lawrencep0

I am writing this review as the plot emphasises the attraction between two women but this film is much more about life in a fishing village, including this being post tsunami and the loss. Although short, so much is touched upon such as police corruption and infidelity. Another relationship observation is the reluctance to marry a widow, even though both parties clearly love each other.

It is beautifully shot and put together. One definitely gets a feel for the rhythm of life there. And, yes, narrow-mindedness and even hypocrisy.

I can see there are very few votes so not many people have seen it or I am sure the rating would be higher. Perhaps also the misleading plot.

The overall arc of a Queen's Gambit type rise of a female star of the male-dominated game of shogi with the added spice of hoping to challenge a father who abandoned her is compelling.

I haven't been quite sure what to think of it up to now and am writing this review after the 6th episode which has brought the focus more onto the shogi and more of an idea in game-playing terms of what is going on in a match (via observer or player comments). As very few people outside of Japan will know the unique aspects of the chess-like game, such as a player being able to drop captured pieces anywhere on the board as their own pieces, this is all that can be expected but has mostly been lacking up to now. Also, in the 6th episode we are made aware of esoteric aspects such as how a piece is placed and the sound made being important.

Some sense of this and also the male-dominated aspect of the game so the very possibility of our hero being the 1st female to ascend into the exalted professional ranks gets us firmly on her side.

Up to this point one could say the focus has been on building up the characters but I still feel they are somewhat caricatures and some of the exposition has been annoying. Perhaps if I were Japanese I would be picking up on some subtlety but I am getting very little subtlety at all, apart from, perhaps, a lot of repressed anger. Difficult to say whether it is the director, the actors or me at fault here. Also, tense moments are accompanied by dramatic music which I think is unnecessary and distracting,

As mentioned, I may be viewing this somewhat as an outsider but after the 6th episode I think the series has started to hit its stride. This is just as well as only 2 episodes to go but I am looking forward to them. I suspect the writers must be aiming for a 2nd season where she progresses further up the ranks but we will see. It is good that the writers haven't gone for an overly rapid, unrealistic fairy-tale rise to greatness.

EDIT: Without adding any spoilers I will simply say that the 8th episode is well worth waiting for and adds depth to both the characters and the story. Good enough to transform the whole series.

Reminds one of Before Sunrise and to my mind stands up very favourably

The dialogue meanders very naturally with non-sequiturs and unfinished thoughts. Some pearls such as whatever has happened was, in retrospect, inevitable without implying some meaningful fate.

Some questions posed only answered much later but the build up of the dialogue and in jokes and references to earlier in the conversation helps the chemistry between the stars which was excellent. It felt so natural and unpolished whilst representing a satisfying whole by the end.

Fun to see them meandering around familiar London streets and landmarks. Obviously this was a British Asian relationship with plays and commentary on that but not overshadowing a wider human experience.

Congratulations to all involved. The writer/producer for the substance, the stars for portraying that so naturally and the director for enabling that and a great final product.