W no higeki

This is a great vehicle for Hiroko Yakushimaru, who plays Shizuka, an aspiring actress. For the play The Tragedy Of W she hoped for the coveted role of Mako, but instead was relegated to being a stand in, script girl, laundress etc. One of the lead actresses has a rich, married lover and he dies of a heart attack in her hotel room, she begs for Shizuka to act as if the deceased was really her patron. Shizuka finally agrees and as a result is given the plum role of Mako, who in the play murders her grandfather. This very dramatic film is unusually quite good, I did not find a dull moment in it. Ms. Yakushimaru is wonderful in this role, but by then she had already established herself, especially with "Sailor Suit And Machine Gun", so its not surprising she admirably carries this film. This story of actors and the choices and compromises they make is gripping. If you're a film student, this is a must. If you like drama, I highly recommend this film. Every word rings true.