"Balance is key."
On a technical level, the film is flawless, but story wise it needed a little more work. I particularly loved how Hamaguchi incorporates 'pillow-shots' in his film. 'Pillow-shots' have a de-centering effect when the camera focuses for a moment, often a long one, on some inanimate aspect of man's environment. It perfectly captures the stillness of the scene, making for a calm and soothing viewing experience. While watching the movie, it becomes apparent that Ryusuke Hamaguchi was inspired by Yasujiro Ozu's signature style. The film touches upon the man vs. Nature conflict through a different lens. The ending of the film will surely leave the audience speechless and in disarray. It will prompt conversations way after the credits. To sum up: stylistically the film is a 10, but story wise it's a 7. And don't get me started on the film's atmospheric score that transports the viewer to the beautiful Japanese countryside (aka 'inaka').
Final verdict: 7.5/10.
On a technical level, the film is flawless, but story wise it needed a little more work. I particularly loved how Hamaguchi incorporates 'pillow-shots' in his film. 'Pillow-shots' have a de-centering effect when the camera focuses for a moment, often a long one, on some inanimate aspect of man's environment. It perfectly captures the stillness of the scene, making for a calm and soothing viewing experience. While watching the movie, it becomes apparent that Ryusuke Hamaguchi was inspired by Yasujiro Ozu's signature style. The film touches upon the man vs. Nature conflict through a different lens. The ending of the film will surely leave the audience speechless and in disarray. It will prompt conversations way after the credits. To sum up: stylistically the film is a 10, but story wise it's a 7. And don't get me started on the film's atmospheric score that transports the viewer to the beautiful Japanese countryside (aka 'inaka').
Final verdict: 7.5/10.