Date of watching - 2nd week of February 2011
Country of Origin - Japan
Rating IMDB - 7.2 out of 10
My Rating - 6/10
There is no deficiency in terms of eye candies in this movie. First, the almost all-female ensemble are all bishoujo; yup, they're all beautiful. Second, the film's scenery is just lovely; the old school house, the cherry blossoms, the greenery. Everything looks appealing on screen. However, the visual beauty offered by the movie cannot compensate for the slow pace of the plot, and the almost bland acting by the young cast.
Saki Fukada and the statuesque Anne
Do you know that Anne is Ken Watanabe's daughter?
I said in my last movie review that I love mellow movies. Yes, I love movies that are simple and serene, but not too serene that it could almost put me to sleep. There's simple and straight-forward storytelling that doesn't entail wailing, shouting or unnecessary laughter. The story itself will draw those feelings out of the audience. Just like the movie, Departures, which I really loved. I mean, others even accused the movie of blatantly and shamelessly manipulating the audience to tears, or at least on the verge of tears. On the other hand, there are movies like The Cherry Orchard that plants a seed of boredom in your mind and before you know it, the seed becomes a stalk that is now sprouting stems and leaves.
What is the plot, anyway? Saki Fukuda, who played the lead, decided to throw her promising music career as a violinist and transferred to an all-girl school during her last year in high school where her mom and sis graduated from. The school appeared to exact respect and obedience from its docile students. Of course, the lead would have none of it and while sneaking into the old school house, she found a version of the play, The Cherry Orchard. She and her new friends decided to stage the play but their teacher told them the school won't allow it; the school didn't allow the play to be staged when the teacher was a student then. The students now decided to proceed with the play and even found a club (bar) where they could stage their performance. Of course, their secret was found out and the lead was suspended for the non-sanctioned activity, and for hanging out at a club (who wouldn't?).
Apparently, the play before was shelved because one member got pregnant and when the school found out, she committed suicide. But surprise, surprise. The school was not against the staging of the play per se. It wanted the play to be performed in school and not elsewhere, and definitely not in a club.
Maybe, the plot just did not appeal to me. Well, that is arguable. However, I just find the loose ends of the movie really loose. The purported rebellious side of the students is not really rebellious. The perceived challenge made against the authority is hardly a challenge at all. I mean, what happened to the musical career of the lead, played by the beautiful Saki Fukuda, in the movie? Did she find her purpose in life after ditching her violin and performing Anton Chekov's The Cherry Orchard in school? I have one too many questions to ask to be honest.
If there is something that I love in the movie, aside of course from all the beauty that abounds, including the stunning visuals, is the camaraderie of the students. It was honest. Sincere. And that's about it. At least I learned something: I don't want to be in a drama club. It entails lots of physical exercise. I like it better when I just watch as an audience.
So picturesque! The scenery is both calming and mesmerizing.
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