Taraparain
Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.
Kodie Bird
True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.
Alison
Shortly after a young man is released from prison, where he has served 18 months for assault, he is set upon by a gang of thugs who beat him up and leave him in the road. Upon awakening, the man doesn't remember anything, not even who he is - he has retrograde amnesia. He wanders the city and eventually stumbles upon an outdoor concert; without knowing why, he grabs the mic from the singer and bursts into his own rendition of a famous J-pop song. Then he passes out. Kasumi, the band's manager, takes him home and decides that she wants him to be part of the band, which the young man, nicknamed "Pooch" by Kasumi, is eager to do. But sooner or later his memory will return, and that could be dangerous for both of them....This is a strange mixture of J-pop (there's a LOT of music in it) and gangster-type violence, with funny moments and scenes of tenderness between the two leads, who you sort of hope will get together in the end. A couple of late scenes are very confusing - how could Kasumi and her grandfather know *that*? - but if you leave that confusion alone, it's a pretty enjoyable film. I liked all the J-pop, a type of music with very odd lyrics; I hated the many scenes of people eating, but that's just my neurosis. Others would also like this movie, I think, even if it is a bit confusing.
