As we mentioned before, during the various lockdowns imposed during the pandemic, a number of “quarantine movies” were shot, essentially films that tried to function despite the restrictions. As time passed and the restrictions lifted, a new type of movie seems to be on the rise, the post-quarantine one, featuring people that are not bound in their homes, but still have to follow particular measures, especially wearing masks. Masaya Tsutsumi presents such a title, also juxtaposing with the concept of One Coin English Cafe, gatherings where participants can casually enjoy English conversation for a small price.
In Another Language is streaming on TodoiF
Miki is one of those people attending, who sees, however, the whole thing as a game, lying about her work and background while participating, perhaps to satisfy her need for approval, while enjoying the perks of anonymity. Kenji is a young actor who plans to work in the US but cannot, due to travel restrictions. The two of them hit it off in one of the meetings, with Miki eventually coming clean about her “tricks” to him, and him eventually agreeing to continue her game, visiting English conversation cafes and acting like different people. They also agree to two rules, “Stay out of each other's life,” and “Don't lie in Japanese.” As time passes and they spend more time together though, things become more complicated.
Despite the fact that having Japanese talking in English for so long may seem strange to many (the subs here help quite a lot), Masaya Tsutsumi's work leaves a rather pleasant aftertaste. To begin with, the comment about the need of people to connect, even if in unusual ways as in the case of Miki, is highlighted throughout the movie, and presented in a highly entertaining and playful fashion, through the pretenses of the two protagonists. Particularly one of the meetings with a rather cheerful member of the One Coin is quite fun to watch, due to his excessiveness and the ways the two protagonists react to it.
Another trait is the “will they, won't they” aspect, with Tsutsumi presenting two people who obviously enjoy each other's company, but are not exactly free to pursue something more, or are certain about their feelings. When the balance eventually changes, though, the clash is inevitable, although Tsutsumi keeps things light and realistic, even in this case. This approach, that shows particular difficulties without going into (over) dramatic tones, is a testament to the quality of the direction, with the ending cementing it in the best fashion.
Makoto Kikuchi as Miki gives a pleasantly cheeky performance, while Kosuke Fujita as Kenji presents convincingly a man who allows a girl to lead him in paths he had not taken before. The chemistry of the two is great here, intensified by their measured performances. Also of note is the cinematography here, with the night shots in particular being quite appealing to watch
Despite the issue with “too much English”, 49-minute long “In Another Language” remains a rather easy and pleasant to watch movie, in a different type of romantic comedy.
