Third feature by Anshul Chauhan, “December” is easy to say that is his most accomplished work yet.
“December” is screening at Udine Far East Film Festival
Seven years ago, a high school student was killed by a classmate, with the perpetrator, Kana, ending up in prison after a trial that convicted her as an adult and not as a juvenile, despite her age. The parents of the deceased were devastated, ending up divorcing, with the husband, Katsu, abandoning his work as an author and becoming an alcoholic, and the wife, Sumiko, eventually ending up marrying a man she met in a support group about people who have lost their children. As the story begins, an ambitious lawyer who is even planning on suing the state for the unfairness of the trial, convinces Kana to appeal for a reduced sentence. An aggravated Katsu revisits Sumiko after years, and convinces her to attend the trial, in an effort to prevent the murderer from getting out. As the trial proceeds, a number of revelations come to the fore, while the relationship of the two ex-spouse also undergoes a number of transformations.
Anshul Chauhan directs a film, based on a Rand Colter and Mina Moteki's script, that is a courtroom drama at its core, but also manages to move in a number of different, quite interesting directions. In that fashion, probably the most appealing aspect of the movie is its characters and their interactions. Katsu's inability to move on, and his downward spiral after his daughter's death is one of the most impactful elements here, as much as the fact that his only raison d'etre is making sure that Kana is never free. Sumiko, in contrast to her ex-husband, has managed to move forward and start her life again, but finds herself drawn into what happened seven years ago through Katsu, a decision that has many consequences in her life. The way the time they spend together changes the two of them, in almost complete antithesis, is another great trait of the movie, with the sum of all the above owing much to the great performances by Shogen and MEGUMI respectively, and their great chemistry throughout the movie.
Kana is also a very interesting character in the way she harbors her grief for her crime, but is also tormented by the reasons that led her to it. The way she is both regretful and resolved in getting out of prison is another great antithesis here, benefiting the most by Ryo Matsuura's acting, which finds its apogee in her averting eyes during the trial and her interactions with Katsu and Sumiko Lastly, Toru Kizo as Sato is a great “villain”, particularly in the way he is trying to do the right thing for Kana, but also benefiting the most by the whole case, in yet another antithesis of the story.
Through the thorough presentations of all the above, Chauhan manages to communicate a number of sociophilosophical comments. Grief, and the different ways people deal with it, revenge, forgiveness, redemption, bullying and the whole concept of juvenile offenders which is also connected with the crime and punishment concept are all examined here, in a way, though, that feels rather organic, in probably the most difficult feat of Chauhan's excellent direction. Furthermore, the way the trial scenes are both the base but also the “trigger” for all the aforementioned, works excellently for the narrative, additionally because the court sequences are quite tense and captivating on occasion. Lastly, the ending is equally great, in an aspect that is not exactly common in Japanese cinema, with Chauhan finishing his film exactly where he should, and in probably the most visually impressive scene in the whole film.
Talking about visuals, Petter Moen Jensen's cinematography is excellent throughout, with the framing of the many one-on-ones, and the ones in prison in particular being among the most memorable scenes here. Chauhan's own editing induced the film with a relatively fast pace that suits its overall context nicely, while the switching from trial to non-trial scenes is ideal, as much as the timing of the various revelations.
“December” is an excellent film that works on a number of levels and definitely Chauhan's best as of yet.
