“A great narrative that does not only show that family happiness is but a semblance – behind the smiles hides pain and sadness – but also the very fact that the subject can only grasp his present subjective state by narrativizing (and, in many cases idealize) his past.”
Category: Romance
The Hardness of Avocado (2019) review [Camera Japan 2020]
Jo Masaya’s anti-romantic narrative does not only show the spectator the need for the subject to question their own subjective position, but also the importance to take the other serious at the level of his/her subjectivity.
The Other Home (2018) review [Camera Japan 2020]
Nishikawa shows, in a heartwarming way, that while there is a need to identify ourselves somewhat with the ideal image of our significant other, such identification should not be at the expense of our subjective position.
One Summer Story (2020) review [Camera Japan 2020]
“A pleasant narrative – full of lighthearted, romantic, and familial moments – that could have been better.”
Be My Baby (2013) review
While the narrative has subtle comical flair, “Be My Baby” does not fail to confront the spectator with the two most important obstacles to romantic happiness: the refusal to take one’s own and the other’s subjective position into account and the unquenchable power of sexual desire.
To The North (2020) review [JFFH 2020]
A feel-good movie full of genuine emotions and satisfying romantic moments that also succeeds in delivering an important message to young adults.
Fuku-chan of Fukufuku Flats (2014) review [Fantasia 2020]
“With his low-key dramedy, one will laugh, one will tear up, but above all, one will come to understand that matters of romance always require a leap of faith.”
Wotakoi: love is hard for Otaku (2020) review [Fantasia 2020]
Fukada offers plenty of comical moments, a myriad of pleasing musical sequences, and endearing romantic segments but fails to deliver the emotional powerful moment the narrative needed.
Hentai Kamen: Abnormal Crisis (2016) review [Fantasia 2020]
“Despite offering plenty of fun moments and tons of silliness, the sequel fails to truly surprise and explore the thematic riddle of the structural role perversion plays in human subjectivity in a truly meaningful way.”
Project Dreams – How to Build Mazinger Z’s Hangar (2020) review [Fantasia 2020]
“A more daring approach could have made ‘Project Dreams’ into an even more powerful celebration of technology and the inspiring power of anime.”
Woman of the Photographs (2020) review [Fantasia 2020]
“A powerful reminder that what truly counts is not the relation to the imagined Other, an Other who might or not desire the subject, but a relation to another subject.”
Short Movie Time: See You on the Other Side (2019) [Japan Cuts 2020]
“A very precise and rather confronting exploration of how, within the sexual act, the male and the female subject never meet each other.”
Beyond The Night (2019) review [Japan Cuts]
“Nakagawa, in short, reaffirms herself as one of the most promising female directors in Japan at the moment.”
Beautiful Goodbye (2019) [Nippon Connection online]
An original and highly unconventional zombie-narrative.
Makuko (2019) review [Nippon connection online]
“A pleasing exploration of the fear of becoming an sexually desiring adult.”
