During the movie it felt too slow and I was in secret hoping that something more would happen. I was not sure where the build-up of the movie would lead me, but after I realised that it's not a build-up, it IS the movie, it felt very relaxing and I eventually stopped wishing for something more, something extraordinary or anything at all. I just watched the movie to its end and accepted anything it threw at me.
The serenity, the simplicity and the awkwardness of everyday life was perfect.
I have lived in Japan for a couple of years and this is a very accurate depiction of life in Tokyo. The only thing I would deduct a point for is the music. It threw me off that the protagonist is listening to western music all the time (but once). I get it, it's targeted at an international audience, but there would have been lots of good options for Japanese music from the 70s. This, and the 'thank you' on the Tic-Tac-Toe note broke the illusion of the film for me. The movie would probably have worked even completely in Japanese with (or even without) subs, since there are few and mostly simple dialouges.
Great movie, loved it - in retrospect.
The serenity, the simplicity and the awkwardness of everyday life was perfect.
I have lived in Japan for a couple of years and this is a very accurate depiction of life in Tokyo. The only thing I would deduct a point for is the music. It threw me off that the protagonist is listening to western music all the time (but once). I get it, it's targeted at an international audience, but there would have been lots of good options for Japanese music from the 70s. This, and the 'thank you' on the Tic-Tac-Toe note broke the illusion of the film for me. The movie would probably have worked even completely in Japanese with (or even without) subs, since there are few and mostly simple dialouges.
Great movie, loved it - in retrospect.