Based on novel “Kyo no Sora ga Ichiban Suki, to Mada Ienai Boku wa” by Shusuke Fukutoku, Akiko Ooku‘s latest feature “She Taught me Serendipity” is a tale of youth love, which is eventually revealed as something completely different.
She Taught Me Serendipity is screening at Tokyo International Film Festival
Toru Konishi, a university student, is leading a rather unremarkable life in campus, having only one friend, Yamane, and no kind of romantic connection. One day, however, he is captivated by Hana Sakurada, a girl with a bun hairstyle, who also seems to be by herself at all times. After mustering the courage to speak to her, they quickly connect through a serious of common issues, and particularly how their loss (him of his grandfather, her of her father) has shaped their current, somewhat anti-social persona. During their conversations, Hana expresses a desire to enjoy each day, saying, “I want to think that today’s sky is the best,” which deeply resonates with Toru as it echoes words from his late grandmother. At the same time, at the public bath he is working in, he has a female colleague named Sacchan, with the two having a nice and easy set of interactions through their common shifts. Soon, however, something rather unexpected happens.
Akiko Ooku directs a film that is split in two very distinct parts. The first one is essentially a youth romance of two quirky individuals, one of the many that come from the Japanese movie industry. The second part, with the confession functioning as a dichotomy, is much darker, and eventually leads to dramatic paths that would be difficult to be guessed considering how ‘bright and shiny” the first part is. It is this change, which actually extends to all cinematic aspects of the movie (cinematography, lighting even acting) that makes the movie stand completely out, as it allows it to move away from the cliches of the first part (the scene in the aquarium for example) and to transform into something completely different.
Especially the way love is presented here, as something that completely breaks people down, is impressive to watch and rather impactful, with the way it affects Tohru in particular, but also a number of people around him, being probably the best trait of the movie. In that regard, it is also easy to say that the rather dark confession scene, and the confronting in the public bath that follows a bit later, are the most memorable in the movie, and rather indicative of the tonal and cinematic shift mentioned before.
In the same path, and this time throughout the movie, Ooku implements some “tricks” that definitely add a flair to the movie. Split screens, movement speed manipulation, the title appearing at around the 90th minute of the movie, and the way umbrellas are implemented all highlight an effort at innovation that works particularly well here. As such, it is easy to say that DP Natsuya Nakamura’s work here is of the highest caliber, with the visual in general being impressive throughout.
Furthermore, the way and time the twist is implemented in the film is another of the film’s big traits, with the overall competent job in the editing finding its apogee here. Of course, some lagging does exist as usual, and the fact is that the music sequences seem forced in the movie, not having any particular purpose apart, probably, from some kind of promotion. Particularly the ending could definitely been tighter, in an issue though, that just briefly harms a film that leaves a particularly good ‘aftertaste’, while Yuumi Kawai‘s monologue, even if somewhat too long, is definitely among the highlights of the film.
Check the interview with the director
Regarding the acting, all actors give memorable performances. The way Riku Hagiwara‘s Toru and Yuumi Kawai’s Sakurada change through their interactions is impressive to watch, particularly because it actually happens two times. Their chemistry is quite good also. Aoi Ito as Sacchan has a smaller part, but the confession scene definitely steals the show.
Although some of the inherent issues of contemporary Japanese cinema can be found here, “She Taught Me Serendipity” emerges as film that definitely manages to stand out, particularly due to its story and the overall directorial approach.
