Kudakechiru tokoro o misete ageru

If you walk into theater thinking you're going to watch a teen romance movie, think again. This is not (only) about it, it covers so much more. It's hard to say more without spoilers, so I'm going to stop at this.

Our two main protagonist are so persistent in their lives, that sometimes we even doubt their sanity. But maybe that's the main point which director of this movie wanted to present to us: that we should have the courage to pursue happiness and love in our lives.

And prepare yourself for many long one shot conversations in this movie, in case you are not a fan of that.

Well written with amazing performances, you will absolutely enjoy the chemistry between the two leads. Story is deep and well thought out. I enjoyed very much.

The main heroes of this story are charming. And I'd say it is good that they are different. The whole movie is slow paced and deep. But in a good way. It shows a strugling life from a different angle.

This movie is filled up with long and very deep conversations. But it makes it better.

Actially every one of us could learn something from this movie. It's not perfect or brilliant, but I liked it.

I would recommend to watch it.

Not spoiling anything here but I do want to warn people that there is some unexpected graphic violence in the movie. The movie goes through a sudden shift in tone, starting off as a high school boy-meets-awkward-girl drama/ love story, but the last third of the movie suddenly gets dark and gory. There are scenes that are bloody and gruesome enough to fit in a horror movie. A bit of a tonal mess.

I went into this film blind without knowing anything more than its bizarre and inscrutable title.

Right off the bat, excellent cinematography. An early scene follows the young Kiyozumi running into and through his high school which superbly captures the frantic moment in what seems like real time, with a camera that shares our early confusion. At one point Kiyozumi drops his gear at his desk and then dashes out an out-of-sight second door, and the camera is apparently just as surprised as I am as it pans back out the first door to keep track. Now it's only five minutes in and I'm fully engaged.

I'm not going to say anything more about the characters or the plot except that (as became clear from the early scene described above) it unwaveringly follows Kiyozumi. If you connect well with him and his motivations (and I did, despite taking exception to a rather dubious and unexplained decision made by him about 2/3s in) you'll love this movie.

I was extremely satisfied with the ending.