Movie Digest
Families are complicated, but no matter what, they are still a family. Haruko is a single mother who loves clicking photographs of food and lives in a weird living situation. She lives with her son Riku, her friend Aiko and Aiko’s boyfriend Sorao. One day, an odd request from a familiar face leads her to house Yuko, who has to attend an art institute for the summer. Yuko just so happens to be the daughter of Haruko’s old friend Tomoyo. However, things didn’t go too well will Tomoyo and Haruko in the past, and with the housing of Yuko, the two must come to resolve or try and come to terms with their painful past. Will they manage to succeed, or will things remain uncomfortable? Watch this awkward yet wholesome coming-of-age movie and find out.
The Feel-Good Part
The film is a great victory for its director as it is a sequel to the first The Aoba’s Dining Table, which was a short drama. For long-time fans of the director, it is great to see how the director built on the film and transformed it into a full-length movie. Coming-of-age films have grown in popularity over the years. The film has all the makings of a good coming-of-age film. It has a bumbling and awkward protagonist, a challenge to get her life in control and relieve her past. Although the film tackles drama, it feels fun and light-hearted to watch.
The Disappointing Factor
There is not much you can take away from this film. It feels light due to the emptiness that comes from it. A lot of emotions are misplaced. For example, resolving dramatic tension comes with comedic relief, which does not translate well, especially since the movie is trying to be a relatable coming of age. This film also has so much awkwardness that it often makes it too uncomfortable to watch. There are several instances of humor that fail and seem annoying. This failure could be due to the overuse of quirky humor, which does not necessarily work out in every instance. However, despite all these minor problems, you root for the main characters to come together and resolve their issues. Even through all the awkwardness and painful moments, it is still a loveable film.
In-Depth Analysis
What makes the movie, so good is its ability to thrive on wholesomeness. Most of the decisions and actions throughout the film thrive on the idea of wholesomeness. Haruko allows Yuko to live with her despite unresolved issues with her mother and does not mistreat her. On the other hand, Yuko is just trying to make it in the art world. Whether or not everyone will love this film depends on how much drama they want and if they wish to see a simple movie about a woman and her friends getting by.
Star Power
Matsumoto Soushi is credited as the director and screenwriter of the film. The film comes from Matsumoto’s short film of the same name. His credits as a screenwriter and director are seen in several films, such as Omimi ni Aimashitara, It’s a Summer Film, Delivery Oni-san NEO, and much more. Nishida Naomi plays our main character Haruko. She can deliver the bumbling yet loveable character to perfection with her abilities. She has been seen in several movies and dramas, including Castella, Kao: Shaking Sen no Tatsujin, River’s Edge, A.D Girl: Things She Must Do Tomorrow, and more. Playing opposite her, we have Ichikawa Miwako, who plays Tomoyo. Her performance is so good that she can channel every aspect of the micromanaging mother to Kuribayashu Aino’s character of Yuko. She, in contrast, is simply awkward and trying to get by. Ichikawa Miwako had appeared in movies and TV shows such as Engimono: Haetorigami, Shiritsu Tantei Hama Mike, It All Began When I Met You, and more. We also have a lovely supporting cast that complete’s the table with Yorikawa Uta, who plays Riku, Oshinari Shugo, who plays Sarao, and Kubo Haruka, who plays Aiko.
Overall Opinion
This movie is touching, wholesome, and at times funny. The moments that land makes it great, and those that don’t may be difficult to watch. But even so, it is still a fantastic coming-of-age film.
