Jan
28
2007
Memories Of Matsuko
Posted by luna6
Movie : Memories Of Matsuko / Kiraware Matsuko no isshô
Release Date : May 27, 2006
Country : Japan
Director : Tetsuya Nakashima
Starring: Miki Nakatani, Eita, Yusuke Iseya
Runtime : 130 Minutes
Editor Rating : 9.5
(36 Votes, User Rating: 9.08)
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Plot Synopsis : Sho, a young teenager that lives by himself in Tokyo, receives a surprise visit from his father. His father is carrying a white box, the he explains to his son, contains the ashes of his Aunt Matsuko. She was recently found murdered by a river in Akawara. His father explains that Aunt Matsuko lived alone and because he has to go back to his hometown, asks Sho to go to his aunts’ former apartment and clean up any mess that may be left behind.
Once Sho, arrives at his Aunt’s apartment, he discovers that she lived in a filthy old apartment, full of trash bags filled with junk that she has had collected over the years. Sho does not remember ever meeting Matsuko, nor does he know of anything about her past. As he goes through her belongings and speaks with some of her neighbors, he gradually pieces together her life which was filled with tragedy and heartbreak.
Movie Review : From the very beginning of the film, Memories of Matsuko had me floored with a mix of admiration, melancholy, and laughter. I have seen the director Tetsuya Nakashima’s prior film Kamikaze Girls, so I was prepared for some stylish & visually arresting camera work. What I wasn’t prepared for was an epic story, told through flashbacks, in which the audience experiences a technicolor like 1950’s musical (think Bob Fosse) interspersed with a truly heart breaking story that would make Billie Holiday’s life seem like a walk in the park. Although Kamikaze Girls had its moments, Memories of Matsuko is just leaps and bounds superior to that film and for that matter, just about every other film that I have seen.
One of the strongest aspects about the film would be the story of Matsuko’s life told through those amazing flashbacks. Once Sho arrives at Matsuko’s former apartment, we quickly learn about Matsuko’s past and what a tragic past she had! The first flashback scene shows her as a popular high school music teacher. She is summoned to a meeting because of a reported theft that occurred at a local inn. The principle believes that the theft was perpetrated by one of Matsuko’s students. She is told to confront her student, named Ryu, and find out whether he really stole the money. This is where the tragedy starts to begin. The student refuses to admit to the theft and Matsuko attempts the solve the problem herself. She takes money from Ryu’s room and goes to the inn keeper to pay him back. When the inn keeper asks to see Ryu for a personal apology, Matsuko makes the unfortunate decision to take the blame for the theft. Soon, her career as a teacher is ruined and eventually she gets disowned by her family. Through another flashback, we learn that Matsuko had a chronically ill younger sister who always seemed to have been favored by her father. Since those early days, Matsuko has always sought after men that would give her the unconditional love that her father failed to give to her e.g., the desire to please for affection (trying to solve the theft dilemma with her student). Tragically, just about every man she got involved with turned out to be extremely cruel and abusive towards her.
Beyond the stellar script and the creative camerawork in Memories of Matsuko, you also have an ensemble cast of actors that ranged from very good to amazing. Most noteworthy would be Miki Nakatani, playing the main character of Matsuko. The range of emotions she had to display during the movie pretty much encompassed every single human emotion possible. Interestingly enough, Kou Shibasaki (Battle Royale/Crying Out Love In The Center Of The World) plays a small role in this film as Sho’s girlfriend. The resemblance between Miki Nakatani and Kou Shibasaki are so strong, that at a certain points in the film, I thought we would discover that Matsuko had a daughter and that daughter would turn out to be Sho’s girlfriend! Another standout actor in the movie would have been Eita, who played Sho. Although his character did not require the level of difficulty as Matsuko’s character, his role as the storyteller and calming influence after some of the more difficult to watch flashback sequences were appreciated. Another thing I can say about Eita, is that he gets to play in some seriously great films (Summer Time Machine Blues, Sukida, Hanging Garden, Waterboys, Azumi and now Memories Of Matsuko)!
Memories of Matsuko is like a very dark fairy tale wrapped around technicolor art and a soundtrack to drool over. From the beginning to end you will likely be inundated with these different emotions that comes at you in waves. I did find that during the ending - I had to take a break from the film. The emotions were just getting a little too heavy if you catch my drift (*sniff* *sniff*). Check this one out - what an amazing film!
buy Memories Of Matsuko from YesAsia
Cast:
Miki Nakatani - Matsuko Kawajiri
Eita - Shou Kawajiri
Yusuke Iseya - Yoichi RyuTeruyuki Kagawa - Norio Kawajiri
Mikako Ichikawa - Kumi Kawajiri
Asuka Kurosawa - Megumi Sawamura
Akira Emoto - Tsunehiro Kawajiri
Gori - Shuji Okura
Shinji Takeda - Onodera
YosiYosi Arakawa - Kenji Shimazu
Hitori Gekidan - Takeo Okano
Magy - Detective
Shosuke Tanihara - Shunji Saeki
Takanori Takeyama - Vice-Principal
Masahiro Komoto - Man with Stand on School Trip
Kankuro Kudo - Tetsuya Yamegawa
Anna Tsuchiya - Prisoner
Kou Shibasaki - Shou’s girlfriend
Yu Aoi
2006 Movie Reviews, Japanese Movies, Movie Reviews |
Comments
9 Comments so far
Just watched this one as well.. It’s strange a movie can have such bright visuals at time yet such a heavy overtone. Definitely agree it’s not a good film to watch during holidays unless you have a spare noose around but wow, pretty intense.
I read many review of Memories of Matsuko and the review above was the last, and soon I found myself trying to find it on DVD.
Earlier this year I found a copy but didn’t watch til last night… probably not the best film to watch over the holidays but I am still happy I finally watched it.
The images were so strong, I found that they are still playing in my head like background music or something.
I will watch again for sure but not right away.
WOW…I’ve just watched it after the recommendation in Luna’s review of “Secret Sunshine”. Great movie…a truly great movie.Can’t hold the tears at the very end…
Saw this film in the 2007 New York Asian Film Festival and it was voted #1 as audience favorite and rightly so. It was mix of Moulin Rouge yet more touching and universal. There are many critiques about the film however I was simply dazzled by the colors and music, entertained by the humor, and touched by the tragedies by the main character. It is a unique film that I hope receives attention in the US market as it is far better than alot of the popcorn releases by Hollywood. Japanese film is one of the best in my humble opinion and this is a great example of it.
Finally got a chance to watch Memories of Matsuko at the New York Asian Film Festival and it just blew me away! I sat there stunned at what was unfolding before my eyes. Such beautiful imagery, sad moments and light hearted dance sequences caused this whirlwind of different emotions. One of the best films I have ever seen.
I finaly got chance to watch this movie today and at the end I cried like a baby T_T It’s truely inspiring. She was so brave and full of hope, despite all the troubles…
This movie is so good it gives me the chills just thinking about it. I REALLY hope anybody that gets the oppurtunity to see this movie, would do so…just a brilliant film.
yeah, i like this film too sad, but funny and creative.
funny part is when the school teacher came out from the darkness of night. He was smiling and his teeth shine light a light house
one of the saddest movie yet so inspiring.
and the visual is awesome too.
it’s really a great film!