The happy life of a school girl is complicated by the spread of a video. Friends and family have to decide what to believe. Others look to exploit the situation.
While most high-school movies are romantic comedies or sometimes horror, there is also a small genre that tries to handle particular social problems or trends. Social realism, if you will. This movie will be of interest if you prefer directors like Koreeda Hirokazu.
A noticeable choice is that the camera often has a fixed placement, sometimes behind the characters, so that their faces are not seen. This makes the experience similar to reality shows like Terrace House, which is even mentioned. Especially the beginning of the first season of Terrace House, before the commentators were added, and you had to make up your opinions yourself.
There is an effort to not say out loud how the events should be interpreted and judged, as a deliberate "show don't tell". Instead it is overbearing in the selection of what it shows, and focusing some things too strongly, forcing a particular point of view and emotional reaction.
At times, it is a suspenseful and anxiety-inducing drama. At other times it flips through disparate scenes, so that the immersion is lost. In those parts, it can be more difficult to connect with the characters. Then it feels slow even though it is short.
The lack of music in most scenes is another, probably deliberate choice, with the purpose of not leading the viewer into predetermined emotions. This is understandable since music can irritate by going contrary to what one wants to feel. Still, since music is a major catalyst for emotions, a movie without it can feel dry. Or maybe the silence itself can conjure emotions.
It is a very original movie, so be sure to check it out if you are into realism.
