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Reviews
Two Strangers Who Meet Five Times (2017)
good depicted
This is a short film released in 2007. This story is about two men, who happen to encounter each other five times in their lives. They are strangers to each other, but they meet at a crucial moment, a turning point in their lives.
The film is not depicted in a usual order but in a special order: it begins with the scene where they meet for the second time, and after depicts their third and fourth meetings. Then, the first meeting is depicted, and the fifth meeting are depicted in the end. I thought the change in the order of meeting is effective. They were compassionate as children, but later their arrogance and resentment sometimes showed. However, at times they helped each other, and at their fifth meeting, we surely know how much they care for each other. I think it is a heartwarming film, and I like it.
The Lunch Date (1989)
good metaphor
This is a short film released in 1989. While a lady leaves her seat for a
moment, a black man sits down in her seat and eats her salad. She is upset
at first, but then begins to eat the salad with the man. She leaves first,
but forgets her bag, and when she returns to the restaurant, she realizes
something. The story is a very simple, but it is a satire on race relations
at the same time. For example, what if the man sitting at the table is a
white man? I think she would have reconsidered if it was the right seat for
her. I think she thought he was stealing and eating her salad because he
was black. Furthermore, another black man begged her for money soon after
she realized her mistake. However, she does not pay any attention to him
and gets on the train. I think it implies that she is a racist, and her
ideology will never change. This film can be evaluated as an interesting
story and a reflection of reality at the same time.
Born with It (2015)
reality and cruelty about racism
This is a short film released in 2015. One day, a black boy named Keisuke
moves into a rural school. Students assume he has AIDS as soon as they see
him, and Keisuke is kept at a distance from the others. At first, he stays
in his shell, but...
I think the title of this film, Born with it, contains an important
meaning. I strongly felt the concept of racialization. It means that the
race of birth is unfairly linked with disease. The story clearly shows that
AIDS has no relation to black people. However, at the same time, it depicts
the reality that this kind of discrimination actually exists. I feel the cruelty and reality of this film is most apparent in these depictions.
Also, the story ends with a description of Keisuke trying to confront the
students. It is not shown whether he was able to get along well with the
students, but I believe that they accepted him.
Three Days in Kamakura (2012)
effectively metaphors
This is a short film released in 2012. A couple, David and Keiko, do not
have children for some reason. David works at a nursery school. One day, a
mother does not show up to pick her son up, so David takes him home. The
couple tries to raise him in place of his parents, but...
The point of this film is that metaphors are used in the scenes. For
example, a scene showing the surgical wound on his wife's stomach in the
bathroom implies that the couple cannot have children. This scene effectively represent the background of the characters as something that
can be known without the use of dialogue. This movie was very interesting
as it contained various important problems. The camera work is authentic,
and I like this film.
J'attendrai le suivant... (2002)
good facial expression and dialogue
This is a short film released in 2002. One man calls out that he is looking
for a marriage partner in the subway. The main character is attracted by
his passionate words. The man tells passengers to get off the train at the
next station if anyone is interested in him, and the woman gets off, but...
The interesting point of this film is that the man has dialogue, but the
main woman character is not given any lines. The men talk a lot, but
audiences do not know what they are planning until the end, but we can know what the woman is feeling without dialogue. I think that the point of this film is the richness of the woman's facial expression. At first, she looks
suspicious with a serious face, but gradually her expression becomes more
and more expressive. When she gets off the train, she has a big smile on
her face. This is the best representation of her changing emotions.
Knick Knack (1989)
Great CG technology
This is a short film released in 1989. It was made six years before TOY
STORY was released. A snowman in a snow globe tries to escape somehow. He succeeds in escaping when he falls from a shelf, but...
This film uses CG technology which was still rare at that time. This film
is a pioneer to the CG technology used in later Pixar films, so I think
that it is an important short film in film history. The subsequently
released film (TOY STORY) is the first full-length animated feature film in
full CG. The characters move smoothly, and the work can be viewed without
stress. The story is very simple and even young children can enjoy watching
it. I think that the ending may divide opinions on whether it is a happy or
a sad ending. I like happy endings, and I feel that this film is a happy
ending. I like it.
Whacked (1998)
It is thrilling, but interesting film
This is a short film released in 1998. It begins with a scene of injured
people being carried against a backdrop of sirens. Then, it switches to a
scene of a man collecting golf balls at a driving range, and as the second
half of the story progresses, the reason for the carrying is revealed. The
film is in black-and-white and there is no dialogue in this film. The
structure of the ending scene at the beginning is very interesting, because
it makes the audience think of many questions at first, such as why they
are being carried, and whether they survived afterwards.
Also, I think that the title is appropriate for the film. One meaning of
'whacked' is a person who is high on drugs. We can notice the main
character is 'whacked' and can anticipate how the story will unfold. From
these points of view, 'whacked' is a fresh narrative structure. It is a
shocking film, but it can be interesting as a thriller. I recommend it.
A Moment (2012)
It is appealed from the screen.
This is a short film released in 2012. It is about each life of four
people who experienced the same suffering on March 11th, 2011. Their
circumstances are different from each other, but they connect their hearts
during a minute of praying in silence. There is no dialogue at all, but the
images strongly reflect the emotions of the characters. Their expressions
and gestures express their loneliness and negative emotions. Especially, I
was impressed by the scene of praying in silence. This scene shows each
person closing their eyes and praying in the city. They are all strangers,
but I feel as if they are connected to each other. Also, the structure of
this story is very original. It is based on the Great East Japan
Earthquake, but the theme does not appear until the clock is shown in the
middle of the story. The audience will be shocked when viewers realize this
theme. It is worth seeing this film.
Lifted (2006)
Unique and heartful film.
This is a short SF film released in 2006. A young alien and his examiner
try to abduct a man sleeping in the house. The young alien cannot operate
many switches well and makes many mistakes. Eventually, they destroy the
house. Does the man survive?
It is a short and simple story, but we can enjoy it because there is
consistency to their behavior. The young alien makes a mistake in the
middle of the story, which foreshadows the big mistake in the ending. It
has an effect of making the audience feel uneasy. It is gripping and
well-formed.
This film uses CG technology, so the images are realistic, and the audience
can imagine that a spaceship has actually come near their house. There is
no dialogue in this film, but the music, sound effects and images allow the
audience to get into the story.
With these points, I think that the audience will enjoy the film. Also, the
story is easy to understand and interesting, so people of all ages can
enjoy it.