I watched this movie and found it to be a compelling storyline of a dysfunctional Japanese rural family life set in the fields in the countryside far away from the city trappings of Tokyo.
As someone who grow up in a small village in a remote place I can emphasise with the difficulties of these struggles.
The extent of small-village life struggles have been amplified and projected including many taboos in Japanese society and the young heroine who must save the downful of the family with her epic manga-creating talants.
This film starts with a truly bizarre road-accident and the tragic loss of family life. Opening scenes reflect a very dysfunctional family and the storyline snowballs from there and eventually releasing everyone's inner dark secrets to the whole audience!
It's excellently-directed; some great cinematography and some quality-acting. Sumika Wago (Eriko Satô) is beautiful and the leader of the destruction and dysfunctionalism of the family.
Kyomi Wago (Aimi Satsukawa) is the young adult and the sister which takes all the family hope on and does it herself. Despite holding back her own dark secret of her family and then it all unravelling in a glorious way.
The brother; (Masatoshi Nagase) Shinji Wago; shows the sexual tension a young man experiences whilst trying to support and hold down his family and failing to keep control of himself and his demons.
Then Shinji's wife; Machiko Wago (Hiromi Nagasaku) suffers endless bullying and harrasment and lacks the awareness to escape this awful family situation.
It's a bleak movie laced with dry-humour and quirky behaviour. It's worth-watching until the end for the drama to unveil itself.
Fabulous movie; 8/10! Blu-ray; available on Thrid Window Films in the UK!
