Shizumanai hone (2003)

The Synopsis does a diservice.

The synopsis does a disservice to this wonderful gem. This is a tale about two people at opposite ends of their lives coming together and finding solace through their journey together, Shota who is at the main starting point in his life and Jun-chan who is at the last part of his life both try to runaway from their realities. Shota who for the most part of his life lacked adult guidance, is mature but innocent as a neglected child of that age would be. Jun-chan who is still contemplating the passage of time and how he is at the end of his life, a frail old grandpa who has no one he knows alive anymore. At it's heart this is a coming of age story. Just because we age doesn't mean we learn to be adults. Naoki-san with his expressions and body language portrays the frailty, vulnerability and stubbornness that a young man who suddenly realizes he is an old man and life has long passed him by and the window of opportunities have long shut. While the young Kamiki, is phenomenal as Shota, I would go as far as to say this is his best and most realistic acting of that era. We see Shota at the beginning of the drama, as a mature child. He calmly leaves his home, carefully packs, even is aware enough to bring first aide and money along. However during uncertainties he breaks down and we see the innocent child trying to hide behind an adult mask, A child so desperate for adult guidance, that when he finds the reliable Jun-chan, he sticks to his side like a glue, from that point we finally see the whinny child, who wants attention, who is curious and hurt easily. His inexperience with the world is paired well with Jun-chan's life experiences. One has all the experience and the other has none, but neither of them are truly grasp the current world they live in. Jun-chan whose world has long gone and Shota whose hasn't started. They are aliens to the current world they live in. Jun-chan feels relevant while taking care of the young Shota, he feels needed. Shota on the other hand feels he is being heard and seen. In most scenes they are at conflict with each other, a battle of different generations. Not very different from arguments grandparents and grandchildren, each coming from their own life experiences while not trying to understand where the other is coming from. By the end of their journey they learn lessons from each other, forming a bond deeper than bloods. This is a very worthwhile drama to watch. The innocence and vulnerability is charming. The acting grounded and layered. The story is relevant for every generation, as most people in their lives will have been Shota and Jun-chan at different times. What happens when the end and the beginning meet. This is charming drama full of nuances and allegories. The drama is full of juxtapositions as it is both hopeful and depressing at the same time. I was watching it with my mother, who is not interest in jdramas nor dis she understand what they were saying but multiple themes of connection, negligence, childhood, and the eventual death were things she picked up right away. Honesty it is a masterpiece and more people should watch it.

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A Masterpiece depicting, age, relevance, neglect, death, and friendship.

A tale about beginnings and endings wolven intricately with complex subjects such as neglect, one's relevance, one place in the world and the awareness of one's demise. This is a short 1 hour tv movie. Though it discusses many such heavy topics, It is deceitfully light. The storytelling is innocent but deep. The movie will surely leave a deep impression on any one even if they don't understand the words. The acting is charming, conveying most of the characters through body language and expressions. This story hardly "tells" the viewer anything. Everything is instead shown through subtle actions and situations. Two people who each represent the beginning and the ending meet a pregnant women, while one unavoidably accepts their that their time has passed while the other, though just staring is bitter, but still marvels at this prologue of sorts. It may seem like a straightforward drama about a young boy and an old man coming together and learning to accept each other, it is however much more than that. Through their nonsensical almost borderline childish adventure, there is always a background sense of a shadow, Shota's childish outbursts at rejection, Jun-chan's health giving in despite his will, there is always a sense of foreboding throughout the journey. Generational divide is showcased organically. While both parties are in constant conflict as they are at opposite spectrum of life, they are at the same time similar in how neither can connect with the current time period. The movie covers so many themes in the span of an hour but never feels heavy. It is a breeze. This is truly a masterpiece which deserves way more attention.

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