Two on the Edge

There are many things to like about this very sensitive film. It surprises with its ordinary, yet fascinating protagonist, an orphaned girl with a haunting past. What really struck me and left a deep impression was the acting, never felt it over the top or exploitative, but rather subtle and real. Despair doesn't need big gestures, trauma is real even if it seems hidden behind non-movement. A truly touching portrayal of family ties, a sense of belonging - and forgiveness.

Higan no futari is a strong and impactful story about love and being loved. It shows you how bad a person could be, especially when they're parents. And how cruel it is, to be lost in this world without any home. Higan no futari starts haunting me since the very 1st second with one of the most stunning images I've ever seen. With great casts, excellent acting and a slow, steady pace, Higan no futari made me feel the loneliness, the pain and struggle of a single child and what it is to have the worst life since childhood. It also shows me how desperate human beings are in searching for love, family, home. They'll love devil if that's their only choice. Put them all aside, the most important thing that left in me after watching is: Only love can make a person really live.

The subject matter is very delicate and the way the film is made it just grabs your attention and brings you into the story. Amazing performances all around and expertly directed.

Cultural transmission through imagery, a movie as a vehicle. "Higan no futari" transports one into a Japan, independent from the era its central theme is from all times and also happens everywhere in the world we are living in.

Sober acting, the eyes do the talking, and so does silence as the importance of unwritten space surrounding a kanji in calligraphy. A delicate balance from the first images onwards captures one, intrigued by the truth to come, grasping the unspoken drop by drop, often more important than what is actually said, but people can't always express deep feelings in words, and that is where art enters into the picture.

Handheld filming expressing the lead character's feelings, a bit shaky sometimes, uncertain what life is about, sound cut out because it wouldn't add meaning, two stories unfold and mingle in an artistic and philosophical way digging deeper, touching your bare bones.

A melon as a gift is loaded with meaning and "higan" could be reaching the other shore whilst growing towards perfection - Buddhist dharma, or returning when realizing something when crossing the river before completely dying.

"Higan no futari" is back to the basics, for some life is not a complex modern technological situation, but surviving and coping with childhood trauma, and artistic expressions have proven they can be a healthy remedy.

So, I feel relieved and grateful to have seen such a true artistic expression, directed by Yusuke Kitaguchi, great performances on the acting level, filming and producing, one gets offered a point of inflection in these hectic times.

Highly recommended, nevertheless please spare the children, they are the future, take care.

She stands on the middle of the line between living and death. Even though there is warm touch of many people around her, she still suffers from loneliness because she constantly strives to escape from loneliness by herself. Without the answer to escape from loneliness, she looks like a person who walks on the precarious rope.

In her tough life, a stranger comes to her. Whether the stranger would be a gift for her or not. It doesn't matter to her.

She only needs love, especially mom's love.

Anything cannot barricade Her love to her mom.

She strives to keep deep inclusion and infinite forgiveness to love her mom.

Eventually, her effort blooms a unique flower of love. It gives a new life to her and her mom.

This movie is very touched to me. I felt the amazing love and saw infinite forgiveness. The scenes are delicately constructed. Stead movie speed makes me more focus on the movie and dig down deeply into my mind. However, I think that the movie should have showed us the specific lives of each characters. This movie is like a building which has a perfect structure. But the shapes of each bricks like each characters are blurred.

It is honored that I spent my time with this movie. I really appreciate actors and staffs for their efforts for the movie.