Everyone of us dreads the moment when we hear the news we may not have the amount of time on earth we thought we had. Even though we will all have to face this day at some point in our lives, it is something we likely keep distant from ourselves and those around us, making it a taboo topic. However, once the knowledge is there, it brings about a change linked to us thinking back on our lives and maybe even regretting some of the events and decisions that turned us into the person we are. In his new feature “Dreaming in Between”, actor and director Ryutaro Ninomiya tells us the story of a man who, after having heard the news he does not have many years left, goes through a period of change. The feature, which premiered at Cannes Film Festival last year, deals with a topic we have seen in many features before, but Ninomiya manages to capture the human angle, resulting in a very honest and relatable movie.
Dreaming in Between is screening at Nippon Connection
Shuhei Suenaga (Ken Mitsuishi) is the vice principal at his school in Kyushu. He has heard some troubling news about his health, causing him to drastically rethink his persona, the way he talks to his family, but also his students and colleagues. His daughter Yuma (Haruka Kudo) and his wife Akiko (Maki Sakai) are first estranged and then shocked to find Shuhei changed as he tries his best to be nice by, for example, taking a sudden interest in Yuma’s job or wanting to be more romantic with Akiko. He also visits his old friend Keiji (Yutaka Matsuhige), who has not seen him for years and who quickly notices something about this character change seems forced and unnatural.
At the school, Shuhei continues his daily routine, his meetings with the principal and cleaning up cigarette butts students have left behind. However, his change does not go unnoticed with everyone, as his former student Minami (Miyu Yoshimoto), a server at a restaurant he goes to often, confronts him. The encounter turns into a confrontation with Shuhei’s past as he must face the reality that he cannot undo or change what he has done before, or heal the emotional wounds he has caused within others.
The premise of “Dreaming in Between” could have easily served as the foundation of a tear-jerking drama which many of us have probably seen more than once. However, Ninomiya thankfully goes a different route right from the start, focusing on the struggle of the main character without him actually naming what his condition is or, more precisely, what has caused his sudden change. The episodes with his family, friends and students have a distinct comical quality to them as we observe how awkward and uncomfortable Shuhei is with certain statement or gestures, which is mirrored in the reactions of the people he is talking to. While the comedic elements are present to some extent, Ninomiya emphasizes the desperation of the main character who needs to find clarity, perhaps even absolution in some way, for some of the things he said and did. Ultimately, the rejection he experiences frustrates and hurts, him and the audience alike, making his story quite touching without being corny.
Check the interview with the director
However, the fact “Dreaming in Between” has this effect on the viewer is mostly achieved through the performances of the cast. Ken Mitsuisihi as Shuhei manages to walk a fine line, portraying a person who did not mind his words and actions for a large part of his life and now does. Unfortunately, his past actions begin to haunt him, as he is confronted with them whenever he tries to change his ways, for example, by showing an interest in his daughter’s workplace. Even though the narrative focus is on his character, Miyu Yoshimoto as Minami is quite the scene-stealer as a young woman who has had enough of the empty phrases of people above her and is quite frank when she notices someone not being themselves or relying to much on these phrases.
“Dreaming in Between” is a touching and very relatable drama about an attempt to change your ways as your time is running out. Ryutaro Ninomiya creates a feature which does not need to mention what is going on precisely, as he cleverly relies on his excellent cast and their emotional intelligence.
