Guzen to Sozo (2021)
Genre: Drama / Romance
Duration: 121 minuten
Alternative titles: Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy / 偶然と想像
Country:
Japan
Directed by: Ryûsuke Hamaguchi
Stars: Kotone Furukawa, Kiyohiko Shibukawa and Hyunri
IMDb score:
7,5 (11.212)
Releasedate: 11 April 2021
Guzen to Sozo plot
Triptych about how people are brought together by chance. In the first story, Meiko is shocked to discover that the man her best friend has feelings for is her own ex. In the second story, Sasaki comes up with a plan to get revenge on a teacher, using his classmate Nao to do it. In the third and final part, Natsuko meets a woman with whom she shares a past.
Reviews & comments
De filosoof
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- 2487 messages
- 1698 votes
Brilliant and warm film by Hamaguchi that I liked even better than the Oscar-winning Doraibu Mai Kâ (Drive My Car). The fact that this film doesn't get that much attention has to do with the fact that the film is not so cinematographic: there are only the masterful stories and the strong acting, so that it could have been a play or even stories in a book. But the stories are so strong with dialogues that touch every nuance and that typify the core of being human so much that I think it's one of the best films of recent years. The series of brilliant stories, connected by a theme, are reminiscent of Relatos Salvajes in that respect, but the theme here is not revenge but love, the intelligent conversation and meditation on which is reminiscent of Linklater's Before trilogy.
Each story has its own motifs, but also universal motifs such as wayward women and the interaction between fate and chance as well as between word and experience. The titles of the three stories pretty much say what they are about with the first exploring the magic of love with the sub-theme of jealousy, the second seduction with the sub-theme of self-worth and the third exploring desire with the sub-theme of identity. The fact that they are expressed in original, surprising stories and fascinating, crackling dialogues makes the film a monument to love as the heart of man.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Fisico
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- 10039 messages
- 5398 votes
After Hamaguchi's Drive my car I was curious about this film from his hand that was released in the same year. Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy is a triptych of three separate stories that are separate from each other. The encounters always seem to set something in motion. It is also striking how Japanese culture always comes to the fore very strongly. That reserve and politeness on the one hand that goes hand in hand with being direct and straightforward.
The acting and the dialogues are good, if you pay so much attention to it. Might come across as a bit boring, but I found it quite entertaining. I do like Japanese culture and always find details that as a Westerner I find fascinating and remarkable.
There is not really a story that stands out for me, but I found the first story the most intriguing with the climax inevitable, but also the second story, which was somewhat erotic, led to an awkward event between the renowned pro and young student. I didn't like the last story, but certainly not bad.
Translated from Dutch · View original
eRCee
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- 13449 messages
- 1981 votes
Hamaguchi is a filmmaker who has something to say and knows how to say it. Bergman indeed, I had to think about that too, although more in the approach than what actually happens and is discussed between the characters (although, Tystnaden...). The beautiful lighting and the subdued sound design, with a suitable Schumann, it was beautiful. However, unlike Drive my car, there are some moments where you wonder how long the movie has been going on.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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