Aristocrats

One of the best Japanese movies to come out in at least a decade, director Yukiko Sode's "Anoko wa Kizoku" was an engrossing and introspective journey into the lives of characters Hanako and Miki in a the beautiful city and town scapes of Japan. It is close to a masterpiece. I absolutely was mesmerized by the attention to Japanese societal subtleties and the nuances and diverging class cultures tangling up young Japanese women of the 2010's decade. Like many societies, there is a push/pull and slow change generationally, and that is on display between parents and daughter characters in terms of expectations in dialog. I particularly found co-lead Mugi Kadowaki fantastic - in no small part to the outstanding direction and script - her inner-turmoil both director and actress managed to express with powerful authenticity. Loved this movie caught on a recent flight - a true gem of character film-making and beauty.

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.

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

This film drives you through different perspectives on the issue of social class. A complex and heavy pressure that family, context, culture and traditions put on the shoulders of these beautifully developed characters. Who try very hard to be free on their own.

Chapter by chapter, you start drowning slowly in the history and emotions that these characters are going through, in pursuit of true happiness.