Nobou is a 10 year old child living with his family at the edge of a river. One day, a boat arrives across the river, and Nobou becomes friends with Kiichi, who is also his age. He invites Kiichi and his sister Ginko over for dinner, but it turns out Kiichi and Ginko's mother is a prostitute. Nobou continues to be friends with them until a fateful night at the carnival.
Judging by the plot, you can tell the writer tried to cram in every possible mismatch and plot contrivance as possible. Despite this, it's a simple story which continues at a steady pace.
I found the acting to be a problem, as all the adults act incredibly well, even Kiichi and Ginko are putting the effort in. The problem derives from Nobou, who is not really acting but just 'playing the cute kid card'. His po-faced expression is in every scene. He is the equivalent to acting, to what the 1968 Oliver Twist is to singing. This is pulling at strings, as I found the whole film to be thoroughly-enjoyable.
The music combined with the camera-work, create an Ozu-like atmosphere (Ozu being the elephant in the room, so I thought I better mention him anyway). Some films are ahead of it's time but this is 30 years behind, and feels like a 1950s film. The 1950s are the best decade for film, so it's not a bad thing. Even though the plot has serious undertones, with acts of burning crabs, prostitution and Primal Scene, it is light and a joy to watch.
TO CONCLUDE
While the rest of Japan was going crazy with their cameras, Oguri tells an innocent, simple 'coming of age' story.
SCORE
79
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