It's about a girl who only cares about money and exploits friendship to her advantage becomes a good person again after meeting a man she loves. Beautiful cinematography especially the raining scenes. The ending is pretty touching.
12 Reviews
You ever see a stalker this cute before?
elsinefilo20 August 2010
Warning: Spoilers
17 year old Rio (Nozomi Sasaki),along with her friends, is the cynosure of the high school she attends. Due to her traumatic pass that turned Rio bad,Rio starts to be kind only to those she could use. One day, Rio pretends to save a girl named Tomoko (Hikaru Yamamoto) from getting bullied by Naoko (Araki Nanaki). The whole plan is actually done to talk Tomoko into being part of the compensated dating service they are involved in. The girls just have the time of their lives, entertain older guys and they accumulate money they can easily spend. During one of their spending sprees, the girls take their photographs. When they want to get the photographs developed, they realize the photography studio gave them the photographs of someone else by mistaking the surname "Ozawa". Rio just calls the guy, Kouki (Shosuke Tanihara) and arranges to meet him to exchange the photos. When they meet, Rio just feels a sudden urge to get to know this guy better and so she makes up different things to try to make him like her. Thirty two-year old college professor Ozawa Kouki, is unfortunately the opposite of Rio's character emotionally. He is anti-social,depressive and simply not good with people while the very subject,people are just the specialty of the feisty Rio.While love emotionally transforms Rio, it will fill Ozawa with keen or buoyant enjoyment of life.This plot refers to a predictable romance structure actually and yes, Tenshi no koi is indeed predictably structured and heavily formulaic. At points it sounds promising and offbeat but then again it meanders slowly through the typical initiation scenes of a romantic movie. Still, I can't say I did not like this movie in spite of all the lack of subtlety because Nozomi Sasaki turns the eyesore into a cynosure. She plays the high schooler most beautifully and sweetly. The chemistry between her and Shosuke Tanihara is just so lovely and that there are some truly memorable scenes in the movie. For instance,at one point in the movie Rio just wants to have more time with the professor and she just follows her no matter what. When he asks him why she just follows her she answers back simply:"Because you're there." Upon her insistence, the professor retorts : "Listen, some might call this "stalking." Rio's answer is just as sweet as it gets :" You ever see a stalker this cute before?" Other than the perfect personal chemistry between the stars, the movie touches upon a repeatedly treated subject in romantic movies "significant age difference" between the lovers. What makes this movie different from the similar romantic movies is that the age difference does not necessarily reflect a normality of modern age.In time,love between,say, a 60 year old man and 35 year old woman became a normalcy but love which refers to a teacher-student relationship is still a taboo in most places.In the movie, you feel that Rio's love is not teased as a student crush. You really see that her feelings are taken seriously in a non-judgmental way. Last but not least, do not let the film poster mislead you into assuming that this is one raunchy movie. The movie which shows the bare back of Nozomi Sasaki must be intended to attract the fans of her.Just enjoy the movie and the great soundtracks!
Didn't work for me
mister_bateman25 October 2020
So this 17 year old literal prostitute (she "sells" herself out to an older rich guy for money and she does escort on top of it, she also bullies and manipulates other girls into joining her depraved path) falls in love with a handsome professor. She charms the poor guy into falling for her too, without telling him about her "past". What follows is a redemption story of her wanting to start anew, which just didn't work at all for me. There are reasons why she became so messed up, but some things you just can't come back from and being a prostitute is one of them. That's why I could not relate or sympathize at all with her and the ensuing romance didn't touch me at all. And let's be honest, for most other viewers it probably wouldn't work either if she wasn't pretty. To be fair, if it wasn't for that one thing, it would be a pretty nice movie.
This movie was suggested to me online and what a surprise
cqz-244913 October 2017
Where should I begin?
Great story that entertains and engages you. Fun circumstances and a world of wonder that is so different from my day-to-day, but is real enough that allows me to dream and imagine myself in this situation.
The girls. The girls. Apparently in Japan it is not a crime to be pretty and sexy and dress well. I suppose they don't have obese women who will hate on them.
Hollywood, I hope this film does not become popular as a result of streaming websites. Then you will try to remake it with an agenda of ugliness, grossness and the women will be pathetically anti-beauty.
Great story that entertains and engages you. Fun circumstances and a world of wonder that is so different from my day-to-day, but is real enough that allows me to dream and imagine myself in this situation.
The girls. The girls. Apparently in Japan it is not a crime to be pretty and sexy and dress well. I suppose they don't have obese women who will hate on them.
Hollywood, I hope this film does not become popular as a result of streaming websites. Then you will try to remake it with an agenda of ugliness, grossness and the women will be pathetically anti-beauty.
Good story with better dialogues.
moviesknight25 August 2020
Good story ruined by acting, direction, and painting a different canvas of prostitution. The story, dialogues and change of prospective are the only positives. The change in the life makes you happy. Teenage prostitution, friends, bullying, blackmail is all dealt in a vague way. Happy ending makes it too optimistic. Life is not always fair. Friends, forgiving and love is all we have in this life.
Nozomi Sasaki A Goddess
i-918697 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Truth is you can put the main actress in this film, Nozomi Sasaki, on film standing there for 2 hours and I would watch. She is a goddess of face, goddess of body, goddess of legs, goddess of smile and goddess of acting. Just here in this film you can see her convincing acting ability as a friend, then as a prostitute, then as a schoolgirl, then as a lover, etc. She manages them all perfectly.
It does not hurt that she is surrounded by pretty girl, but I have deducted a point for the complete lack of parents. Where are the parents? The story flows from the school to her routine and back to the school setting.
Nozomi Sasaki, and friends, are beautiful, gorgeous, pretty, sexy and attractive and I suggest women take a close look and work on themselves after being inspired. It is OK if you look at her and feel inadequate. Do not hate. Be inspired instead and work on improving yourself with her as a 10/10 inspiration.
It does not hurt that she is surrounded by pretty girl, but I have deducted a point for the complete lack of parents. Where are the parents? The story flows from the school to her routine and back to the school setting.
Nozomi Sasaki, and friends, are beautiful, gorgeous, pretty, sexy and attractive and I suggest women take a close look and work on themselves after being inspired. It is OK if you look at her and feel inadequate. Do not hate. Be inspired instead and work on improving yourself with her as a 10/10 inspiration.
You just can't get over the horrible plot
codyprinceton1 April 2021
Yes, of course teenage prostitution is all rainbows, flowers, and fun! Being a high school student and sleeping around with ugly, old, and fat men definitely doesn't affect your mental health or life whatsoever. There is no internal conflict, no doubt, no regret, no disgust, no shame, no nothing. Bullying and manipulating your virgin classmates into prostitution is clearly one of the best ways to make more friends (and money, of course). Don't worry, you'll be forgiven of everything after you fainted once.
And of course that it is acceptable for a 35-year-old teacher to date a high school student if he has an illness and she is the one pursuing him. Totally fine.
Now, besides the nonsensical, bad behavior glorifying plot, the acting is very bad; either the characters are supposed to act and talk like no real human would ever (especially the females characters here), or the actors are just bad. :)
And of course that it is acceptable for a 35-year-old teacher to date a high school student if he has an illness and she is the one pursuing him. Totally fine.
Now, besides the nonsensical, bad behavior glorifying plot, the acting is very bad; either the characters are supposed to act and talk like no real human would ever (especially the females characters here), or the actors are just bad. :)
A very Ordinary Japanese Teen Drama
mrcibubur22 October 2010
This is not one of the best Japanese films I have ever seen and the story is very flat but i managed to watch the film until the end. the story for me lacks depth and not because I follow it in the native Japanese language with English sub-titles. Viewed simplistically, it is an enjoyable teen drama about a young girl who seems to get bullied and then protected and then sucked it to behave like the other girls and the girls are trendy and have a seedy purpose in going with men (we presume) in order to get money but the film is no way seedy and there are no scenes of a sexual nature at all throughout the film. In that sense, the film is tastefully produced and compelled my viewing. It might have been perceived as a comedy but that failed my cultural understanding. I have scored the film lowly but if I were a teenager and female and Japanese, the film would surely have a lot of appeal.
A lengthy dramatic music video.
xcon797726 August 2012
A showcase of then national(?) pride, Japanese AV idol, Sasaki Nozomi - literally. This could be made into a music video and would still purvey the whole story. Eye candy in a better and wholesome package. In any case, I don't know what my standards (or of culture) are at right now but for the material, she can definitely act her part.
Forget character development unlike similar themed Asian dramas like "Crying Out Love in the Center of the World (Sekai no Chûshin de, Ai o Sakebu, 2004)", "A Moment to Remember (Nae Meorisokui Jiwoogae, 2004)", "My Girl and I (Parang-juuibo, 2005), "Closer to Heaven (Nae Sa-rang Nae Gyeol-ae)", "Forever and a Day (Filipino, 2011)", "All My Life" (Filipino, 2004)", etc. OR even "Untamed Heart (American, 1993); 'tis a whirlwind of accelerated emotions, situations and conflicts. Don't expect much conveyance of emotions either. I get more uneasy from watching uploaded commercials of a Thai insurance company.
Cinematography was beautifully shot regardless of location, with the perennial focus and zoom on Miss Sasaki's too perfect a profile not lacking. It was too much to not ponder on that I reluctantly asked my teen-aged daughter (whom I was watching this with, and yes there where uncomfortable parts!); "Can they Photoshop a whole movie?".
Plot was not as hard to miss, just that it was progressing too fast to be expected. If it was made into a mini-series then much would rather make sense (like Hotaru no Hikari, which is WAY out of context). Other characters or sub-plots are just as forgettable as they come and go. Culture shock would be not as hard as to come by judging from various taboos the story includes (excessive and disturbing school bullying, disturbing "part-time" jobs for minors, co-habitation situations, etc.).
All in all, its characters are beautiful, flaws are bearable and definitely watchable just don't expect it to conform to your norms and values (maybe unless you're from where this movie came from).
Forget character development unlike similar themed Asian dramas like "Crying Out Love in the Center of the World (Sekai no Chûshin de, Ai o Sakebu, 2004)", "A Moment to Remember (Nae Meorisokui Jiwoogae, 2004)", "My Girl and I (Parang-juuibo, 2005), "Closer to Heaven (Nae Sa-rang Nae Gyeol-ae)", "Forever and a Day (Filipino, 2011)", "All My Life" (Filipino, 2004)", etc. OR even "Untamed Heart (American, 1993); 'tis a whirlwind of accelerated emotions, situations and conflicts. Don't expect much conveyance of emotions either. I get more uneasy from watching uploaded commercials of a Thai insurance company.
Cinematography was beautifully shot regardless of location, with the perennial focus and zoom on Miss Sasaki's too perfect a profile not lacking. It was too much to not ponder on that I reluctantly asked my teen-aged daughter (whom I was watching this with, and yes there where uncomfortable parts!); "Can they Photoshop a whole movie?".
Plot was not as hard to miss, just that it was progressing too fast to be expected. If it was made into a mini-series then much would rather make sense (like Hotaru no Hikari, which is WAY out of context). Other characters or sub-plots are just as forgettable as they come and go. Culture shock would be not as hard as to come by judging from various taboos the story includes (excessive and disturbing school bullying, disturbing "part-time" jobs for minors, co-habitation situations, etc.).
All in all, its characters are beautiful, flaws are bearable and definitely watchable just don't expect it to conform to your norms and values (maybe unless you're from where this movie came from).
I mean,i have rated alot movies before but honestly m here only for her.
suvechhabose10 July 2020
I saw it back in 2014.
The story was beautiful from start to finish,
The cinematography,music,pacing is perfect for a romantic movie.
I don't see romantic movies often but worth seeing this one
The cast was phenomenal ,
She was mesmerizing.
Watch it cause it's hard to write words for this movie ,you can only experience it but never explain it.
Watch it cause it's hard to write words for this movie ,you can only experience it but never explain it.
La Belle Personne?
spasticreactic29 July 2011
Is it just me, or does this feel like a weird ripoff of La Belle Personne? A beautiful girl comes to a new school, but due to her tragic background fails to form meaningful relationships. The girl is cold and somewhat unpleasant to be around. Despite this frigid behavior, she becomes involved with at least one of the many boys who admire her, but she is unable to completely reciprocate the feelings. Then, a teacher comes along. For some reason, they can love and make a movie out of it, but they cannot stay together.
Fin.
(Rei and Junie even have the same haircut!)
Fin.
(Rei and Junie even have the same haircut!)
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