Movie Digest
A Girl on the Shore (うみべの女の子) is a Japanese film adaptation based on the manga/novel of the same title by Asano Inio. Headed under the skillful direction of Ueda Atsushi, the film came out in the cinemas on the 20th of August, 2021. It spans a running time of an hour and forty-seven minutes. The narrative centers around a middle-high schooler and senior student and the romance developing between them.
The Feel-Good Part
Set on a shadowy background with blue overtones, A Girl on the Shore becomes a perfect pain reliever for people dealing with suicidal ideation and faulty relationships. The film, with its plot, explores and enables the viewers to explore their sexualities, something that remains a topic of taboo in Japanese society.
The Disappointing Factor
What needs to be addressed in A Girl on the Shore is the exploration of Young-Old underage relationships. Fans still stir in complicated feelings about whether to hail this movie for its plot or criticize it for the disempowered’s exploitation in that power dynamic.
In-Depth Analysis
Koume identifies as the girl on the shore, going to a middle school where her ex-boyfriend dumps her for ridiculous reasons. Heartbroken and looking for a rebound to cope with her feelings, she meets Keisuke. Keisuke is a senior student who lives in his own trauma induced by the suicide of his older brother. Both, grappling with their inner conflicts and demons, come across as blossoming each other in different ways. However, things take unlikely turns and twists when Keisuke decides to break up with Koume.
Star Power
To get across a movie heavily relying on metaphors and symbolism, the flawlessness of the cast became essential for the scriptwriters. The line-up involves Ishikawa Ruka as Sato Koume, Aoki Yuzu as Isobe Keisuke, Maeda Oshiro as Kashima Shota, Nakata Seina as Kobayashi Keiko, Kura Yuki as Sanzaki Misaki, Murakami Jun as Isobe Hideo, Miyazaki Yu as Shirase Kanae, Takahashi Rion as Yunohara Akira, Hirai Amon as Otsu Katsutoshi, Marui Wan as Suzuki Mari, Nishi Yoshuke, Takasaki Kanami, and Imaoka Shinji as Saato Mitsuru.
Overall Opinion
Being more than an hour long, viewers deem it ideal for a cozy night tuck-in. It becomes interesting to explore pre-teenage and teenage romantic/sexual relationships.
