Following his extensive cinematic adventures in Vietnam, Ken Ochiai returned to filmmaking in Japan in the last few years. After an omnibus (Angel Sign) and a feature (Bite Size Halloween) he has now come up with a short that deals with issues of LGBT and the concept of following your dreams.
Strange is screening at Short Shorts Film Festival and Asia
Odeko is a young student who is struggling in his life, particularly since his conservative mother cannot understand that he is different that the norm, although, surprisingly, what he wants is to deal with numbers and calculus, instead of doing extracurricular activities. One evening, the shy high school student stumbles upon Kuma, who is dressed in drag, in a park. The two connect immediately, starting to share their dreams and communicating in a way neither seems to have experienced before. Gradually, Odeko manages to overcome his timidity and talk to his mother, while Kuma finds someone to listen to her and even pay a compliment.
Ken Ochiai directs a very intelligent 15-minute-short, particularly because he manages to avoid all the cliche reefs that such a story could entail. In that fashion, there is no romantic association between the two protagonists, the young boy does not want to become an artist but an accountant, while Kuma does not become a victim of violence, even if some verbal notions of it do exist.
The comments Ochiai expresses through his film are also quite interesting. The generational gap that shows that parents do not understand their children is here once more, but the movie shows that communication is the solution to such a problem. In order for communication to begin, however, people and particularly children have to be able to find the courage to open up and speak frankly, and finding role models and friends is the way to achieve this. Furthermore, the need for acceptance all people need on occasion as much as how far a compliment can go are also commented upon, concluding the rather rich context here. Lastly, a subtle sense of humor adds even more to the entertainment the film offers.
The cinematography is also on a very high level, with the night scenes in particular being impressive, and the swing scenes definitely staying on mind. The antithesis with the bright and shiny ending scene also works well. The editing results in a relatively fast tempo that suits the overall aesthetics nicely, while the up tempo pop/rock music is a perfect fit.
Araki Towa as Odeko is quite convincing in his kind-heartedness, timidity and inner struggle, with the scenes where he “confronts” his mother and the one he pays the compliments being the highlights of his performance. Durian Lollobrigida as Kuma also gives a realistic, measured performance, with the slight differences between his drag and non-drag persona being well communicated. Hono Miyabe as Odeko's mother is also good in the role of the “villain”.
Through Ken Ochiai's intelligent and nuanced storytelling, “Strange” celebrates dιversity, communication, friendship, and the transformative power of connection through a rather sensitive and entertaining approach.
