Drama Digest
“Ai Naki Mori de Sakebe” is a mystery thriller series directed by Sono Sion. It was released on Netflix on the 30th of April, 2020. The title translates to “The Forest Of Love: Deep Cut.” The series is a mystery thriller series about the story of a charismatic conman and an aspiring film crew delving into the lives of two emotionally scarred women. The series has been based on the late 1900s. The story begins with Hiroko, her boyfriend, and her sister taking a break in a forest. The couple walks out for some fresh air, and encounter the dead body of a young girl. Hiroko is terrified, returns to the car and starts hyperventilating. The story then transitions to a flashback of an all-girls school where Eiko, Mitsuko and Taeko, along with their other friends, are practicing for their play, “Romeo and Juliet.” The story progresses into Eiko dying from a road accident, and Mitsuko and Taeko coping with their love for her. The narrative then cuts to 1995, where Shin, a homeless musician who has just come to Tokyo, meets Jay, an aspiring filmmaker, and Fukami, a cameraman. After realizing that Shin is a virgin, Jay takes him to Taeko’s place, who has now become a slut, for losing his virginity. But somehow, she refuses and introduces him to Mitsuko, who is still a virgin due to her attraction toward Eiko. Taeko forces Mitsuko to move on from Eiko but fails. After Taeko, Shin, Jay, and Fukami leave Mitsuko’s house; she gets a call from a mysterious guy called Joe Murata, who has the girl’s yearbook with crosses on everyone’s faces except for Mitsuko and Taeko. Even though she is hesitant, she meets up with him, and realizes that he might be the guy she has been waiting for all her life. The story revolves around how Shin and Jay unintentionally end up in the mysterious unfolding of the lives of Mitsuko, Taeko and Murata. Will Mitsuko and Taeko finally move on from Eiko? Is Murata a decent guy or is he much more dangerous than he seems? Will Shin and Jay be able to solve this mess?
The Feel-Good Part
The exciting part of the series is the storytelling. The storytelling is unique in its portrayal. The series will make you feel a proper twist and turn of emotions. The series starts with murder, then cuts to a completely unrelated sexual appeal and romance, then cuts to drama, then cuts back to the mystery, and the chain goes on. The series leaves the audience completely confused until the end.
The Disappointing Factor
The disappointing bit is the ending of the series. The series builds up much tension but doesn’t give a fulfilling end. To some extent, it might feel like there wasn’t as much in the end as portrayed by the filmmaker throughout the series. For some viewers, the series might get too explicit. The explicit scenes in the series pop up with you giving a heads up. These might get a little annoying for viewers.
In-Depth Analysis
The series is a series adaptation for the 2019 film The Forest of Love. It is an extended cut, with two extra hours, of story time of the 2019 film. For people who have watched the film, the series might seem unnecessarily stretched. But, at the same time, it gives a lot more depth to the story shown in the film. It clears a lot of doubts that were left unresolved in the film. Furthermore, it is a well-shot series that gives justice to the genres while also making proper use of filmmaking elements, such as breaking the fourth wall. The series has been based on a real-life story about the criminal case named Kitakyushu Serial Murder Incident that occurred between 1996 and 1998. The name of the real culprit is Futoshi Matsunaga.
Star Power
The casting is crucial for a series like this. The role of Murata has a lot of depth as a character and needs someone who can easily portray the minutest of details. And Shiina Kippei has done justice to the role. The filmmaker has accurately decided to go with the same cast as the film. This makes it like the extended cut of the film for the audience who chooses to watch both the film and the series.
Overall Opinion
Overall, the series is a must-watch for all thrill lovers. For the audience who has watched the film, the story might get repetitive, but it is worth a one-time watch as it answers the unresolved questions of the film.
