Filmmaking unit Shidoromodori has released their latest feature film, “Sumiko 22”. The movie stars Haruna Hori in her first film role in quite some time. Before this, Shidoromodori frequently made shorts that were uploaded to their official YouTube channel, mostly comedy-centered. For “Sumiko 22,” the general humor captured in their shorts is now implemented in a feature-length movie, primarily following a central character based on the director's experiences. While there's a good idea here for an indie flick, the results are stale.
Sumiko 22 is screening at Osaka Asian Film Festival
22-year-old Sumiko Shizuoka is an introvert who has just left her previous job and struggles internally. To try and recalibrate her sense of self as she settles into her new job, she spends her days focusing on things most important to her, whether it be self-analysis, favorite foods, her cat Okage, or connecting with her friends. Through this series of vignettes, she gradually strengthens her life back together.
“Sumiko 22” is a very familiar type of movie, yet familiarity doesn't stop a film from being good. There's potential here with a simple slice-of-life premise of overcoming a lack of self-worth in young adulthood conveyed through light-hearted, dry humor. Yet, everything from the direction to the writing, feels very artificial. It seeks to amuse with its various comedic vignettes, yet it isn't funny. There is the drive to invoke reliability, yet Sumiko is a bland character to follow, a shallow caricature of a struggling young adult. Drama is occasionally inserted to emit an emotional response for overcoming personal struggles, yet it feels contrived.
The acting is quite good, yet no one feels like a person due to the poor script and lackluster direction. Haruna Hori does her best with the material given, yet it still doesn't fix the issue that Sumiko is not an interesting character. Even with her highlighted interests, we feel like we barely got to know this person by the end of a story, where we are supposed to be invested in her emotional self-worth. All the other characters she interacts with are just as bland, and the conversations feel more like watching the actors merely read their lines without any sense of authenticity.
Technically, “Sumiko 22” is competently made. It's shot well, with Motohiko Nakamura's framing reminiscent of classic Japanese filmmaking. The music score by Gorillamasturies is fine enough, intended to highlight the light-hearted tone the director aims to present.
“Sumiko 22” aims to amuse and invoke relatability but is unsuccessful. The people involved are talented, and Haruna Hori gives a solid performance, but the writing needed to be stronger to engage and entertain. Even clocking in just an hour, the film drags, and by the conclusion, the overall experience is unsatisfactory. If Fukuoka intended to capture that feeling of young adulthood with its main character, it didn't quite land.
