Thursday, July 03, 2008
Kodomo No Kodomo Press Screening
Following up on the Anime News Network story about Sasô Akira's famed manga Kodomo No Kodomo (『コドモのコドモ』) being adapted into a feature film -- it's already complete. I saw a press screening today in Shibuya (where I can get directly now via the new Fukutoshin-sen). As usual I don't have time to write a full review, but wanted to get some thoughts down.
Newcomer Amari Haruna (who shares the same first name as the lead character) is quite amazing in the role. It's hard enough for an adult actor to play pregnant and pretend to give birth, let alone an 11 year old (who looks about 9). She's like a mini Kimura Tae -- a real discovery.
Nice location work in Noshiro, with director Hagiuda Kôji skillfully blending the seasons with phases of the pregnancy. There are times Haruna's story feels like an epic, and in fact it is. There have been some nervous remarks on the net from people who can't wrap their heads around an 11-year-old conceiving a child. I have to say it comes off as very believable, again, thanks in large part to Amari's naturalistic performance.
At 122 minutes the film itself is fairly pregnant. As I've said so many times, "10 or 15 minutes would do a world of good."
I didn't realize the film was produced by Negishi Hiroyuki, whom I know from my Linda Linda Linda stint. He's a big music buff, which is probably how he got Shugo Tokumaru to score the film. Negishi-san also recently exec produced Gondry's segment in Tokyo!, another Bitters End production.
Kodomo No Kodomo will also be the first film to be distributed through the newly-established "Cinema Syndicate" network (see bottom of comments thread in Tartan posting).
10 comments:
Count me as one of those a little disturbed after seeing the teaser. I hope the film approaches the subject a little more seriously than Juno and less wishy-washy than last year's "14 Sai No Haha"
I also saw the 'teaser' (shudder) for this before "Aruite mo Aruite mo" on Saturday, and it revealed at least one important piece of information: the patch on the girl's overalls says "I (heart) dirty". Bloody hell.
How was Aruitemo?
I also saw "The Magic Hour" on Friday night, and although it's not fair to compare two very dissimilar movies, so-called "巨匠" (master) Mitani Koki's prolixity and lack of finesse is really thrown into stark relief next to Kore-eda's unforced and disciplined approach. Typically powerful and naturalistic performances from his cast, especially Kiki Kirin as a sprightly grandmother with a well-concealed vindictive streak and Abe Hiroshi who seizes the chance to sink his teeth into a three-dimensional character for once, not to mention fine supporting turns from You and Natsukawa Yui. No shouted dialogue, no tearful reconciliations and no talking down to its audience, instead managing to evoke pathos and humour from believable situations and characterisations. One of the best of the year so far.
Sounds excellent. Hope to catch up on 3 or 4 films next weekend or the week after.
You should do a full review on your site -- it'd be the first in Eng.
Actually, Mark Schilling has already covered Aruite mo for the JT, and the Yomiuri wrote it up as well. Neither review offers any reason for only giving it four out of five stars - it was as close to perfect as I've seen this year.
Oh right, duh (can you tell I don't read reviews much?).
Never got into the star rating thing. Is it supposed to indicate entertainment value or how well the film is realized, or a combination?
hang on... I'm stuck on "proloxity".
You should review it anyway and include 5 stars, some thumbs ups, and a smiley face. But really, more coverage is never a bad thing. Being first in English is meaningless if only a few thousand (maybe hundred?) people in the English-speaking world know it exists and even fewer know it's worth their attention.
I wish i could download this movie on a torrent or sumwhere. I saw 14 sai-no-haha. And I liked it. I was crying most of the time i watched it. :(
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