Movie Digest
Kafuku Yusuke is happily married to his wife, Oto. Yusuke is an actor and director, and Oto is a playwriter. Everything was perfect, or so it seems, but then Oto is gone, and she leaves behind a secret.
After two years, in a theater festival, Yusuke takes the job of the director, with which he is also assigned a chauffeur whose name is Misaki. The cast and crew are mounted in tension as the play day approaches, and in stabilizing the situation, Misaki proves helpful. Misaki also helps Yusuke confront his past when he comes across Koshi Takatsuki, who has some connection with his late wife.
The Feel-Good Part
Of course, when it’s Murakami’s work, the movie has to be full of surprises. It has excellent cinematography and is shot in breathtaking and prime locations of Tokyo and Hiroshima. The scenes are very beautiful.
The Disappointing Factor
The movie is a bit too long. It is a three-hour-long movie that could have been cut short to approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, but it just goes on and on. It feels a bit draggy with everything happening in the last 10 minutes.
In-Depth Analysis
It’s been two years since Kafuku Yusuke’s wife’s sudden death. Yusuke receives an offer as play director of Uncle Vanya in the theater festival at Hiroshima. He is assigned Misaki Watari to chauffeur him in his red Saab 900.
As the play day comes near, the tension between the cast and crew increases, but Misaki helps get the situation under control.
But then Yusuke is confronted by Koshi Takatsuki, a striking, handsome TV actor who has some unrequited connection with his late wife. Misaki then helps him face the terrifying truths his wife left behind.
Star Power
Hidetoshi Nishijima is one of the best actors, and it shows. He pulled the character of Yusuke so effortlessly, and he was so natural. Tokyo Miura’s character was a little tomboyish, and she seemed to handle it just fine. The supporting roles were also good.
Overall Opinion
It is a fantastic movie with an intriguing plot but just a little lengthy. But it works fine because somewhere, the storyline keeps you engaged. The film is worth it.
