Just recently, I happened to watch a Japanese short film of 35 minutes, "Nanika ga kabe wo koete kuru" - English title "Something wicked comes over the wall" [https://vimeo.com/groups/1615/videos/53159350]
Thanks to the English sub-titles embedded, anybody interested can watch this one and enjoy it with equal effect.
Before reading further, if you are someone, with any previous association with Japan, I think, you should just go ahead and watch this one. And for others, or for those who need a review before doing so, I wish to convey my take on this film.
Firstly, despite being a "short film", all the elements in this film are just at par with any full length movies we see in theaters. The Cinematography is great with HD quality video, presentation of story is unique, background music is apt and the suspense-thriller element is very well maintained throughout the movie.
When writing about a film, I mostly try to see what the director is trying to say. But before we talk about all that, let me start with a special note on the production elements of this movie as such.
May it be casting of the characters; selection of the appropriate props [like a van old enough for its owner to curse it]; implementation of covert promotions [Starbucks and 7-11 :-)]; it is all done so well even for a short film; you never feel the difference between a full length movie and this one at any instant.
And yes, all the three actors have portrayed their characters so damn well, that Layla, Amy and Osaki all look real. Within first few minutes itself, their persona becomes evident to the audience through the way they talk, the statements they make and the reactions they give.
That is a great achievement on part of all the actors Saori, Chiaki and Ryunosuke [shunning the usual Japanese convention to address people, I hope they won't mind :-)]
Coming to the storyline, the plot changes itself from a seemingly teen movie in first 7-8 minutes [with a bunch of girls talking about their boyfriends and their tastes in music and stuff] and then gradually thickens into a horror-suspense-thriller [with mention of ghosts and previous encounters of a mutual friend with such ghosts] and then as the darkness disappears and sun light comes in, plot of the movie rises into a drama with all the emotions needed.
I loved this aspect of the movie for the way all the changes are subtly introduced.
This movie has an excellent use of metaphors. The Wall itself is a metaphor, used for an actual wall overseeing waves of the sea and a blockade preserving all the emotions of someone desperately trying to hide her vulnerability.
Of course, during the course of the movie, this vulnerability gradually unfolds itself. And as it does, our impression of a teen girl changes - first she is a carefree open-minded teenager, struggling to make her mark and her living, ready to take up any job if it gives her money. Then, we come across a girl who does not believe in super-cosmic nature of things, may it be ghosts, or may it be lucky stars. When the personal tragedy of this girl is revealed, she takes all measures necessary to show that those tragedies have had no effect on her and she has just a casual on-looker approach to it all, revealing yet another side of her persona.
But when the moment comes, we see that she is about to collapse admitting failure of the wall, the one near the sea, and the one in her mind. In the end, we see that a little hope of happiness sprinkles in her mind, although she is aware of the fact that it may not last very long. In my opinion, although we see all three characters on screen for most of its length, the real protagonist of the movie is Layla.
On the other hand, although Amy is a girl who believes in miracles, in luck of the stars, in magic of the festivals and in horror of the ghosts; her hopefulness is also the one, which we equally admire. She is the one with a promise of happiness even in midst of devastation. That brings joy to all viewers, even during those last few minutes of the film. I liked her character for this surge of hope that she brings in.
I see Osaki as the one who gives a reality check to the girls from time to time, through his dialogues and quotes. Hearing about the ghosts, when panic strikes the girls he reminds them of their job. When Layla is about to cry over the wall, letting her mental wall collapse, he appears in the frame and informs of the car, reminding the girls that the world is watching. In the movie centered mostly around conversation of both the girls, Osaki manages to make his place through his timely, meaningful and metaphoric interruptions.
All-in-all, all those who love a good movie, just go ahead and watch this one. All those who like to fast forward a movie and watch, this is JUST 35 minutes long. All those who love Japan and have been to Japan even once, watch this movie and you will find that you identify yourselves at least partly, with the sentiments of these three youth in the movie.
I found this great movie recently, because one of my friends is directly associated with it. I didn't mention about it in the review earlier and I am not mentioning her name here, because after watching this movie, I now know that there are many more reasons for not only me and my friends, but everyone who loves movies and/or loves Japan, to watch this one. Go for it folks !!
Thanks to the English sub-titles embedded, anybody interested can watch this one and enjoy it with equal effect.
Before reading further, if you are someone, with any previous association with Japan, I think, you should just go ahead and watch this one. And for others, or for those who need a review before doing so, I wish to convey my take on this film.
When writing about a film, I mostly try to see what the director is trying to say. But before we talk about all that, let me start with a special note on the production elements of this movie as such.
May it be casting of the characters; selection of the appropriate props [like a van old enough for its owner to curse it]; implementation of covert promotions [Starbucks and 7-11 :-)]; it is all done so well even for a short film; you never feel the difference between a full length movie and this one at any instant.
And yes, all the three actors have portrayed their characters so damn well, that Layla, Amy and Osaki all look real. Within first few minutes itself, their persona becomes evident to the audience through the way they talk, the statements they make and the reactions they give.
That is a great achievement on part of all the actors Saori, Chiaki and Ryunosuke [shunning the usual Japanese convention to address people, I hope they won't mind :-)]
Coming to the storyline, the plot changes itself from a seemingly teen movie in first 7-8 minutes [with a bunch of girls talking about their boyfriends and their tastes in music and stuff] and then gradually thickens into a horror-suspense-thriller [with mention of ghosts and previous encounters of a mutual friend with such ghosts] and then as the darkness disappears and sun light comes in, plot of the movie rises into a drama with all the emotions needed.
I loved this aspect of the movie for the way all the changes are subtly introduced.
This movie has an excellent use of metaphors. The Wall itself is a metaphor, used for an actual wall overseeing waves of the sea and a blockade preserving all the emotions of someone desperately trying to hide her vulnerability.
Of course, during the course of the movie, this vulnerability gradually unfolds itself. And as it does, our impression of a teen girl changes - first she is a carefree open-minded teenager, struggling to make her mark and her living, ready to take up any job if it gives her money. Then, we come across a girl who does not believe in super-cosmic nature of things, may it be ghosts, or may it be lucky stars. When the personal tragedy of this girl is revealed, she takes all measures necessary to show that those tragedies have had no effect on her and she has just a casual on-looker approach to it all, revealing yet another side of her persona.
But when the moment comes, we see that she is about to collapse admitting failure of the wall, the one near the sea, and the one in her mind. In the end, we see that a little hope of happiness sprinkles in her mind, although she is aware of the fact that it may not last very long. In my opinion, although we see all three characters on screen for most of its length, the real protagonist of the movie is Layla.
On the other hand, although Amy is a girl who believes in miracles, in luck of the stars, in magic of the festivals and in horror of the ghosts; her hopefulness is also the one, which we equally admire. She is the one with a promise of happiness even in midst of devastation. That brings joy to all viewers, even during those last few minutes of the film. I liked her character for this surge of hope that she brings in.
I see Osaki as the one who gives a reality check to the girls from time to time, through his dialogues and quotes. Hearing about the ghosts, when panic strikes the girls he reminds them of their job. When Layla is about to cry over the wall, letting her mental wall collapse, he appears in the frame and informs of the car, reminding the girls that the world is watching. In the movie centered mostly around conversation of both the girls, Osaki manages to make his place through his timely, meaningful and metaphoric interruptions.
All-in-all, all those who love a good movie, just go ahead and watch this one. All those who like to fast forward a movie and watch, this is JUST 35 minutes long. All those who love Japan and have been to Japan even once, watch this movie and you will find that you identify yourselves at least partly, with the sentiments of these three youth in the movie.
I found this great movie recently, because one of my friends is directly associated with it. I didn't mention about it in the review earlier and I am not mentioning her name here, because after watching this movie, I now know that there are many more reasons for not only me and my friends, but everyone who loves movies and/or loves Japan, to watch this one. Go for it folks !!
