Shin-Ultraman (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]

Higuchi and Anno deliver an impressive love letter to their childhood, yet their devoted love, which is sensible in every aspect of the narrative, might not be able reach those who do not call themselves fans.

Masquerade Hotel (2019) review

A pleasant narrative that provides an interesting mystery, a nice exploration of hotel-philosophy, and offers an engaging dynamic between the two leads.

Mother (2020) review

In a languid but highly transparent way, Ohmori confronts the spectator with the subjective and interpersonal ravage the insatiable desire for love and the need for a proof of the other’s love eventually causes.

I am a Hero (2016) review

“Sometimes disturbing and confronting, sometimes fun, but ever engaging, the narrative underlines the influence society, (…) has on the subject, and how the collapse of a symbolic structure opens up the possibility to rewrite one’s coming into being.”

Before We Vanish (2017) review

“Another outstanding achievement; (…) a subdued and at times funny exploration of humanity that subtly shifts into a moving meditation of that irrational little thing called love.”

Umimachi Diary/our little sister (2015) Review

“A tender nostalgic narrative about the nature of sisterly relations and the beauty of transiency”. Introduction In the seaside city of Kamakura near Tokyo, three sisters, 29-year-old Sachi Kouda (Haruka Ayase), 22-year-old Yoshino Kouda (Masami Nagasawa) and 19-year-old Chika Kouda (Kaho), live together. Sachi, a nurse at a local hospital, has been a stand-in mother…