Clean slate. I watched this film in the framework of the out-of-competition program of the MIFF.
The first thing I want to say is about Shibutani Subaru, since this man is a singer, although in his track record there are some pretty bright acting works in movies and TV series. This guy, in fact, being an "idol" owned by Johnny's Entertainment, is not him in essence: as a person, as a singer and an actor. He's different. It was in connection with the above circumstances that I went to the session with the confidence that the movie would be strange and original. And although, unfortunately, I do not yet know the works of Yamashita Nobuhiro, except for this one, I knew even then that Subaru was chosen as an actor with the appearance, charisma, voice that this film needs. Apparently, the news about his trip with the film to the Festival in Rotterdam, the single Kioku/Kokoro odoreba, photos, videos related to the release of this movie, even before watching the work itself, made me confident that Shibutani is there in his place. He's really impressive. You want to look at him, you want to listen to him. I can talk a lot about him. And maybe over time I can say even more. But all I have now is an immense respect for this man. And thank you to Yamashita Nobuhiro-san for this opportunity for Shibutani to prove himself so vividly. They did everything.
The protagonist is a small skinny haircut guy in a stretched T-shirt of exorbitant size, baggy pants and flip-flops. On the tortured face there are black eyes, the look of which sometimes becomes creepy. Slouching back and shuffling old man's walk. The image is replaced by silent anxiety, a wandering, almost childish look, looking for answers, aggression, the joy of being in your place. And it's singing that gives you goosebumps. And the harmonica that made me take up this instrument again a few years later.
Many of us are used to the fact that the topic of amnesia often attracts the already common term “Santa Barbara”. This film turned out to be the case when a seemingly obliterated topic does not spit in the eyes with banality. She's in her place. Thanks to such non-trivial plots, we can understand what a person who does not know his past life feels like. He wanders in the dark, trying to cling to everything that seems familiar. It's not memory loss with intrigue, it's memory loss with deep human drama. He's among the people, but he doesn't know who he is. And he has nothing but one song - the only one that for some reason remained in his head after his memory was erased.
The song that led the main character to his new friends, to his new life, turned out to be a link between his past and future. She connected everything human, everything good that he lost on the way to today, and this very moment. She stretched the bridge from childhood to a new life through blood, pain, cruelty and loss. His memory was erased so that he could start with a clean slate, to understand that for him the main thing is to live for friends, music, love, light. He's smiling. He listens to cheers and cheers from the audience and smiles.
But he wouldn't have understood it if it wasn't for Kasumi and all her honest company of fun musicians. A wonderful girl who misses the stars from the sky, but knows the value of music. Nakaido Fumi reminded me of young Miyazaki Aoi. Appearance, manner of play, the spirit of a good actress emanating from her. I think she has a great future in this movie.
A small but strong Kasumi holds in her strong hands a team of healthy men - Akainu, a local Osaka ensemble that performs something similar to Enka. She is cold-blooded, categorical, she is an adult beyond her years. She has four important things in her life, including Akain. There she identifies Pucha (as she called foundasha), seeing that with his voice and ability to sing this important part of her life will become much better. She nurses him and, despite the external coldness, worries for him.
Akainu is a separate topic. This is a company of completely stubborn old guys who have made music their way of life. They're amazing. They remind me of the Bosnian-Serbo band The No Smoking Orchestra, which I love. Grotesque manner of singing, cheerful, winding, colorful music, stubborn dances of backing vocalists. You have to see and hear it.
Together with Kasumi lives a grandfather who represents memory. A decrepit person who keeps in his not quite real reality images of departed dear people and himself is one of those important things that are most expensive in Kasumi’s life.
This movie is filled with life: sorrow, tears, cruelty, with which humor, sarcasm, unrestrained fun, love, friendship and devotion coexist. You probably realized that I was absolutely delighted with this movie. Yeah, I can't find fault with anything. Absolutely nothing. This is a real wonderful musical-dramatic-comedy movie. Everything you need to eat and everything in moderation. This movie should be on your list of preferences if you like the good and the real.