Close-Knit (2017)

I adored this film - the story was very well put together and I liked the plotline which was very different (and very welcome because of it). Much kudos has to go to Ikuta Toma who was wonderful as Rinko. He really was completely believable as a male to female transgender and I adored Rinko so much. Ikuta and Kiritani Kenta (who played Makio) worked really well together - they were a completely believable couple and had you rooting for them and Maiko's niece..

The music was okay; nothing special or memorable but not horrible either. But the rewatch value, for me at least, is very high. I liked it so much - just not the ending; I really wanted it to be just a slight little bit different to make it happier for everyone - but it still raised a smile. However, that's why it wasn't a 10 overall for me.

This are my scores -
Story - 9.5/10
Acting/Cast - 10/10 (especially Ikuta Toma, who wound the dial all the way to 11)
Music - 5/10
Rewatch Value - 10/10
Overall -- 9.5/10 (just because of the ending).

Leggi di Più

Touching, progressive and informative

This movie is the type to shoot an arrow straight thru the heart, some people will watch this and think, oh a story about the struggles of a person with a trans identity, and do not get me wrong it does show a pretty clear depiction of the day to day struggles as well as part of the journey of a trans woman, the strength in this movie is its portrayal of motherhood and family as no one seemed to react when Tomo was living with her negligent, slightly alcoholic biological mother but put her together with a trans woman and suddenly people seem to care...

I loved the family moments, the struggles the over protective mother and the great palett of motherhood showed here, what makes a good mother? what makes a family? I also loved how it showed realistic ways to deal with life outside the norm as well how relatable the characters are.

The show does a great job showing both the struggles and pain a child may face due to grownups %&€%#& €%#%#% "€("€("#B"##€="#€"€("=#(%"(%". Including neglect, bullying and loss of strength to live without neglecting the strong hold parents have on their children.

I am a little bit disappointed they casted a cis man as Rinko, he did do a good job portraying her but it would have been better if a tans woman or woman would have been casted to play this role. However I do not know much about the industry in Japan but in a better wold that will be done.

I have seen that some people complained about the obsession with boobs, however I think those matter more than many people think as they are clear markers and what most people notice first. "Imagine being a girl but never getting boobs".

I also love the humour here and there, there is a lot of funny kick up moments, family fun and so much love in this movie it is hard not to fall for the characters.

Definitely a movie I strongly recommend to all...

Story that needs to be told: 10
Bring out your anger towards society: 10
Family: 10
Exitment: medium

Leggi di Più

Male Actor Playing a Transgender Woman

This movie was so cute and sweet, but as a queer person I can't help but hate the fact that a cisgender male is playing a physically transitioned transgender woman.
I understand that it's sometimes difficult to cast trans actors, but in that case, they should have hired a cisgender woman to play Rinko. Despite the hidden transphobia in the casting of Rinko, Ikuta Toma did do an amazing job portraying her.
As often LGBTQ+ films do, this movie is no fail to the trope of trying to show queer people they can't have happy endings.

All it's faults aside, this movie is an incredible, understated, gem. I'd recommend anyone to watch it, and look further into the lives of trans people, and the everyday struggles of passive aggressive discrimination we face.

Leggi di Più

have to say watching this movie especially with that ending, feel really depressed - yeah very realistic and true to life, but in this case i would've loved if we got an escapist ending - something better then reality - as is the whole movie was chalk filled with character's that were hurt, hurting either themselves or someone else. yeah again very true to life, and yet cause of the "ugly" / brutal reality the ending should've been fanciful... but it is what it is -

before anything i get why people would love Rinko's mother (especially when u get to see the exactly opposite dynamic with Kai, his mother and his surrounding's), but she a tactless moron! i'm all for how she supported her son/daughter - at least at home Rinko had a safe haven cause of Fumiko. but u don't run all over people, just cause u have a misguided need to protect ur child - especially when that child aint a child and can fend and defend themselves - certainly not against an 11 yr old (that has more then enough on her plate) let alone the man ur daughter ended up with - her laughing and announcing "...Rinko lucked out with Makio..." (considering she more or less doesn't have in-laws to deal with) was revolting to witness, and the only thing in my mind at that sec was STFU - like with her intrusively asking a child, about her boob growth - like i said, tactless and utterly moronic ugh

everything else - was sad and sweet - bitter sweet if u will - Tomo didn't have a mother - a woman that even when she was around - wasn't really there for her child, as opposed to a woman that the sec Tomo walked into her life, she was her soul focus - ironic that the "child protective services" came to check on Tomo's living situation, when she was surrounded by love and care - while they (and the surrounding do-gooders, ironic that b*tch that pushed her own son to almost put an end to his life - freakin heart breakin) could care less when she was neglected on the daily, just cause it was done by the woman that gave birth to her - a lot of irony in this movie -

even the ending where the child had to again make the grown-up decision and chose her mother, instead of herself... i.e where she needed to be the adult in the relationship, instead of reaming with Rinko and being a kid - sad really. even though that scene where Hiromi visits her own mother, at long last (as she "abandoned" her when she got pregnant with Tomo) not to mention Tomo's coming back to a clean house - that looked like a home that was taken care of, as opposed to how we see it at the start.. guess u could interpret that into a "positive ending"...

Leggi di Più

"Close-Knit" is a minimalist film that is almost annoying but good is a work that shows us a mature author who is able to stay true to his style and at the same time tell a story full of interesting themes, with which he finally is confronted with social aspects and personal drama.
Through a stormy and inner story and hypocrisy, the story of "Close-Knit" descends very linearly, concentrating on one side in the figure of Rinko who sees in his relationship with Tomo the possibility of testing his sense of motherhood and to "more about the awareness that perhaps society is not yet ready to fully accept the transgender figure, but above all it is Rinko's portrait of the thickness and depth of the film.
Based on picturesque representations, caricatures and sometimes vulgar, Rinko seems to be an unrecognizable person, with his certainties and fears, with the desire to feel a woman throughout the great test of maternity, although substitute. In fact, the LGBT theme is approached by looking more at the character than in his phenomenology, avoiding the melodrama thrilled and often turning his gaze to tones and atmospheres of comedy.
In short, when dealing with a not so light subject, he can always maintain his balance, coagulating the personal drama with comedy in an appreciable way, managing to create brilliant characters and, fortunately, much more in keeping with reality. The film allows us to see some of the cinematographic features the trend towards minimalism, the tones of peace that integrate harmoniously into a story that has its depth and which, although in its simplicity, thrills.

Leggi di Più

More movies like this should be made

It is slow paced but I think It delivers a very important message regarding the issues surrounding the lgbt+ community in general. I hope many people get to see it so that they can understand the struggle better. I haven’t noticed the ost much as It is nothing special in my opinion. But there is tragic scene (which I’m not going to spoil) where the pace picks up accompanied by violins. I think what makes that scene really powerful is definitely the music. That scene was the most memorable for me. The acting was good, especially the child actors did a great job considering their ages. The actor that played the main lead was convincing. It really made me think of him as a trans woman. Overall It is a good watch If you want to sit back and relax.

Leggi di Più

Some films only Japan can make

I've just rewatched this and I came to up my score and even write a review.

I'm a Kdrama fan for all sorts of reasons - the production, the accessibility, the slightly more acceptable misogyny, the lack of reliance on sex. Yet there are some amazing dramas out there that only Japan can do! You find them slipped in between the slightly brutal, sexist, infantilised main stream fare but shining with a gritty, oh so strange yet oh so normal light.

This is one of those, not because of the subject matter but because of the way it is handled. Without the glam slick entertainment of Kdramas or the censorship and lightness of Cdrama or the terribly preachy brutality of a US drama this manages to put across it's message with a heartrendingly understated realism.

The story is well told, the casting and acting is superb, the music supports but never overpowers the emotion.

Kakihara Rinka deserves the honours but Ikuta Toma deserves your attention.

I thoroughly recommend it.

Leggi di Più

Very engaging story, humanity breathed on me. Nice acting performances including girl. An disgusting mother (in terms of story). All tuned and processed intimate, very nice jacket. I watched a lot of Rinko. Tôma Ikuta Transzen played with all humility, I searched and recently married. Satisfaction. Certainly I recommend especially those who like Japanese films and can understand them. The film won in various categories at film festivals in Udine, Helsinki, New York, Madrid, Tel Aviv, Lisbon, Berlin, Quezon City and Cologne.



Moc poutavý příběh, dýchla na mě LIDSKOST. Hezké herecké výkony včetně dívky. Protivná matka (z hlediska příběhu). Celé laděno a zpracováno komorně, moc pěkný žážitek. Hodně jsem sledoval postavu Rinko. Tôma Ikuta transženu zahrál se vší pokorou, pátral jsem a nedávno se oženil. Spokojenost. Určitě doporučuji především těm, co mají rádi japonské filmy a dokáží je pochopit. Film zvítězil v různých kategoriích na filmových festivalech v Udine, Helsinkách, New Yorku, Madridu, Tel Avivu, Lisabonu, Berlíně, Quezon City a v Kolíně nad Rýnem.

Leggi di Più

What makes someone a mother

what makes someone mother? is it giving birth? or gender? this story shows that thats all from outside perspective, probably the child can answer better if someone is a mother.
it was a good movie, her conversations with his daughter were very open and maturely handled, in a way movie used the kid as a means to give viewers a better understanding about her gender, biology, feelings and more importantly how she is just a person like everyone.
people hate what is unknown and i think this movie succeeded in making that unknown into more understandable by using kid who is not prejudiced or judgemental but just curious to know, the movie encourages viewers to know.

Leggi di Più

A slight awkwardness

I truly enjoyed watching this movie. The script was good, and there were no unnecessary scenes. All the actors did great, but Kakihara Rinka in particular, did an excellent job portraying Tomo's strong and unique character.

Some of the scenes were a bit weird, such as the boob-touching scene. The direction could've also been better. Numbers of scenes with Rinko and Tomo were awkward, in terms of body language and physical contact. This could also be cue to the lack of effort that was put into Rinko’s character.

Ending was superb.

It was a beautiful and educational movie, that is very much enjoyable if we look past the awkwardness.

Leggi di Più