Village (2023)

Wonderfully slow Japanese film that will not appeal to everyone, I think, but I thought it was a very beautiful film, also because of the beautiful performances by Kuroki and Yokohama. Even if you are having a very difficult time in life and it seems that everyone is against you, love can suddenly give you wings and you will gain a lot more self-confidence...

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Nice.

Also a very good film for people who are not yet familiar with Japanese dramas, as it is slightly less slow and there are some thriller elements to spice things up. The two hours pass fairly quickly, something that dares to be different.

It is also clear that rural Japanese villages are under pressure, it is a theme that is becoming increasingly common these days. Follow the Light took a slightly more light-hearted and frivolous approach, this film is slightly less rosy. Be careful, because it is a story in two parts, with a fairly large time jump in the middle. Normally not really my thing, but for once I didn't find it disturbing.

Furthermore, visually very neat, the Noh theater is also very nicely incorporated into the drama (thanks to the soundtrack), the acting is also good and the setting is atmospheric. It doesn't really get anywhere exceptional, just one of those films where the quality is consistently high from start to finish.

4.0* and an extensive review

Translated from Dutch · View original