Sawako and Toshio are a manga artist power couple. When Sawako's mother is in need of help, they have to relocate and things start to change. In the new environment, the women's imagination is sparked by a driving instructor, who does not only liberates her from driving phobia, but also from her frail relationship.
“Sensei, Would You Sit Beside Me?” is screening at New York Asian Film Festival
Takahiro Horie's (“Hurt” 2016) second feature film is part of the Tsutaya Creators' Program and features Haru Kuroki (“A Bride For Rip van Winkle” 2016) and Tasuku Emoto (“And Your Bird Can Sing” 2018) as the lead actors. Both are prominent faces of the current Japanese cinema and always a secure choice when it comes to realistic drama. The screen presence of the couple is one of the more positive aspects of the film, though.
“Sensei, Would You Sit Beside Me?” begins with a good pacing and promising outline. A Hollywood-like orchestral soundtrack builds up a lively atmosphere that fits the editing. The storytelling is separated into different episodes, which gives you the impression of a diverse plot. But the vivid presentation loses its appeal when the driving instructor named Shintani enters the stage. It becomes clear that the relationship between Sawako and Toshio is doomed, but the story denies a dramatic confrontation.
Furthermore, the figure of the instructor is very shallow and unfortunately, Daichi Kaneko fails to tie in with his outstanding performance from “Colorless” (2019). In the course of the film, fiction and reality are mixed together and Toshio fears that his affair with the editor Chika is about to be revealed as he discovers similarities between Sawako's new ideas for her adult manga script and his real-life actions. He becomes more and more paranoid, pursues her, and has to confess finally.
Halfway in, the movie becomes sketchy and falls for the often seen trap of the romantic drama genre – indecisiveness. As the draft for the couple's new manga turns more and more into a diary of the female lead, Toshio struggles to confess to his wife. Sawako gains confidence by the lessons that she gets from Shintani and in the end, both are able to face reality. Happy End? Let's see..(no spoiler)
The director's idea to funnel a couples therapy into the creative process of a manga is an interesting one. Besides the good cinematography and an outstanding soundtrack, “Sensei, Would You Sit Beside Me?” misses a healthy amount of sobriety. Horie tries to please everyone with this film and kind of loses sight of his characters. Incoherent motifs and weak supporting actors diminish a great outline as well as the good performance of the two lead actors.
