A beautiful, beautiful movie. Haunting....and got me crying (and I don't cry easily!) It haunted me for days after watching it on cable TV, and even writing this comment made my eyes a little moist. This charming movie is made credible by the performances of the two young actors. I loved them and I loved the movie! What made it even more endearing was that there was no love scenes, no sex, no giggling teenage girls, etc. Nothing like those Hollywood or HK type teen romance. Watch it with an open mind and an open heart, and be prepared to feel... BTW, I just fell in love with the character Aki. If I ever had a love in my teens, it would be her....
19 Reviews
A Memorable Romance
dballred28 February 2005
As a rule, I avoid romance tales and this one was nearly no exception. I didn't see it in the theaters when it was out last year, even though friends recommended it. Just by chance, I rented the DVD. It is available in Japan with English subtitles. Now, after several days, I can't stop thinking about it.
Sakutaro is a man in his mid-thirties about to marry Ritsuko, a woman in her late twenties. While getting ready to move, Ritsuko encounters an old audio cassette tape she forgot she had. Though she knew what the tape was, she had never heard it. After locating a store that still sells audio cassette players, she listens to it for the first time. It takes her on a pilgrimage to her (and Sakutaro's) childhood home town. She leaves a message telling him that she's going away for a while.
By chance, Sakutaro learns where Ritsuko went and he goes there. He finds himself on a pilgrimage of his own.
I can't proceed much further, but it can be said that this is not a frivolous love story. I deals with the permanence of love in a most touching and original way. I really hope this film finds its way out of Japan. I gave this movie an eight out of ten.
Sakutaro is a man in his mid-thirties about to marry Ritsuko, a woman in her late twenties. While getting ready to move, Ritsuko encounters an old audio cassette tape she forgot she had. Though she knew what the tape was, she had never heard it. After locating a store that still sells audio cassette players, she listens to it for the first time. It takes her on a pilgrimage to her (and Sakutaro's) childhood home town. She leaves a message telling him that she's going away for a while.
By chance, Sakutaro learns where Ritsuko went and he goes there. He finds himself on a pilgrimage of his own.
I can't proceed much further, but it can be said that this is not a frivolous love story. I deals with the permanence of love in a most touching and original way. I really hope this film finds its way out of Japan. I gave this movie an eight out of ten.
Very moving and touching
amrilnazir27 January 2006
I've just seen this film yesterday at the University. As a very serious movie fan, I didn't expect anything of the film. Especially, being a typical male and the kind of person who is not too keen into romance movies. However, I was carried away after the first 15 minutes. I've been very busy lately with work but I still couldn't stop thinking about the storyline as I consistently found myself analysing the feelings and emotions from the perspectives of the people who are involved in the story. The philosophical statements in the film have also enforced a huge impact on my mind. They significantly play very important part in the story. I do not want give any more details but I strongly believe that this film should be seen by all movie goers.
"Crying out love, in the centre of the world"
harry_tk_yung20 February 2005
The English title of this movie is "Crying out love, in the centre of the world".
After the proliferation of Korean romances in the last few years, Japan has made a come back, first with top romance "poetic" director Shunji Iwai's Hana and Alice. The director of Cry, Isao Yukisada, has collaborated extensively with Shunji Iwai and has been considered by many as his successor. The book on which the movie was based has taken Japan by storm; ditto the movie. However, as the story in the book, while beautiful, is a little too simple to sustain a movie, an additional character was written into it, played by Kou Shibasaki who suggested the idea of the movie in the first place. Also, the movie adopts the favourite structure for Japanese romances, one of parallel events, the present and a flashback. The success of this approach is quite evident.
Coming before the title is a prelude, with a frame showing a rain-beaten window pane and voice over, to the very, very faint background of Bach-Gounod's Ave Maria (does that bring back Raging Bull?) The voices of the boy and the girl are languid and melancholy. The meaning of this prelude scene and its background music are revealed only close towards the end.
The premise is familiar, a simple, sweet high school romance ended by a leukaemia death. What makes this movie a cut above the pack is that it does not go all out to be a tearjerker. The romance story in the flashback, which accounts for most of the movie, is told with refreshing simplicity, absorbing the audience in the attentive details and interesting characters, particularly the girl played so charmingly by Masami Nagasawa. The length of two-and-a half-hours is not an issue at all. Once you get into the small town of Takamatsu, time sort of stands still. If you don't like that sort of thing, one more minute would become boring. If you love it, passage of real time in the cinema is simply not noticed.
I won't dwell on the plot. We know very early that the girl in the romance eventually died of leukaemia so there's no spoilers there. To enrich the movie, an additional character is introduced, the man's (was the boy) present fiancée who however has a link to the past. Some think that this small plot twist is just a little too engineered but personally, I don't have a lot of problem with it.
One very interesting aspect is the retro element. The period of the flashback is the 80s, cassette messages listened via a walkman serves as a link between the pass and the present a sort of audible love letters.
Ken Harai fans make sure that you do not dash away before the ending credits, which is accompanied by his performance of the title song he wrote.
After the proliferation of Korean romances in the last few years, Japan has made a come back, first with top romance "poetic" director Shunji Iwai's Hana and Alice. The director of Cry, Isao Yukisada, has collaborated extensively with Shunji Iwai and has been considered by many as his successor. The book on which the movie was based has taken Japan by storm; ditto the movie. However, as the story in the book, while beautiful, is a little too simple to sustain a movie, an additional character was written into it, played by Kou Shibasaki who suggested the idea of the movie in the first place. Also, the movie adopts the favourite structure for Japanese romances, one of parallel events, the present and a flashback. The success of this approach is quite evident.
Coming before the title is a prelude, with a frame showing a rain-beaten window pane and voice over, to the very, very faint background of Bach-Gounod's Ave Maria (does that bring back Raging Bull?) The voices of the boy and the girl are languid and melancholy. The meaning of this prelude scene and its background music are revealed only close towards the end.
The premise is familiar, a simple, sweet high school romance ended by a leukaemia death. What makes this movie a cut above the pack is that it does not go all out to be a tearjerker. The romance story in the flashback, which accounts for most of the movie, is told with refreshing simplicity, absorbing the audience in the attentive details and interesting characters, particularly the girl played so charmingly by Masami Nagasawa. The length of two-and-a half-hours is not an issue at all. Once you get into the small town of Takamatsu, time sort of stands still. If you don't like that sort of thing, one more minute would become boring. If you love it, passage of real time in the cinema is simply not noticed.
I won't dwell on the plot. We know very early that the girl in the romance eventually died of leukaemia so there's no spoilers there. To enrich the movie, an additional character is introduced, the man's (was the boy) present fiancée who however has a link to the past. Some think that this small plot twist is just a little too engineered but personally, I don't have a lot of problem with it.
One very interesting aspect is the retro element. The period of the flashback is the 80s, cassette messages listened via a walkman serves as a link between the pass and the present a sort of audible love letters.
Ken Harai fans make sure that you do not dash away before the ending credits, which is accompanied by his performance of the title song he wrote.
Bring a Kleenex or ten
bherring248 April 2005
There's no doubt about it, this one is a tear-jerker, solely designed to push the buttons as hard as it can to affect the audiences emotion. Teenage love, making past wrongs right, the death of a lover, typhoons, it's all here. And what's most amazing is that, for the most part, the movie does it. Always hovering on the edge of cliché, but never tipping over, "Crying Out Love" essentially works.
The story is told in two parts, flashing back and forwards often. One involves young Sakutaro who begins a relationship with the cute as a button Aki Hirose at a time in both of their lives when puppy love is turning into something real. The second is Sakutaro about fifteen years later, trying to come to terms with the loss of that relationship which he never quite recovered from. And his new girlfriend, Ritusko has a secret.
Without giving away too much, that first story works. And, boy, does it. It is inter-cut beautifully with older Sakutaro remembering and searching for meaning. You know exactly where it's going, but the thrill is in the journey here, and it captures the explosiveness and pain of first love and the same of young loss.
The second story, however, falls apart. After the first one ends, some loose ends are left to be connected, and they are, perfunctorily and ham-fistedly. And the actual finale, while far from ruining the film, adds nothing to the emotional power of the majority of the film.
The story is told in two parts, flashing back and forwards often. One involves young Sakutaro who begins a relationship with the cute as a button Aki Hirose at a time in both of their lives when puppy love is turning into something real. The second is Sakutaro about fifteen years later, trying to come to terms with the loss of that relationship which he never quite recovered from. And his new girlfriend, Ritusko has a secret.
Without giving away too much, that first story works. And, boy, does it. It is inter-cut beautifully with older Sakutaro remembering and searching for meaning. You know exactly where it's going, but the thrill is in the journey here, and it captures the explosiveness and pain of first love and the same of young loss.
The second story, however, falls apart. After the first one ends, some loose ends are left to be connected, and they are, perfunctorily and ham-fistedly. And the actual finale, while far from ruining the film, adds nothing to the emotional power of the majority of the film.
Acclaim from single European male in mid-thirties.
AJP196824 November 2004
I have just returned from holiday and had the unexpected chance to view this film during a 13-hour long plane flight. It was admittedly one of 60 movies on offer - mainly in English. I once lived in Japan for several years and couldn't help but draw some parallels to my experiences and relationships whilst living there. The title does not become fully clear until you have seen the entire film so I will not spoil it for you - the best thing is to approach the film with a completely open mind, with as little knowledge of the plot as possible. Suffice to say that I found this movie captivating from the very beginning, evocatively scored (the piano music really hits the spot), beautifully photographed, and the leading characters are all sensitively portrayed by the Japanese actors and actresses involved, many of whom will not be familiar to movie-goers outside Japan. Although it runs for almost 2 hours I found that the film never dragged and developed the story and characters at a realistic pace. I was touched by this moving story so much that it had me crying too !
Nostalgia
wickedmikehampton15 December 2020
'Crying Out Love in the Center of the World' is a teen romance released in 2004.
A younger Masami Nagasawa, from 'Our Little Sister', plays a girl in love but dying.
The first half was charming but the second over-dramatised. Nevertheless, I had a soft spot for it, externally and internally, for the female narrator's beautiful voice, and for my past loves that I painfully learnt to let go.
A younger Masami Nagasawa, from 'Our Little Sister', plays a girl in love but dying.
The first half was charming but the second over-dramatised. Nevertheless, I had a soft spot for it, externally and internally, for the female narrator's beautiful voice, and for my past loves that I painfully learnt to let go.
Meticulously engineered tear-jerker of a tale of first love and loss.
wxid25 January 2006
Told, mostly, in a chronological series of flashbacks, Crying Out Love (forgive me for abbreviating the title) is unabashed about pulling blatantly on your heart-strings. It has been so meticulously put together however, with such charming performances from the young leads, that you fall readily into being manipulated into tears.
Saku, who spends far too much time in the office, is soon to marry Ritsuko. But on the eve of a great typhoon Ritsuko discovers an old audio cassette in some childhood clothes, which sends her back to the old seaside town she grew up in. Saku finds only a note and, whilst visiting a friend in despair, a chance sighting of Ritsuko in the background of a TV news broadcast leads Saku also back home to find her, and to rediscover the pains of an old ghost.
Once back in the quiet seaside town, Saku is drawn to replay a series of audio cassettes given him by his high school love, Aki. Here the flashbacks begin, and we see Saku and Aki's relationship grow. At first the budding high school romance is charming, cute, and most of all quite genuine. From the rather gawky and unsophisticated ways Saku acts and reacts, to the far more mature and yet still innocent Aki, the young actors invest the characters with both a sense of reality and certain nostalgic magic as befits the memories of a first love at 16.
Saku wins a Walkman in a radio competition, by the simple expedient of lying about a girl that is, essentially, Aki herself. A disappointed Aki hands him a cassette - a message - and thus begins the ongoing exchange of tapes - which later becomes a journal of sorts - as their relationship is repaired and grows, and into the tragedy that follows.
Filmed in something of a standard soft-focus with stylised lighting, the flashback sequences bring with them a look and feel of a youth long gone where the world held so much promise for the two lovers. The stark contrast of the present time, and the occasional intermingling of the two, is perhaps a tad blunt but works remarkably well. This is an intimate film, without sweeping shots or extravagance, but is invested with a warmth by the choice of locations and sets that all seem truly lived in, truly small town Japan. Other than some dreadfully wooden lines near the very end of the movie (both in delivery and in writing), the acting throughout ranges from decent to some remarkable scenes by both young Saku (Mirai Moriyama) and Aki (Masami Nagasawa).
Crying Out Love is a beautiful, charming movie which leads you through the youth of two lovers in such a way as almost guarantee tears. It's a deliberate, and clearly obvious, intent but one you truly don't mind being driven into because the journey is so worthwhile.
8.0/10
Saku, who spends far too much time in the office, is soon to marry Ritsuko. But on the eve of a great typhoon Ritsuko discovers an old audio cassette in some childhood clothes, which sends her back to the old seaside town she grew up in. Saku finds only a note and, whilst visiting a friend in despair, a chance sighting of Ritsuko in the background of a TV news broadcast leads Saku also back home to find her, and to rediscover the pains of an old ghost.
Once back in the quiet seaside town, Saku is drawn to replay a series of audio cassettes given him by his high school love, Aki. Here the flashbacks begin, and we see Saku and Aki's relationship grow. At first the budding high school romance is charming, cute, and most of all quite genuine. From the rather gawky and unsophisticated ways Saku acts and reacts, to the far more mature and yet still innocent Aki, the young actors invest the characters with both a sense of reality and certain nostalgic magic as befits the memories of a first love at 16.
Saku wins a Walkman in a radio competition, by the simple expedient of lying about a girl that is, essentially, Aki herself. A disappointed Aki hands him a cassette - a message - and thus begins the ongoing exchange of tapes - which later becomes a journal of sorts - as their relationship is repaired and grows, and into the tragedy that follows.
Filmed in something of a standard soft-focus with stylised lighting, the flashback sequences bring with them a look and feel of a youth long gone where the world held so much promise for the two lovers. The stark contrast of the present time, and the occasional intermingling of the two, is perhaps a tad blunt but works remarkably well. This is an intimate film, without sweeping shots or extravagance, but is invested with a warmth by the choice of locations and sets that all seem truly lived in, truly small town Japan. Other than some dreadfully wooden lines near the very end of the movie (both in delivery and in writing), the acting throughout ranges from decent to some remarkable scenes by both young Saku (Mirai Moriyama) and Aki (Masami Nagasawa).
Crying Out Love is a beautiful, charming movie which leads you through the youth of two lovers in such a way as almost guarantee tears. It's a deliberate, and clearly obvious, intent but one you truly don't mind being driven into because the journey is so worthwhile.
8.0/10
Love the nostalgia
evetan000003 January 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Flashbacks are mainly featured in this film as it's about nostalgia of lost love and memories. Not only we see cassette tapes back in style, there's the sony walkman, the trusty scooter, the loud bang of photo-taking machines and the chunky radio to bring us back to where the very basic of young and blossoming first love feels like.
Shikoku is the town where the young couple grew up in and where they spend their adventures of grave digging, exploring islands, and fantasizing about where the center of the world is. As the story unfolds, girl got sick and boy still continued loving her but the girl ended up dying alone due to some (co)incidence.
The story is fragmented in the sense that it tries to link up the present and past and at the end of the long film, it's finally connected but the link was too weak to even prove the strength of the scriptwriting. Maybe the novel that it was adapted from would be a better read as I feel that the film tried very hard to evoke the sadness out but considering myself as an easy cry audience, I didn't feel that sad.
The overall setting was there but still something was missing to complete the whole picture. Maybe the acting, or the script or it took too long to develop the love between the 2 youngsters until the final link doesn't seem that important after all and the rest just crumbles .that's sad by itself.
But still, I like the music, the location shots, the male lead actor (older one), colour treatment, and the concept of talking to each other thru cassette tapes so it's still recommended for Jap lovers and even better if your first love is as romantic and sad as them ..
Shikoku is the town where the young couple grew up in and where they spend their adventures of grave digging, exploring islands, and fantasizing about where the center of the world is. As the story unfolds, girl got sick and boy still continued loving her but the girl ended up dying alone due to some (co)incidence.
The story is fragmented in the sense that it tries to link up the present and past and at the end of the long film, it's finally connected but the link was too weak to even prove the strength of the scriptwriting. Maybe the novel that it was adapted from would be a better read as I feel that the film tried very hard to evoke the sadness out but considering myself as an easy cry audience, I didn't feel that sad.
The overall setting was there but still something was missing to complete the whole picture. Maybe the acting, or the script or it took too long to develop the love between the 2 youngsters until the final link doesn't seem that important after all and the rest just crumbles .that's sad by itself.
But still, I like the music, the location shots, the male lead actor (older one), colour treatment, and the concept of talking to each other thru cassette tapes so it's still recommended for Jap lovers and even better if your first love is as romantic and sad as them ..
A story for everyone who experienced love at a young age...and more
robstewart-220 November 2005
THere is so much to be said about this movie.
Its aesthetically beautiful. It's emotionally pure, powerful, & sad and its heartwarming as well as tearjerking. I won't tell you anything about the story because you probably have already looked into it. Well, if you haven't... DON'T! Don't spoil it for yourself. Find it somehow. Online. IN a store. Anywhere. Its amazing. Breathtaking. Gratifying. At the risk of sounding like more of a fanboy, I'll stop here.
The best Japanese film of 2004 without a doubt & maybe of the last decade.
A must see.
I hope for a region 1 DVD sometime soon.
Its aesthetically beautiful. It's emotionally pure, powerful, & sad and its heartwarming as well as tearjerking. I won't tell you anything about the story because you probably have already looked into it. Well, if you haven't... DON'T! Don't spoil it for yourself. Find it somehow. Online. IN a store. Anywhere. Its amazing. Breathtaking. Gratifying. At the risk of sounding like more of a fanboy, I'll stop here.
The best Japanese film of 2004 without a doubt & maybe of the last decade.
A must see.
I hope for a region 1 DVD sometime soon.
A touching movie
ngchiho8 March 2005
This movie is based on a novel written by Katayama Kyoichi. The first print only limited to 8,000 copies but after Shibasaki Kou (that cast Ritsuko) had read it in a occasion, she was deeply impressed and recommend it on a magazine. Hence the rest is history and it had sold over 3 million copies in Japan which beat the sales record of Norway's forest. Due to the heat of the book, the story had bring into the movie which include the top of the crew in Japan movie industry.
Ritsuko role are only add to the movie and not appear in the original novel and the original "Centre of the world" is not in Australia in the book too. However, this movie still touching my heart as I had a common feeling which as I have pass my youth in the same 80 age like Saku and Aki, where walkman is such a precious thing in that time.
The score is very well done and is emotional moving, the main theme by Hirai Ken is excellently with stirring melody.
I highly recommend this movie but sadly it is not easily available in western country except by internet selling like yes.Asia 9 / 10
Ritsuko role are only add to the movie and not appear in the original novel and the original "Centre of the world" is not in Australia in the book too. However, this movie still touching my heart as I had a common feeling which as I have pass my youth in the same 80 age like Saku and Aki, where walkman is such a precious thing in that time.
The score is very well done and is emotional moving, the main theme by Hirai Ken is excellently with stirring melody.
I highly recommend this movie but sadly it is not easily available in western country except by internet selling like yes.Asia 9 / 10
Just seemed way too forced...
KineticSeoul1 January 2013
Warning: Spoilers
This is one of those movies that constantly forcefully tries to throw tear jerking moments at the audience. But there isn't enough development or romance to make it work. It just has a guy crying all the way through the movie and a girl in a hospital that is in deep depression because she doesn't have much time to live. The thing is although the movie tries to show the deep bond between these two characters, it just isn't all the effective. And just seemed really forced at times. TV shows like "1 Litre of Tears" and the drama version of this movie worked because there is enough build up but that isn't the case here. Even when the movie is finished you just don't really know any of the characters all that well. To bring out enough emotion, even though the sadness seems believable. Yes, death is no joke but it just seemed to lack in areas where it needed more while trying to force emotions out of the audience. This isn't really a romance movie but saying goodbye to a loved one and how the guy that fell for that girl coups with it all. There wasn't any students that had cellphone during the timeline when it comes to the story this movie take place. So both the guy and the girl send back and forth cassette tape with their message on it and that just becomes tedious and depressing to watch. But it just isn't effective and doesn't really leave an impact. I also really disliked the male student version of the protagonist. Not because of his character or acting but his facial structure. He just looked unintentionally bored all the time and couldn't take him seriously. They probably picked him when casting because he looks kinda like the younger version of Takao Osawa but still.
4/10
4/10
A tear jerker
YNOT_at_the_Movies13 January 2007
This is a beautifully shot and profoundly touching film about love and grief. Normally I am not really into sappy romance movies, because many of them insult my intelligence. But this sentimental drama completely captivates me and I cried and cried and cried again.
In "Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World," Saku and Aki are two high school classmates in the 80s. They fall in love and use audio cassettes to record their diaries for each other. However, this romance didn't last forever. And 17 years later, when Saku comes back to his hometown, he is still consumed by his love of his life time.
The film travels between two time lines seamlessly and never slows down on building up the emotion through a brilliant performance by a terrific ensemble cast. I believe in and feel the love between the characters, which is why I am so deeply moved by their love story.
In "Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World," Saku and Aki are two high school classmates in the 80s. They fall in love and use audio cassettes to record their diaries for each other. However, this romance didn't last forever. And 17 years later, when Saku comes back to his hometown, he is still consumed by his love of his life time.
The film travels between two time lines seamlessly and never slows down on building up the emotion through a brilliant performance by a terrific ensemble cast. I believe in and feel the love between the characters, which is why I am so deeply moved by their love story.
Fantastic film - see it!
dazsly23 October 2006
As the title, get this film on DVD its amazingly powerful. what a breath of fresh air, instead of the run of the mill rubbish that comes out from America!! Great acting and story!
I cannot speak Japanese but the subtitles do not detract at all from the film.
You may need to watch it a couple of times to get the plot line as it goes back and forth.
This should of been released in the UK although I looked for it but never found it in shops.
I went to Japan on holiday and specifically looked for this DVD based on the cover, when I get an eye for a movie I'm usually right that I would like it.
I cannot speak Japanese but the subtitles do not detract at all from the film.
You may need to watch it a couple of times to get the plot line as it goes back and forth.
This should of been released in the UK although I looked for it but never found it in shops.
I went to Japan on holiday and specifically looked for this DVD based on the cover, when I get an eye for a movie I'm usually right that I would like it.
This is an incredibly love story.
OpinionGuy11 January 2015
Warning: Spoilers
This is an incredibly love story. At first, i thought it was just gonna be the usually common love story between two students and nothing special. But while i watched it the movie slowly showing its meaning and purpose. I changed my mind and simply love it.
Saku as the main character shown as easy going but awkward a student. While Aki as the girl he love is more cheerful and active. The story begin 17 years later when tragedy strikes Aki and Saku couldn't bear it, he couldn't accept the facts and still living in his past, hoping for the impossible future. Saku, goes back home, then try to remember all his past in order to accept it rather than forgetting the past. The story goes back and the tragedy has once again opened an old wound in Saku's heart.
The movie last for almost 2 hours, but i was sucked into the story at start and was clued to the screen. While the story unfold on the screen there wasn't one boring moment. This is one of the saddest drama movies i have seen, it's a real tearjerker. It deals with the permanence of love in a most touching and original way. If your looking for a love movie this is an absolutely must see, i highly recommend it.
Saku as the main character shown as easy going but awkward a student. While Aki as the girl he love is more cheerful and active. The story begin 17 years later when tragedy strikes Aki and Saku couldn't bear it, he couldn't accept the facts and still living in his past, hoping for the impossible future. Saku, goes back home, then try to remember all his past in order to accept it rather than forgetting the past. The story goes back and the tragedy has once again opened an old wound in Saku's heart.
The movie last for almost 2 hours, but i was sucked into the story at start and was clued to the screen. While the story unfold on the screen there wasn't one boring moment. This is one of the saddest drama movies i have seen, it's a real tearjerker. It deals with the permanence of love in a most touching and original way. If your looking for a love movie this is an absolutely must see, i highly recommend it.
one of the best movies from asia
subtile-cvs27 August 2009
initially the film title suggested me that it wd be a day to day routine Asian romantic comedy movie & first 15 - 20 minutes of the movie were not able to catch me.however i persisted to continue it and the film began to develop its plot pretty much.the storyline is simple but the way it is narrated and portrayed in the film adds a magnanimous element to the description.the total focus of the movie is uncovering the most powerful human expression - to yearn for love - in a manner quite uncommon to us.with a wish to spend the desired moment with her beloved at a particular spot adds seemingly believable attribute to the film. its not glorified in the way the Hollywood blockies are - titanic, a walk to remember & that-- but simple enough to kindle the spirit of love within your heart.a must watch movie for the serious movie lovers. hats off to the Japanese for giving such a brilliant film. this film continues to be in the all time top 5 romantic movies of mine.
Fantastic....no other word
tveron131 July 2006
My Japanese teacher gave me this film out of the blue one day. She often does it, and as I put it in my DVD player i didn't know what it was about. the only thing i knew was its title and this it starred Shibasaki Kou (my favourite since her work in Battle Royale and One Missed Call). My lack of expectations really enhanced the film. I had no idea where it was going, and as such it was all the more shocking to me when it all began to come together. The film is filled to the brim with gripping emotional moments. THe scene on the island, the piano in the gym scene, the wedding photo, the airport and the final scene in Australia (woohoo go Australia *does a little dance*) are all tear inducing (at least for me) I can unabashadly say i wept like a baby for much of this film. And not just little tears, hardcore streaming nose running tears. With the occasional audible sob in it as well. My only gripe is that it was quite long, but u become so engrossed in the story that you don't even realize. The acting is fantastic. THe actors for young Saku and Aki are mind-blowing in their portrayal of the younger lovers. Elder Saku (sadly do not know his name) and Ritsuko (Shibasaki Kou)get less screen time, but in their final moments of the film u get to see both of them and their fantastic skills. Particularly shibasaki. early int he film, she has a moment where she stares for what seems like eternity, and without moving at all begins to cry. It is gut-wrenching film Highly recommended to everyone. EVERYONE.
Japanese style love story
powerpia28 March 2006
yes it is good movie for me .
what is good for me ? the scene is so "neat " " cool ".
Japanese building , school atmosphere , school uniforms ( Americans
do not like it ) . good harbour front-side , beautiful port scenery .
yes it is cool . ( p.s , sydney harbour port is better cool ,why ?
from darling harbour , pot-point , botanical garden , to watson bay coast line course is so cool
Australian people do not build bank-walls (?) (not by cement walls ,
made in ceramic like stone ) .
the feel of stone is so antigue Australian have really loved harbor ,natural landscapes.
the last scene is very beautiful landscape .
the landscape could be Australia ? where ? is it right ? if someone knows it , tell me ?
the home of natural beauty is Australia ,
thank you for reading .
what is good for me ? the scene is so "neat " " cool ".
Japanese building , school atmosphere , school uniforms ( Americans
do not like it ) . good harbour front-side , beautiful port scenery .
yes it is cool . ( p.s , sydney harbour port is better cool ,why ?
from darling harbour , pot-point , botanical garden , to watson bay coast line course is so cool
Australian people do not build bank-walls (?) (not by cement walls ,
made in ceramic like stone ) .
the feel of stone is so antigue Australian have really loved harbor ,natural landscapes.
the last scene is very beautiful landscape .
the landscape could be Australia ? where ? is it right ? if someone knows it , tell me ?
the home of natural beauty is Australia ,
thank you for reading .
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