Set in the 1960's, high school student Toru Watanabe (Kenichi Matsuyama) loses his only friend Kizuki (Kengo Kora) after he commits suicide. Toru, now looking for a new life, enters a university in Tokyo. By chance, Toru meets Kizuki's ex-girlfriend Naoko (Rinko Kikuchi) in the university. They grow close because they both share the same loss. As Toru and Naoko grow even closer, Naoko's sense of loss also grows. After Naoko's 20th birthday, she leaves for a sanitarium in Kyoto. Watanabe, devastated by the situation, meets pure-hearted Midori (Kiko Mizuhara) during the spring semester. Midori looks like a small animal that just came into the world ... Film Festivals 2010 (67th) Venice Film Festival - September 1-11 - Venezia 67 (Competition) *World Premiere 2010 (35th) Toronto International Film Festival - September 9-19 - Special Presentations *North American Premiere 2011 (13th) Deauville Asian Film Festival - March 9 - 13, 2011 - The Features Competition *French Premiere 2011 (3rd) Pan-Asia Film Festival - March 1-13, 2011 *UK Premiere Awards "Best Cinematography" - 2011 (5th) Asian Film Awards - March 21, 2011 Source: AsianMediaWiki

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  Matsuyama Kenichi (Toru Watanabe)

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  Kikuchi Rinko (Reiko )

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  Tamayama Tetsuji (Nagasawa)

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  Kora Kengo (Kizuki)

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  Emoto Tokio (Storm Trooper)

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  Mizuhara Kiko (Midori)

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• Feb 7, 2012 1 of 1 episodes seen

  Patch
  5 of 5 people found this review helpful
  Other reviews by this user
  • Overall  8
  • Story  10
  • Acting/Cast  8
  • Music  8
  • Rewatch Value  7

  The common mistake with fans and adaptations are the comparisons made between the original and the versions. People tend to have high expectations and end up disappointed. I love the novel and so I will try my best not to compare as people should see the movie as it is.
  
  Unless if the story is completely changed. In this case, it wasn't. Fortunately, they kept the story and retained its value.
  
  As for the the actual filmography, it is good. They picked the perfect settings and style. The music is great, as it is in the book, but obviously appreciated better in the film. Really good music. Bit iffy on the scene changes but that's barely anything.
  
  No complaints with the cast either. Their acting is well-done and gave justice to the characters, especially the main ones. The 1960's setting did not get in their way at all. I did kind of imagined Reiko differently though, and Storm Trooper was not given much attention. But that's okay. I was also a bit uncomfortable with Watanabe in the film at first. I felt that he was different but now I don't think so. Kenichi Matsuyama's neutral expressions were perfectly splendid. Rinko's acting also made me realize how much more heavy Naoko's life was.
  
  There are scenes that I thought should've been done differently but that does not make this film a failure at any cost. This is how the director imagined the novel and I am happily content with it. I'd recommend the novel not because I think it's better but because it shows much more than 2 hours can give. read more

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• Sep 26, 2011 1 of 1 episodes seen

  xnokutisu
  1 of 8 people found this review helpful
  Other reviews by this user
  • Overall  8
  • Story  8
  • Acting/Cast  10
  • Music  8
  • Rewatch Value  9

  Book > Movie. I'm not saying the movie is horrible though, I just prefer the book. But they have Kenichi Matsuyama o.O so Kenichi Matsuyama FTW! lol
  
  
  Anyways, go read the book :) Then watch this.

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