Movie Digest
Kei Tamai, a regional TV station assistant producer, is trying to conceive with her boyfriend, Yoshi. He promises he’ll marry her once she becomes pregnant, despite having given up his dream of being a famous comedian, and he frequently misses work. She uses contraception in secret while focusing on her work. Kei’s annoyance with Yoshi’s complaining reaches a breaking point, and she begins to walk out on him. He tries to stop her out of desperation by dropping a bombshell: “I’m pregnant, so let’s get married.” Kei confronts her obliviousness when her career and relationship go off the rails.
The Feel-Good Part
The story’s presentation with handheld camera shots worked well for the film. There is a good amount of romance and comedy mixed in this film.
The Disappointing Factor
The film’s slow pace may lose the interest and attention span of the audience.
In-Depth Analysis
Shooting a film entirely from a woman’s perspective, especially one who is 30 or older, is not the norm in Japanese cinema. Thus “My Sorry Life” stands out as a courageous effort by Kozue Nomoto. This film is absurd in a few ways, such as all the characters are unlikable, and the idea of a Yoshi being pregnant and Kei accepting it is the definition of absurdity. The central source of comedy in the story is Yoshi declaring himself pregnant, but Nomoto keeps this aspect rather understated. My Sorry Life” is a unique and original drama that achieved realism through a directorial and scriptwriting technique that emphasizes that life and people are full of grey areas rather than black-and-white. It is an excellent example of the Japanese “no-budget” industry. Nomoto’s gentle comedic drama never lets its heroine off the hook, but it does allow her to discover a new direction, if only by addressing herself and her surroundings. The film could have gone down a more dramatic path. But Nomoto opted for a storyline centered on hilarity and weirdness, which contributes to the pleasure without detracting from the presentation of the various societal commentary.
Star Power
Maki Fujiwara’s portrayal of Kei contributes to the best possible presentation of the delicate balance between comedy and drama. Yoshi, played by Akiyoshi Okayashu, is the film’s central source of humor.
Overall Opinion
It is a different but original film. It may or may not be your cup of tea!
