I was just startled after watching the film. The full film was showing the boy's struggle with himself. Theatre is an art form so being a real artist was challenged in days. I was hoping for a good time but then the finishing of the film that gave me a goosebump. I didn't expect this kind of climax. Such a wonderful film must say.
15 Reviews
Great love story
umeshtakesonlife7 August 2020
Theatre: A Love Story movie asks many important questions on life. These questions are presented in a very natural way as the story evolves, mostly in the form of Nagata. Nagata walks in the Tokyo streets for his ideas, for his inspiration, for a story that will make him an acclaimed writer. Saki, on the other hand is a tolerating woman who is growing up in their relationship and doing the right things. Do you accept life? How far are you willing to go to learn the truth? What do you finally settle for? Good questions..
Wonderful acting, progressive women, plenty of brilliance in the story and the direction and a very strong second half that will pull you in. Amazing experience. The ending is strong too but a bit challenging, unexpected and could have been done differently.
Wonderful acting, progressive women, plenty of brilliance in the story and the direction and a very strong second half that will pull you in. Amazing experience. The ending is strong too but a bit challenging, unexpected and could have been done differently.
Theatre
onze-kris8 August 2020
Being on prime the director reaches a wider audience... and I think that is a good thing. But it probably will have a negative impact on the average rating.
The story is solid . It can be a little slow at times but that is the turmoil that is also present in the actors... at the end there is a wonderful explanation by Kento Yamazaki (Nagata) and Mayu Matsuoka (Saki). I try to watch some of the director's other movies as well. Mayu Matsuoka is a star and I 'll continue to look for movies where she has a part in it. Shoplifters was amazing and I am happy to see movies with her reaching a wider audience. She apparently also had a part in love exposure.. So I have to watch that again.
The story is solid . It can be a little slow at times but that is the turmoil that is also present in the actors... at the end there is a wonderful explanation by Kento Yamazaki (Nagata) and Mayu Matsuoka (Saki). I try to watch some of the director's other movies as well. Mayu Matsuoka is a star and I 'll continue to look for movies where she has a part in it. Shoplifters was amazing and I am happy to see movies with her reaching a wider audience. She apparently also had a part in love exposure.. So I have to watch that again.
Daily (Artist) struggle
kosmasp9 October 2021
Are true artists always questioning themselves and their choices? Can you identify a genius because they are not aware of it? I would like to believe that is not the case and I don't like to make general statements if possible. In this case however it seems, that everyone our main character comes in contact with, sees something in him, he himself cannot see.
And then we have his love interest. And she complicates things even further. The inner and outer monologues and dialogs are quite ... weird, but interesting and very well written. Of course some may feel they are not that at all ... you have to decide for yourself, if they touch you or at least invoke some emotion in you.
Drama is not something easy to watch, especially with a main character that seems and feels so passive. But that can also be the one thing that makes this even more enticing to some ... viewers.
And then we have his love interest. And she complicates things even further. The inner and outer monologues and dialogs are quite ... weird, but interesting and very well written. Of course some may feel they are not that at all ... you have to decide for yourself, if they touch you or at least invoke some emotion in you.
Drama is not something easy to watch, especially with a main character that seems and feels so passive. But that can also be the one thing that makes this even more enticing to some ... viewers.
Slow nature of 'Theatre: A Love Story' just significantly overshadows any positives feelings I have for this unfortunately
r96sk6 September 2022
There's much to like about this, though the slowness is severely debilitating.
I ended up digging the story, enjoying the cast and becoming interested in the characters but the extremely slow, one of the slowest paces I've ever seen, nature of 'Theatre: A Love Story' just significantly overshadows any positives feelings I have for this unfortunately.
It's 2hrs 15mins and I felt every single second, by the end I felt like I had just watched a 3hr+ movie. And that sucks, because I came close to enjoying it. Kento Yamazaki and Mayu Matsuoka are very good, I am more than open to seeing more of their respective works.
As I type this my instant thoughts about this 2020 flick are actually positive, but I can't let the pacing issues slide sadly. Worth a watch, despite my feelings I'm not surprised to see others love it - each to their own, as always!
I ended up digging the story, enjoying the cast and becoming interested in the characters but the extremely slow, one of the slowest paces I've ever seen, nature of 'Theatre: A Love Story' just significantly overshadows any positives feelings I have for this unfortunately.
It's 2hrs 15mins and I felt every single second, by the end I felt like I had just watched a 3hr+ movie. And that sucks, because I came close to enjoying it. Kento Yamazaki and Mayu Matsuoka are very good, I am more than open to seeing more of their respective works.
As I type this my instant thoughts about this 2020 flick are actually positive, but I can't let the pacing issues slide sadly. Worth a watch, despite my feelings I'm not surprised to see others love it - each to their own, as always!
Beautiful Story
lucykimikoairi12 August 2020
The best way to draw art, youth, love
highjin21 November 2020
If young people who are struggling to do art today, watch this movie, is it possible to keep tears? It tells the story heartlessly as if throwing them on a cold concrete floor. The fragile love story of those days when we were so weak and coward do not know how to deal with. In some parts, it was like the story of the director himself, and in other parts, I felt like my life was on the theater stage. I would like to express my utmost admiration for this movie that made me such an amazing experience. Obviously one of the best movies of my life.
Good Enough
PennyReviews20 July 2020
" Theater : A Love Story " is an ambitious movie.
Filmed as a theater play and narrated by the main lead, it shows the love but catastrophic relationship between two people who kept the plug on the relationship way too long. And, honestly, their good times were far less than their bad ones. The male lead was self distractive, dragging the girl down with him. The latter could have done better, but, apparently, she just didn't see the harm that she was receiving from him.
So, on that aspect, the movie was great, as it presented a more realistic take on a love story. However, while watching it, it felt like something was missing. Had it be the lack of intimacy between them (they looked more like roommates than lovers), a climax to their toxic relationship, or a burst from the female lead, the whole film felt that it was moving on an andante pace and without a proper introduction or pre-phase to the events that were happening.
That said, the leading lady was hands down, the best thing that the movie had to offer. Not that Kento didn't do a great job in this one, but she was just delightful, emotional, entertaining, relatable, and just amazing when it came to her performance. Also, the ending was brilliant and masterfully handled.
So, overall, five out of ten.
Filmed as a theater play and narrated by the main lead, it shows the love but catastrophic relationship between two people who kept the plug on the relationship way too long. And, honestly, their good times were far less than their bad ones. The male lead was self distractive, dragging the girl down with him. The latter could have done better, but, apparently, she just didn't see the harm that she was receiving from him.
So, on that aspect, the movie was great, as it presented a more realistic take on a love story. However, while watching it, it felt like something was missing. Had it be the lack of intimacy between them (they looked more like roommates than lovers), a climax to their toxic relationship, or a burst from the female lead, the whole film felt that it was moving on an andante pace and without a proper introduction or pre-phase to the events that were happening.
That said, the leading lady was hands down, the best thing that the movie had to offer. Not that Kento didn't do a great job in this one, but she was just delightful, emotional, entertaining, relatable, and just amazing when it came to her performance. Also, the ending was brilliant and masterfully handled.
So, overall, five out of ten.
VULNERABLE AND BEAUTIFUL.
meeratessa25 September 2020
A simple portrait of life
MscRuka195116 August 2020
At first, I was a bit annoyed by the male lead (played by Yamazaki), but then I remembered the context of the story. Sometimes the individual is frustrated with his/her career, is naive, doesn't have too much experience in life, so it's natural for him/her to screw up. It's hard to understand someone when yourself have troubles that you need to work on.
Both Yamazaki and specially Matsuoka done a terrific job in this film. Everyone is not perfect all the time and this film makes it clear. When you're used to watching "more of the same" or movies with certain tropes, you get unaccustomed at first with characters acting like real people, and this film captures that essence with success. Some scenes end abruptly, they lack music, but such is life. The real emotions this film invokes is making the audience put the pieces together in most of those situations. When I finished this film, all I could think about was how everything fit together by the end and I forgot I was watching a film altogether.
I hope this film gets better recognition and more people on Prime give it the attention it deserves.
Both Yamazaki and specially Matsuoka done a terrific job in this film. Everyone is not perfect all the time and this film makes it clear. When you're used to watching "more of the same" or movies with certain tropes, you get unaccustomed at first with characters acting like real people, and this film captures that essence with success. Some scenes end abruptly, they lack music, but such is life. The real emotions this film invokes is making the audience put the pieces together in most of those situations. When I finished this film, all I could think about was how everything fit together by the end and I forgot I was watching a film altogether.
I hope this film gets better recognition and more people on Prime give it the attention it deserves.
Beautiful and Sad
dinastha1 September 2020
Emotionally Rich and Beautiful Movie
yiuleungf8 May 2021
It's a really good movie. The feeling is strong and the story is beautiful from beginning to end. No matter how bad the guy performed in his life, his girlfriend still selflessly supports him. He did many things to hurt her until her heart is completely broken. As others have said, the ending is surprising.
A Hidden Gem
afrinbutterfield8 September 2021
AMAZING
monalizasolibet15 July 2021
Really liked this film
qtm533 October 2021
I've watched this twice, and will probably watch again because I love Japanese films, and this is such a good one.
The characters are complex, their issues are complex, even though it's tempting to label a bad guy, you really can't. They're vulnerable people dealing with issues that are hard to get a handle on.
The characters are complex, their issues are complex, even though it's tempting to label a bad guy, you really can't. They're vulnerable people dealing with issues that are hard to get a handle on.
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