Description

When Sho gets roped into cleaning out the apartment of a recently deceased aunt he never knew, his curiosity is piqued by chance encounters with her old friends and associates, whose anecdotes reveal a vivid picture of Matsuko’s tragic fairytale. Despite his father’s claim that Matsuko’s life was meaningless, Sho discovers that she had been a beloved music teacher who lost her job following an unfortunate series of misunderstandings. Less reputable employment and a bitter episode with her sick sister led to a break with her family, while a string of abusive boyfriends and romantic disappointments precipitated her lonely end as an alcoholic shut-in. But for Sho, there’s more to Matsuko’s mystery than simply piecing together the unusual story of an estranged family member –- somewhere within this puzzle of odd occupations and situations, familial disgraces and failed relationships may lie the clues to who murdered her.

Directed by Tetsuya Nakashima (Kamikaze Girls) and based on a novel by Muneki Yamada, Memories of Matsuko has enough visual charm and vigour to match its rich narrative. Music, dance and an onslaught of colour make the movie’s production numbers a rousing counterpoint to what is essentially a sad story. The film can be compared to a melancholy Amélie structured in the style of Citizen Kane, a hyper-stylized and often lovably cute character study, each tale uncovering another chapter of Matsuko’s mystery. For her excellent work in the titular role, Miki Nakatani (Ringu, Ringu 2) was named best actress by four different juries, including that of the Japanese Academy Awards, where the film also won for best editing and best musical score.

—Lorraine Carpenter

“A jawdropping collision of unrelenting grimness and a fantastical, candy-coloured lightness… like a fusion of Mizoguchi's The Life of Oharu and Jeunet's Amélie. Nakashima deserves kudos for daring to juggle such extremes and pulling it off” – Tom Mes, MIDNIGHT EYE

Website

http://kiraware.goo.ne.jp/

Credits

Director: Tetsuya Nakashima
Screenplay: Tetsuya Nakashima, from Muneki Yamada
Cast: Miki Nakatani Eita Yusuke Iseya Asuka Kurosawa Mikako Ichikawa
Producers: Yuji Ishida, Hidemi Satani
Distributor: TBS