A true classic of political cinema.
Category: Youth
Fiamma (2025) review [Nippon Connection 2026]
With brutal elegance, Uchida develops the idea that physical reality cannot be equated with subjective truth.
All About Lily Chou-Chou (2001) review-analysis
A modern classic, one of the best, if not the best, cinematic experiences of the ‘00.
Fujiko (2026) review [Nippon Connection 2026]
An incredibly satisfying feel-good experience about personal freedom, about holding on to one’s desire within a societal field that seeks to suffocate it.
Mag Mag (2025) review [Nippon Connection 2026]
Yuriyan Retriever delivers a satisfying film of subjective growth, yet not without a highly ironic aftertaste.
Long Night (2025) review [Nippon Connection 2026]
A self-assured debut, wielding the filmic frame to stage the alienation of the contemporary subject, the failure of imaginary fictions, and the disruptive effect of avoiding Otherness,
Love Letter (1995)
Iwai’s film is not one of the greatest Japanese romance narratives, but one of the greatest films of becoming able to love again.
5 Centimeters Per Second (2025) review
The fully blossomed fruit of Makoto Shinkai’s influential animated film.
The Godzilla Project: Godzilla versus Hedorah (1971) review
Banno, despite re-emphasizing Godzilla as hero, exposes the deceit of the ‘nationalistic’ narrative structures by showing, with irony, that Godzilla’s passage does not result in societal change
Sana: Let Me Hear (2024) review
Dramatic, thrilling, chilling, shockingly good.
Sana (2023) review
Takashi Shimizu cannot avoid his film from being held back from the fan-service it needs to deliver.
Thanc you (2021) review
A quintessential manzai-experience in a filmic envelope and a beautiful introduction to the emotional range relational comedy can have.
Awake (2020) review
Atsuhiro Yamada ensures, by delivering an effective visual and musical frame, that his poignant psychological portrait result into a thrilling finale and, ultimately, a heartwarming conclusion.
Re/Member: The Last Night (2025) review
A fun romp if one takes everything at face-value
Confetti (2023) review
A pleasant film that underlines, in an elegant and touching manner, the necessity for the subject to find an Other to commit himself to his dream, to his desire.