Anoko wa kizoku

Seen in the IFFRprogram 2021 on this title aristocrats. Great insight in classes in Japanese society in a subtle storytelling about the life of two young woman. Slowly you feel the knot of expectation and tradition getting tighter. With beautiful photography the story is told and and give life to a beautiful story

Watch as part of jpp Australia thank you!

I really enjoyed this movie in the way I enjoy uzo movies. That slower progression to reveal subtleties of Japanese culture which an outside can never touch.

The trick of this story is that it's takes a feminine view, very even handed, whilst showing the hierarchical society with its taboos and expectations. The slap to face by mother in law when her lineage is betrayed focuses where values are held.

Watch directors previous movie of iron foundry owners daughter to continue this subtle exposure of Japanese class for 20 somethings.

An interesting work of common life cinema about the different Japanese social classes, especially the political class. A sincere and feminine look that does not fall into the gratuitous drama or the grotesque. This year Hamaguchi surname is going to be in everyone mouth, but Sode Yukiko leaves him poe behind. It is not necessary to fall into the snobbish and artificial to tell a good story.

A tale in reverse, in which the young woman from a good family is the one who envies the humble girl. But above all, it is a beautiful story of friendship between women. "Wherever you're from, you have great days and days that make you cry." A story of liberation in which class differences become seemingly insurmountable walls, but which can be torn down. An achievement of the director that thrills without artifice.

The film illustrates the challenges and problems of women in (Japanese) society very well, the expected life paths, the judgement of the older generations, and it holds the viewer's interest well enough. But it feels like every scene straight up tells you what the problem is very literally, there isn't much room for subtlety or character exploration. It feels like a documentary illustrated in examples. Don't get me wrong, the film raises very important points very elaborately, but it reverses the "show, don't tell" principle a bit too often.

What should be the difference between a documentary and a drama dealing with the same problem? The drama should captivate, and naturally guide the audience to think about these issues because they care about the characters. A scene should not just tell a situation, it should also leave room for interpretation and interesting, surprising character interactions.

Again, don't get me wrong, the characters here are still interesting, the story is well put together, and also visually there is a lot to appreciate. It just felt a bit too much like a lecture.

But if I ever had to show someone problems in Japanese society, especially for women, maybe as a conversation starter, and it had to be in the form of a film/drama, this would be a very good choice.

And with the visual elements and the important societal questions asked, I definitely don't regret watching this film at all.