This is a movie about a very nice girl and the stupidest man in the world.

Man, I immediately hated the score in the very beginning. It gets better, but the opening track didn't work for me at all.

Once you get past that, it's really very nice. I kind of feel bad for all three in the main love triangle, because midway through the film all three of them are really fucking it up for themselves. Reiko probably has it the worst out of everyone, and, of course, the performance by Chiharu Komatsu is very nice. It's a shame she didn't end up going on to many more prominent dramatic roles, because I think she could have played a young woman in love for a long time after this.

The Great Gatsby figures into this thing, when Takanobu picks it up to read so he can impress Yuko. There's sort of a double parallel here, because Yuko, like Gatsby, is in love with someone from her past who is already beyond her reach, but Takanobu, like Gatsby, is throwing a big party to impress her like a moron. He is evidently not a very strong reader, but you have to appreciate the effort.

There's a song that Yuichi plays on the piano which is really, really gorgeous. Of course, he immediately fucks it all up afterwards by nearly kissing Yuko. When Reiko sees them, Yuko has to convince Yuichi to go running after her. And then, he still manages to fuck it up all over again. Really makes you want to deck him, which is probably why his friend does it.

That makes the end of this film supremely frustrating, but it's also really relatable to lose someone you love because you're too much of a coward to really confess how you feel. There's a really good moment where we hear about how Reiko was accepted to a university in Tokyo as Yuko is passing the screen, and she slows down right when she hears it. You can really sense her pain in that moment. But, after all, the guy who's into her never stopped chasing after her, so she sort of won out in the end.

I mean, Reiko also won out in the only way she could, because you actually just have to break away from someone who's never going to take your needs into account. It's a really bittersweet ending, but, buddy, Yuichi did it to himself every step of the way.

Gets 3.5 stars because it has the piano performance at the party.

Come to see pre-quake Kobe, stay to see cute girls in flapper dresses at Takanobu's party.

"I wish he'd pay more attention to me. Especially when I'm this cute!"

alt. quote: "Don't make it sound so terrible. When did I ever toy with you? You're the one who comes during consultations and plays with me."

alt. alt. quote: "You'll fall if you don't hold on tight."

This is a movie about a very nice girl and the stupidest man in the world.

Man, I immediately hated the score in the very beginning. It gets better, but the opening track didn't work for me at all.

Once you get past that, it's really very nice. I kind of feel bad for all three in the main love triangle, because midway through the film all three of them are really fucking it up for themselves. Reiko probably has it the worst out of everyone, and, of course, the performance by Chiharu Komatsu is very nice. It's a shame she didn't end up going on to many more prominent dramatic roles, because I think she could have played a young woman in love for a long time after this.

The Great Gatsby figures into this thing, when Takanobu picks it up to read so he can impress Yuko. There's sort of a double parallel here, because Yuko, like Gatsby, is in love with someone from her past who is already beyond her reach, but Takanobu, like Gatsby, is throwing a big party to impress her like a moron. He is evidently not a very strong reader, but you have to appreciate the effort.

There's a song that Yuichi plays on the piano which is really, really gorgeous. Of course, he immediately fucks it all up afterwards by nearly kissing Yuko. When Reiko sees them, Yuko has to convince Yuichi to go running after her. And then, he still manages to fuck it up all over again. Really makes you want to deck him, which is probably why his friend does it.

That makes the end of this film supremely frustrating, but it's also really relatable to lose someone you love because you're too much of a coward to really confess how you feel. There's a really good moment where we hear about how Reiko was accepted to a university in Tokyo as Yuko is passing the screen, and she slows down right when she hears it. You can really sense her pain in that moment. But, after all, the guy who's into her never stopped chasing after her, so she sort of won out in the end.

I mean, Reiko also won out in the only way she could, because you actually just have to break away from someone who's never going to take your needs into account. It's a really bittersweet ending, but, buddy, Yuichi did it to himself every step of the way.

Gets 3.5 stars because it has the piano performance at the party.

Come to see pre-quake Kobe, stay to see cute girls in flapper dresses at Takanobu's party.

"I wish he'd pay more attention to me. Especially when I'm this cute!"

alt. quote: "Don't make it sound so terrible. When did I ever toy with you? You're the one who comes during consultations and plays with me."

alt. alt. quote: "You'll fall if you don't hold on tight."