An adaption of the Manga 'Sweet Cream And Red Strawberries', this film is deserving of an appreciation outside of the 'Hollywood' box. If you are looking for a blunt force narrative with 'closure' and success defined as getting the perfect job and finding love, then this is not for you. The individual stories of the main characters are told in an episodic manner interweaving their stories through various plot devices, in a very watchable, involving and engrossing manner. I personally disagree that this is superficial, since a lot of the underlying theme involves a search for "god" or satisfaction with ones true nature, hope, in a representative form: a rock, a picture, "Hope" and "Peace" cigarettes, a child, a friend etc. The lives of ordinary modern women in Tokyo is beautifully portrayed, with great performances by the four main actresses. Slow moving, intelligent and intense at times, this is a film that requires a bit of work for western audiences to appreciate, definitely 'Art House', beautifully shot and well acted. I was not bored or distracted by the usual 'mad comedy' element that usually serves to allow western audiences to watch a Japanese film, which was gladly absent from this. The isolation of the individuals is represented by various devices which complement the feelings of the women: a fish swimming alone in an empty tank, a hamster that is ignored and regarded as highly as a wind-up toy, a rock, shopping and shoes etc. Their search for love and happiness is a superficial element, but beneath that is much Buddhist imagery and themes of death, life, being happy and hope.
If you want to watch a serious, thoughtful film about real lives in Tokyo or elsewhere - free from the madcap 'look at the antics of those crazy Japanese' that is usually used to make the 'foreign' film palatable those that can actually read - watch this film.
If you want to watch a serious, thoughtful film about real lives in Tokyo or elsewhere - free from the madcap 'look at the antics of those crazy Japanese' that is usually used to make the 'foreign' film palatable those that can actually read - watch this film.