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Starting a thread early for others to find and use. I'll be updating this post with my thoughts on each of the films from this year's online festival as I watch them. So once or twice a day. This won't show up in the Reading list though but it will be easier to use this way and keep as a long term record.
To see what films will be available and to watch from 5th June, use this link.
To easily find synopses and reviews, try this MDL list. I've also started a thread in the MDL forums to let people know about the festival, but I'd love for that to turn into a conversation/recommendation thread too. If you have an MDL account, look in the Japan section of their forums for the thread.
There will also be two 10 episode series available from 19th June - 3rd July noon JST (so the 2nd July for me and some of you). Will probably give one of them a go, will see how desperate my addiction to Thai telly is at that point :) goldentunes recommends them both.
I think I'm going to start with The Lines that Define Me because Japan does great coming of age films and I've been looking forward to more since last year's festival.
(I've gotten myself so hyped up already. Need a lie down now :D :D :D)
The Lines That Define Me
Lighter than I expected, an often gorgeous film about finding your own lines in art and traditional forms, those which express your own emotions and the life in them. The lines of this film shift from delicate to joyful to bold to struggle to fulfilling. In that, it embodies the ethos of its story.
We Made a Beautiful Bouquet
I'm careful in what I watch by way of het romance and initially We Made a Beautiful Bouquet wasn't high up my list for this year's JFF Online. A J-drama fan I follow on social media had seen it before and I liked what he wrote about it so I gave it a go.
It doesn't do the things I dislike about most het relationship story lines. The FL isn't cutesy or ditsy. Shared enthusiasms are central to the dynamic between the two characters and the framing is also balanced between their POVs. It's one of the most equal relationships I've seen. There's something else I want to compliment it on but that would be a spoiler.
All in all, it's an excellent film. Solid writing and acting so natural I managed to forget I was watching a film during some of it. Oh right, this isn't happening. If someone said, "I'm willing to watch one het love story this year" this is one of two I'd suggest.
Single8
Another youth film focused on creativity, a visual art and finding your own voice. High school students work together, with the help of a uni film student and a history teacher, pushing themselves, their skills and ingenuity to make a short science fiction film with meaning.
It's left me with a big smile 💖
The Lone Ume Tree
About acceptance of difference and problems caused by those quick to judge. Cho-san has both learning disabilities and autism, needs his routines and works in a supported facility. He also has a great mum and difficult neighbours. It's honest and sensitive.
Father of the Milky Way Railroad
Beautiful, poetic melodrama depicting a romanticised and idealised life of an idealistic young man who, after his death, became one of Japan's most loved poets and writers.
Now to read some of his writings while this is still fresh in my mind.
I'm not sure what to make of this. On the one hand, I feel like there must be a lot I didn't understand. But on the other hand, I'm not sure it was really in there. Didn't get on with the first hour at all. Business pressure + ratings competition = could not care less. The whys which eventually emerged from the FL were poignant, but scant and cliched. Endings of the anime were moving. Acting was excellent. Very interested in others' thoughts.
School Meals Time Graduation
Physical comedy in the vein of Jerry Lewis or Jim Carey with a very straight face which morphs into something which runs Serious Film tropes over a tongue in cheek situation with an underlying serious message about not taking things so seriously. Plus food.
BL Metamorphosis
A simple story of friendship, creativity and hope delightfully told. The elderly woman is a joy and the young girl, full of dreams and fears, is too. Very women-centric.
The Zen Diary
Food, nature, living with the seasons and environment, and a 60 year old man dealing with grief and his fear of his own death. Also, the shallowness of relative 'privilege'. Overall, contemplative and contented.
i am what i am
Aroace woman coping in a world where that's not understood. Striking was two characters in particular who, rather than listening to her when she told them, insisted on redefining her into their world views. It's an often lonely film, although she's rarely alone. Or at least it felt that way to me. She did have a supportive friend who was lovely.
have bounced off Wedding High, The Handsome Suit (both comedies) and I Go GaGa (documentary). Might try them again before it ends. Also Baby Assassins, far too violent for me. I love J-film when it's earnest but struggle with a lot of its comedies. Do better with humour in J-drama though.
KIBA: The Fangs of Fiction
Well made but I don't get on with business settings and the artificial constructions of the corporate world. Kudos for a resourceful female protagonist fighting for her values and her character's message of choosing what standards to update and what to discard as society changes.
My Broken Mariko
Intense, difficult but light amongst the dark, and very very good. Tied for my best film of the festival.
Jungle Emperor Leo (1966 animation, English dubbed version known as Kimba, the White Lion)
From the 1960s school of What were they on? animation. It's an experience. It's very violent. It's also racist and sexist. Theme is working together to confront enemies.
Twenty-Four Eyes
Melodrama that's also very real - anti-war and proto-feminist - from the Golden Age of Japanese Cinema, over-flowing with both love and sorrow.
Available in a few places outside of the Festival, well worth seeking out.
Wedding High
Sometimes endearing comedy with a kitchen sink plot of several people's stories touched on before it dances away again. It's over full but does tie things together and is ultimately heartfelt.
And that's me done :) Thanks for keeping me company in this. I hope you found some films to enjoy.
Rikuoh from Wednesday.
My highly recommended:
stories about people who felt very real - We Made a Beautiful Bouquet, My Broken Mariko (check MDL for content warnings), I am what I am, The Lone Ume Tree, Twenty Four Eyes
arts - The Lines that Define Me, Single8, Father of the Milky Way Railroad,
friendship, also arts - BL Metamorphosis
comedy - Daimyo Tosan (We're Broke)
misc - The Zen Diary
Adding the spoiler code options from C-ent while I'm thinking of it.
C-Ent options for code to hide spoilers below.
To see what films will be available and to watch from 5th June, use this link.
To easily find synopses and reviews, try this MDL list. I've also started a thread in the MDL forums to let people know about the festival, but I'd love for that to turn into a conversation/recommendation thread too. If you have an MDL account, look in the Japan section of their forums for the thread.
There will also be two 10 episode series available from 19th June - 3rd July noon JST (so the 2nd July for me and some of you). Will probably give one of them a go, will see how desperate my addiction to Thai telly is at that point :) goldentunes recommends them both.
I think I'm going to start with The Lines that Define Me because Japan does great coming of age films and I've been looking forward to more since last year's festival.
(I've gotten myself so hyped up already. Need a lie down now :D :D :D)
The Lines That Define Me
Lighter than I expected, an often gorgeous film about finding your own lines in art and traditional forms, those which express your own emotions and the life in them. The lines of this film shift from delicate to joyful to bold to struggle to fulfilling. In that, it embodies the ethos of its story.
We Made a Beautiful Bouquet
I'm careful in what I watch by way of het romance and initially We Made a Beautiful Bouquet wasn't high up my list for this year's JFF Online. A J-drama fan I follow on social media had seen it before and I liked what he wrote about it so I gave it a go.
It doesn't do the things I dislike about most het relationship story lines. The FL isn't cutesy or ditsy. Shared enthusiasms are central to the dynamic between the two characters and the framing is also balanced between their POVs. It's one of the most equal relationships I've seen. There's something else I want to compliment it on but that would be a spoiler.
All in all, it's an excellent film. Solid writing and acting so natural I managed to forget I was watching a film during some of it. Oh right, this isn't happening. If someone said, "I'm willing to watch one het love story this year" this is one of two I'd suggest.
Single8
Another youth film focused on creativity, a visual art and finding your own voice. High school students work together, with the help of a uni film student and a history teacher, pushing themselves, their skills and ingenuity to make a short science fiction film with meaning.
It's left me with a big smile 💖
The Lone Ume Tree
About acceptance of difference and problems caused by those quick to judge. Cho-san has both learning disabilities and autism, needs his routines and works in a supported facility. He also has a great mum and difficult neighbours. It's honest and sensitive.
Father of the Milky Way Railroad
Beautiful, poetic melodrama depicting a romanticised and idealised life of an idealistic young man who, after his death, became one of Japan's most loved poets and writers.
Now to read some of his writings while this is still fresh in my mind.
The Invitation
One of the four prize-winning short horror films. Glad I watched it during the afternoon :) Got a jump scare from the sound, I was using headphones and it was Right There. The ending brought it together and made it extra creepy.
We're Broke, My Lord!
Fast-paced, silly with a good heart and only a bit of the laughing-at not -with side of Japanese comedy I don't get on with. There are far better films in the festival but this was alright for a change of pace. My favourite part was the many clips of cast dancing happily during the end credits.
I'm not sure what to make of this. On the one hand, I feel like there must be a lot I didn't understand. But on the other hand, I'm not sure it was really in there. Didn't get on with the first hour at all. Business pressure + ratings competition = could not care less. The whys which eventually emerged from the FL were poignant, but scant and cliched. Endings of the anime were moving. Acting was excellent. Very interested in others' thoughts.
School Meals Time Graduation
Physical comedy in the vein of Jerry Lewis or Jim Carey with a very straight face which morphs into something which runs Serious Film tropes over a tongue in cheek situation with an underlying serious message about not taking things so seriously. Plus food.
BL Metamorphosis
A simple story of friendship, creativity and hope delightfully told. The elderly woman is a joy and the young girl, full of dreams and fears, is too. Very women-centric.
The Zen Diary
Food, nature, living with the seasons and environment, and a 60 year old man dealing with grief and his fear of his own death. Also, the shallowness of relative 'privilege'. Overall, contemplative and contented.
i am what i am
Aroace woman coping in a world where that's not understood. Striking was two characters in particular who, rather than listening to her when she told them, insisted on redefining her into their world views. It's an often lonely film, although she's rarely alone. Or at least it felt that way to me. She did have a supportive friend who was lovely.
have bounced off Wedding High, The Handsome Suit (both comedies) and I Go GaGa (documentary). Might try them again before it ends. Also Baby Assassins, far too violent for me. I love J-film when it's earnest but struggle with a lot of its comedies. Do better with humour in J-drama though.
KIBA: The Fangs of Fiction
Well made but I don't get on with business settings and the artificial constructions of the corporate world. Kudos for a resourceful female protagonist fighting for her values and her character's message of choosing what standards to update and what to discard as society changes.
My Broken Mariko
Intense, difficult but light amongst the dark, and very very good. Tied for my best film of the festival.
Jungle Emperor Leo (1966 animation, English dubbed version known as Kimba, the White Lion)
From the 1960s school of What were they on? animation. It's an experience. It's very violent. It's also racist and sexist. Theme is working together to confront enemies.
Twenty-Four Eyes
Melodrama that's also very real - anti-war and proto-feminist - from the Golden Age of Japanese Cinema, over-flowing with both love and sorrow.
Available in a few places outside of the Festival, well worth seeking out.
Wedding High
Sometimes endearing comedy with a kitchen sink plot of several people's stories touched on before it dances away again. It's over full but does tie things together and is ultimately heartfelt.
And that's me done :) Thanks for keeping me company in this. I hope you found some films to enjoy.
Rikuoh from Wednesday.
My highly recommended:
stories about people who felt very real - We Made a Beautiful Bouquet, My Broken Mariko (check MDL for content warnings), I am what I am, The Lone Ume Tree, Twenty Four Eyes
arts - The Lines that Define Me, Single8, Father of the Milky Way Railroad,
friendship, also arts - BL Metamorphosis
comedy - Daimyo Tosan (We're Broke)
misc - The Zen Diary
Adding the spoiler code options from C-ent while I'm thinking of it.
C-Ent options for code to hide spoilers below.
| <b>Highlight for spoilers!</b> *<span style="background-color: #FFFFFF; color: #FFFFFF">Write your spoilery text here.</span>* | <details> <summary>Write a non-spoilery summary of what's hidden under the arrow here.</summary> Write your spoilery text here. </details> |
