Haunted by tragedy, an obsessive man reaches his breaking level.
Following years of directing music movies and shorts, Taichi Kimura unleashes his spectacular first characteristic movie, “Afterglows.” Shot in black and white, the movie additionally includes a screenplay by the trio Ryosuke Asano, Takuma Hiramatsu, and Yasuhiro Kim. The film had its worldwide premiere on the Japannual Movie Pageant.
Verify additionally this interview
Cab driver Akira Morishima is grief-stricken following the demise of his girlfriend, Sayuri Komatsu, a profitable singer who tragically dedicated suicide. Whereas on the job, he listens to a radio essay named “Afterglows,” which prompts him to mirror on recollections together with his deceased lover. But, whereas Akira desperately tries to maneuver on together with his life, his obsessions develop into extra wicked, and his grip on actuality loosens. Finally, his life spirals uncontrolled.
Whereas its narrative and stylistic decisions could seem acquainted, “Afterglows” remains to be stuffed with surprises. It does a great job with its psychological drama, and boldly tackles the subject of psychological well being. The viewers is pulled into the top of the film’s troubled predominant character, who progresses from a relatable everyman to a ticking time bomb able to explode. The start deliberately misleads the viewers into the potential of a progress story whereas overcoming tragedy. But, viewers progressively understand it is a nightmarish story of obsession, and with that descent into madness, actuality turns into extra twisted, as does Akira’s morality. Finally, we surprise what’s actual or mere fabrication. His rising depravity is definitely not helped by the hypothesis surrounding his lover’s suicide in tabloid information or certainly one of his passengers bearing a placing resemblance to his deceased girlfriend. The movie can also be not afraid to sometimes shock audiences with brutal violence.
Depicting Akira Morishima’s fall from grace is Kentez Asaka, who really knocks it out of the park. He brings many feelings to his function, making this troubled man really feel like an actual particular person. His interactions with different characters have a distant, virtually alienated really feel, drastically helped by the actors performing reverse Asaka, similar to a restaurant common named Toshihiko Hakamada, performed by Akira Koieyama. One other spectacular efficiency comes from Megumi as Akira’s girlfriend, Sayuri Komatsu, and the girl who resembles her, Chisayo Nagayama. The identical particular person performs each characters, but they really feel like two utterly completely different folks.
Just like the efficiency of the lead, the environment is a vital part of the film’s descent into insanity, and “Afterglows” succeeds in droves. Tokyo is simply as distinguished a personality as Akira Morishima, having a dreamlike really feel from begin to end, going from heavenly to nightmarish. Lovely lighting and Seiya Uehara’s attractive cinematography assist additional invoke that dreamy really feel, together with the transcendent music by Thomas Yardley, ZAKINO, and Hiroyuki Onogawa.
“Afterglows” is a commendable first characteristic by Taichi Kimura. It is impressively directed and makes for a terrifying but partaking look into the thoughts of a disturbed particular person haunted by previous tragedy. The movie’s highlights are the immersive environment and the stellar efficiency from Kentez Asaka.
