Wood Job! (2014) [Film Review]

Wood Job!; or, Into the Nature

     You’ll never understand. You’ll leave the village, too. Don’t get everyone’s hopes up. I’m saying if you’re going to leave, hurry up and do it!

Continuing my Shinobu Yaguchi month, today, I’m taking a look at one of his recent movies, which is the Wood Job! from 2014. A feel-good adventure in the midst of the Japanese forest, filmed on outstanding locations.

Release Info

Directed by: Shinobu Yaguchi Starring: Shota Sometami, Masami Nagasawa, Hideaki Ito

Language: Japanese Original Title: 神去なあなあ日常 Runtime: 116 min

 

Synopsis

Yuki Hirano (Shota Sometami) is a student who fails at entrance exams for university. What is more, his girlfriend dumps him. Uncertain as to what to do in life, he notices a promotional leaflet of forestry training program with a beautiful girl on the front cover. In pursuit of the girl from the leaflet, he signs up for the course and he becomes a trainee at Nakamura Lumber Co. high up in the mountains. Working under a tough as nails lumberjack Yoki Iida (Hideaki Ito), Yuki discovers that working in the woods is a hard job. Nevertheless, he continues his apprenticeship and tries to win over the leaflet girl, Naoki (Masami Nagasawa).

 

Being a Lumberjack

Wood Job! is another zero-to-hero story after Yaguchi’s unforgettable Waterboys (2001) and Swing Girls (2003), yet this time, the focus is not on a group but on an individual. Interestingly, the screenplay is based on a story “Stay Mellow – Kamusari Mountain High” (original title: 神去なあなあ日常) by Shion Miura, whose fiction seems to be the hot stuff for filmmakers right now (in 2013, her novel The Great Passage was also adapted into a film).

 

Personally, I found the story of a teenager-turned-lumberjack very interesting. The film has all the trademarks of Shinobu Yaguchi: youthful romance, quirky characters, subtle humour, out-with-a-bang finale and yes, Akira Emoto in a supporting role as well. However, one thing that really stands out is the setting. Contrary to a certain failed filmmaker from Hollywood who had to "build the forest" in order to film, Wood Job! was shot on real location in the mountains of Mie Prefecture and, oh boy, many of the shots are simply breathtaking.

 

Speaking about the location, I gather that Yaguchi must have used a lot of stunt work and the help of real lumberjacks in order to get some of the brilliant shots of falling trees. Thus, a lot of pain and sweat must have gone into the film from the technical side, but it perfectly balances the plotline of the picture.

 

And what’s main the story? It’s a boy meets girl arch, except for the fact that it is enriched with the themes of hard work, self-confidence, appraisal of village life, and even the supernatural. The main hero undergoes a significant change when he notices the importance of taking care of the forest and how it benefits the whole society. He even stands up in the defence of the villagers when some teenaged douchebags from the city are laughing at them. Therefore, the movie’s message is clear: have some respect, even for the things you do not know about.

 

With regard to performances, Shota Sometami and Masami Nagasawa did a great job together and one can really feel the chemistry between these two. Hideaki Ito deserves praise as a super tough lumberjack (his performance was hilarious!). In addition, Yoshimasa Kondo and Yoji Tanaka appear in minor roles as course instructors.

 

Well, I really really enjoyed Wood Job!. It provides the development of the main characters and indicates that there is so much more to life than living in a city. Plus, it has a hilarious, over-the-top finale based on the real Onbashira festival in Japan.

 

Recommendations

Safely recommended to anyone who is looking for a movie to spark a good mood. Wood Job! is a feel-good movie with a great story and wonderful locations. If I ever happen to visit Japan, I will certainly try to visit these mountains for sure. Once again, Shinobu Yaguchi delivered an awesome movie. This guy never fails.

Overall score: 9/10

Waterboys (2001) [Film Review]

Waterboys; or, Synchro Revolution

     Real synchronised swimmers perform in deep pools, but we’ll manage. The truth is I got super depressed when I heard this was a boys school. I’ve always dreamed of coaching my own team. Why can't boys do it? Let’s go for it. Synchro swim!

I finally brought myself round and it’s time to begin my Shinobu Yaguchi month. I intend to review four of his movies (excluding the already reviewed Survival Family) throughout the four next weeks. So today, I would like to discuss his first major success which spawned a two-season drama and a two-part special; that is, Waterboys from 2001.

Release Info

Directed by: Shinobu Yaguchi Starring: Satoshi Tsumabuki, Hiroshi Tamaki, Takatoshi Kaneko, Koen Kondo

Language: Japanese Original Title: ウォーターボーイズ Wōtā Bōizu Runtime: 90 min

 

Plot

Kawagoe High School is a boy’s prep school in Saitama Prefecture. Their students are keen on sports, but some who suck at everything attend swimming classes. Soon, a beautiful new female coach (Kaori Manabe) is hired and she presents to the group the idea of preparing a synchronised swimming event for their school festival. However, the coach suddenly goes into labour and takes maternity leave. Suzuki (Satoshi Tsumabuki) always wanted to be somebody, but he never had the guts to do it. He and his four other colleagues: Sato (Hiroshi Tamaki), Saotome (Takatoshi Kaneko), Kanazawa (Koen Kondo), and Ohta (Akifumi Miura) decide to learn synchro swimming for the event and they ask a certain dolphin trainer (Naoto Takenaka) to help them out.

 

Go For It!

Waterboys was a massive success in Japan back in 2001 due its unusual subject and the way it was executed. Yaguchi had already been an established director with four theatrical movies on his account (which I have yet to check out), but it was the Waterboys movie which gave him a wider recognition.

 

One can regard the film as a teenage-comedy with a bit of sports, but to me this is foremost an excellent zero-to-hero story, the format which Yaguchi would repeat later in Swing Girls (2003) and Wood Job! (2014).

 

The best thing in Waterboys is this happy-go-lucky feel which Yaguchi successfully invokes. Whenever the music kicks in (plus great locations on a beach), I feel as if it’s already vacation time! The comedy is also extremely well written and it works perfectly in every scene (be it fishing in a pool or failed synchro attempt). In other words, Waterboys immediately puts you in a good mood.

 

Speaking about the movie, I can’t omit its definite highlights. I absolutely loved the sequences in the aquarium where the gang is cleaning the tanks and they familiarise themselves with its inhabitants. Also, Naoto Takenaka nails it while riding a giant orca! The Dance Dance Revolution scene is hilarious as well. One cannot forget about the standard appearance of Akira Emoto in a supporting role, who this time around shows up in a drag and a make-up that almost turns him into Joker! Additionally, Tetta Sugimoto has a minor but funny role as a furious P.E. teacher.

 

Oh, and I have to mention the awesome finale with all these synchro acts done to catchy songs. I guess that the cast and crew must have worked really hard to get these done. The composers Gakuji Matsuda and Hitomi Shimizu did a fine job with providing the score, which goes well with the stunts.

 

The actors who played Satoshi Tsumabuki as Suzuki and Aya Hirayama as Shizuko, his love interest, were picked perfectly as the chemistry of that innocent teenagers’ love is vividly noticeable on screen. The supporting actors who played the rest of the swimming team did very well, but the 90-minute screen time does not allow them to explore their characters in greater depth. Synchro is what matters the most.

 

Recommendations

If you are looking for something to relax and unwind yourself on a summer afternoon, then Waterboys is the film definitely for you. Now, I really want to check out the 2003 drama, although I wish there was an official sequel to this movie. Summing up, it’s a funny and witty film that leaves you wanting for more.

Overall score: 9/10

Survival Family (2017) [Film Review]

Survival Family; or, Apocalypse Vacation

     The things humans need for survival. The first is to maintain body temperature. The second is shelter. Third is water. The food is behind these things.

We live through our daily existence without really taking into consideration small, yet grand facilitations of our civilisation. Power outages and water shortages may occur from time to time, but usually such incidents don’t last long and are limited to a small area. However, what would happen if the world’s electricity suddenly went off and never came back? Let’s find out by dusting off our bicycles and embarking on an adventure with the Survival Family.

Release Info

Directed by: Shinobu Yaguchi Starring: Fumiyo Kohinata, Eri Fukatsu, Yumi Izumisawa, Wakana Aoi

Language: Japanese Original Title: サバイバルファミリー Runtime: 117 min

 

Plot

Meet the Suzuki family. There’s nothing out of the ordinary about them. Head of the family, Yoshiyuki (Fumiyo Kohinata), is an average salaryman in a corporate company. His wife Mitsue (Eri Fukatsu) is taking care of home and does everyday household chores. Their children, Kenji (Yuki Izumisawa) and Yui (Wakana Aoi), and typical modern teenagers, glued to their phones and computers. All of a sudden, a power outage sweeps across Tokyo. Everyone thinks that it’s only a temporary inconvenience, but the power does not come back. As days go by, Tokyo becomes a dangerous place to live in, due to shortening food and water supplies. The Suzuki family eventually decides to travel to Kagoshima where Mitsue’s father lives, hoping to be able to survive in the countryside. The family sets out on a journey across Japan that will change their lives.

 

Survivor: Japanese Edition

Survival Family is the latest movie from Shinobu Yaguchi, the creator of such Japanese classics as Waterboys (2001) and Swing Girls (2003). The progression of heroes appears to be the prevalent theme in his movies, and Survival Family is no exception from it. An ordinary Japanese family is taken out of the metropolitan safe zone and put to the trials and tribulations in true Bear Grylls’ style.

 

The already mentioned what if scenario with power outage is the driving vehicle of the story. What caused the outage on a global scale? How come the power cannot be restored? These questions are irrelevant as the movie is not a horror-thriller like The Road (2009) or The Happening (2008), but rather a comedy drama. Thus, instead of people becoming cannibals, we get Fumiyo Kohinata and Eri Fukatsu on the road to nowhere. The movie tries to stay objective in its examination of a possible apocalypse, but at the same time sways into Kikujiro’s optimistic feel as the Suzukis encounter a variety of positive characters along their way.

 

In view of this, Survival Family attempts to get across the message that modern conveniences are just distractions when not used properly. The fault is at the parents, not their reliance on technology. This is especially visible in the scene where the Suzukis meet a different family (parents played by Saburo Tokito and Norika Fujiwara ;) ) who treat the whole situation as an opportunity for healthy vacation. Nevertheless, the survival skills are also important and the family acquires those during their stay on Mr Tanaka’s farm (Yasuo Daichi). It is only when they reach Mitsuo’s father (Akira Emoto) that the family finally learns how to live together and love each other.

 

With regard to performances, Fumiyo Kohinata and Eri Fukatsu definitely carry the weight of the picture. Knowing the actors from their previous works, they convincingly played a father and a mother who undergo an emotional change along their way. Also, the children did well in their roles. The movie is also filled with many small parts done by well-known actors (apart from those already enumerated, Eri Watanabe and Shin Takuma deserve a mention). In addition, the locations used in the film feel very much like a separate character. The filmmakers did a great job with finding picturesque places to shoot at.

 

Recommendations

I recommend Survival Family to every family who seeks to spend an enjoyable afternoon. This film is a definitive highlight among other Japanese releases of 2017 and one of my personal favourite movies by Shinobu Yaguchi. I liked it so much that now I want to go back and rewatch Yaguchi’s older works. Maybe it’s time for Yaguchi month on the blog? I’ll see. In the meantime, I have to check on my bicycle in case of any unexpected power outage.

Overall score: 9/10