a scene as Laura is told not to inform the police.

Mostly shot in dark tones with night scenes and dimly lit rooms, Everybody Knows runs like a typical Spanish telenovela, except this is a full length film. Multiple characters, most of them Laura's extended family make up the cast composed of top actors and actresses in the Spanish film industry. Headed by Penelope Cruz who gives Laura, much depth. She just gets better as she ages like fine wine. Javier Bardem as Paco is credible. He nails the characterization of a conflicted yet well meaning person with gusto. Ricardo Darin as Alejandro is more subdued as his character is dealing with her personal demons.

The revelation of closely guarded secrets, the intriguing nature of the disappearance all played out well in the narrative. But the quick 'resolution' of the main crisis in the plot seemed forced. It felt like Farhadi did not thoroughly think this part through so he snapped his fingers and decided it needed to end, just like that. Nope it has nothing to do with being lost in the translation, I have watched enough Spanish movies to be more or less familiar with the language. It is a watchable crime drama as the cast perform well but the strained plot change and the contrived ending are burdensome.

La Cordillera (The Summit)

Pelicula 2018

Spanish Film Festival

Greenbelt 3 Cinemas

A mountain resort in the picturesque Andes mountains in Chile is the setting for a summit of Latin American leaders. The main topic is the establishment of an OPEC like organization consisting of Latin American nations. 

The central character is Hernan Blanco, (Ricardo Darin) the newly elected president of Argentina who is attending his first summit meeting. Blanco, a former mayor of a small town is hailed as the leader of the common man. His low profile at the summit is being questioned by a critic in a radio show commentary who belittles Blanco's capability as a leader. 

A few minutes before they board the presidential plane, his staff receives news of problems on the personal front. His daughter Marina is distraught and insists she had no idea about the expose from her ex husband, who plans to reveal Blanco's previous corrupt practices. The president decides Marina should join him at the summit so he can keep an eye on her already frayed nerves. 

Ricardo Darin (Truman) is very credible as the plagued Blanco. As president, he maintains a calm almost stoic demeanor in the wheeling and dealing of diplomacy. There is a specific scene with Christian Slater as a high level State Department official in a clandestine meeting with President Blanco. In this shot, Blanco listens as usual, the imperialistic U.S. wants to act as 'consultant' to the proposed organization. Towards the end of the meeting, Blanco negotiates for what he believes will be beneficial to Argentina. Whether this is good or not is beside the point, I think this establishes Blanco as a certified negotiator/leader.

As a father, he is concerned, strong and decisive for his troubled daughter. He even agrees to a series of hypnotherapy sessions for Marina which reveals certain ambiguities. Whether those past events are true or merely a figment of Marina's complex imagination - are never fully explored. A side plot which could perhaps better explain why Marina is really messed up. 

So except for those intriguing hypnosis revelations which were left unanswered, the film does a good job in presenting international relations among world leaders. The breathtaking Andes mountain range providing an icy background to an engaging political drama.

El Autor (The Motive)

Pelicula 2018

Spanish Film Festival

Greenbelt 3 Cinemas

Alvaro is a notary in a law firm, a really monotonously boring job. His real passion though is to write a novel, something he calls 'real literature' as opposed to best selling book written by his wife, Amanda. In fact, he is very serious, Alvaro has even taken up writing lessons in a class taught by an over critical instructor.

Alvaro's life goes from sad to pathetic. He leaves his wife after she is caught cheating with a co-worker + he is put on forced leave after his work suffers from his erratic behavior. He moves into a new apartment, and now has a lot of time to concentrate on his novel.

His main problem is he doesn't have a fertile imagination so upon the advice of his teacher to roll up his sleeves and search for stories in the real world - he decides to eavesdrop on the lives of his neighbors in his new apartment block. He makes them the subject of his novella, going as far as manipulating and orchestrating their lives to make them more interesting characters for his book.

It is set in Seville, Spain with shots mostly within the confines of Alvaro's spartan and sparsely decorated apartment in bright almost blinding scenes. This is perhaps in contrast to the sudden influx of ideas that flood Alvaro's mind.

The creepy tone of the lead character, with his obsessive, stalker like tendencies as well as the dramatic phasing of the plot add some intensity to an otherwise predictable narrative. With a good premise and the exemplary acting of Javier Gutierrez as Alvaro, The Motive is a well made dark comedy.