Director
Yukinori Makabe
Writer
Harumi Doki
Cast
Matsuya Onoe, Kanako Momota, Nicole Ishida, Hayato Kakizawa
Composer
Daisuke Suzuki
contact
Hakuhodo DY music & pitures Inc.
Official website
They say it's unhealthy to bottle up your emotions. Makoto, an elite employee at one of Tokyo's biggest banks, has learned this the hard way. The poor guy is so closed off, and has built up so much frustration, that when he is about to receive an important promotion, he can't help but shower a volley of gratuitous insults on his boss. As a result, he finds himself transferred to a small rural town, in the middle of nowhere. Once there, he meets the sweet Yoshino, the owner of a strange establishment where the customers compete in goldfish fishing. He immediately falls in love with her, but strongly resists this unwanted feeling. Then there is the exuberant local pub owner, Asuka, who seems to have a crush on him. Caught up in an emotional whirlwind, Makoto will have to learn to tame and express his emotions before he explodes again, and unwittingly sends everyone packing.
If you're looking for a heartwarming film that will slap an uncontrollable smile on your face, Yukinori Makabe's (I AM A MONK) musical LOVE, LIFE AND GOLDFISH is a must-see on your summer list. With its extremely catchy J-Pop songs perfectly integrated into the story and its engaging characters played to the hilt, this superb adaptation of Noriko Otani's manga Sukuttegoran reminds us of the importance of freeing ourselves from self-imposed barriers that sometimes keep us trapped within ourselves. Thanks to fabulous set design – enhanced by remarkable lighting work, in which shades of blue and red enhance the breathtakingly beautiful photography – Makabe makes us want to live forever in this bucolic village touched by gentle enchantment, where goldfish reign supreme. Let yourself get snagged by this feelgood movie that will make you wriggle with delight. Translation: Rupert Bottenberg
Showings
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