Movie Digest
The movie is about a writer Maki who is in a slump. One day, she quarrels with her neighbor over a futon. The neighbor starts harassing Maki, who ends up writing about her in her new book. The fight between these two women ends up in a media frenzy and on social media.
The Feel-Good Part
The movie shows how as a society we need to be more tolerant of people different than us. The movie teaches many good values. ‘Love thy neighbor’ is an important lesson taught. It also teaches how facts can get manipulated on social media. While initially seeming obnoxious, ‘Mrs. Noisy’ later becomes a more three-dimensional personality with problems of her own.
The Disappointing Factor
While both characters produce compelling cases, the actual viewing experience was lacking. Maki’s husband is not very supportive of her, but in the end, he faces no repercussions. Despite all his wrongdoings, he is shown to be blameless. This seems to give a misogynistic message that a man’s mistakes might be overlooked, but the smallest mistakes of a woman would be scrutinized. One feels that most of the problems in the movie could have been solved had the characters been more intelligent.
In-Depth Analysis
The movie is based on a real-life Japanese case. It shows how dangerous social media can be. Often on social media, we see only one side of the argument and don’t make the right judgment. We have all had to face the one uncouth, boorish, and rude neighbor we have the misfortune of meeting.
Star Power
The movie stars Yukiko Shinohara and Yoko Otako. It is directed by Chihiro Amano, whose short films are known to win prestigious awards.
Overall Opinion
The movie gently delivers a strong message. While the ending is not very satisfying, the complexity of the main leads makes up for it. But it doesn’t satisfy your craving for movies where there is a real crisis and where the problems are truly unsolvable, despite the smartness of the characters. The premise is interesting and unusual. It is a light movie and enjoyable to watch.
