Tonight, at Romance Theater (2018)

Visually speaking, this is a gorgeous movie. Vibrant colors in walls, clothes and scenery. The contrast between the black-and-white princess and the colorful real world. Miyuki's clothes, every one of them. Ayase Haruka as a princess, Kenji as a poor director's assistant. The shots of the camera. There is one scene at the beginning of the movie that was filmed from above, and it shows the little made-up town and all the actors in their clothes, and it was simply beautiful.

As for the story, it was a nice, clean romance, with a bit of mystery and heartbreaking moments. I watched it twice in a week and I cried in both occasions. However, it could also be because of Ayase Haruka's tears... she almost always manages to move me with her tears. And she looked amazing as a princess. She had a nice chemistry with Sakaguchi Kentaro (she almost always has a good chemistry with whatever actor she works with), BUT as always, she is terrible in love scenes. She is a like an unreachable princess, cold and stiff in regards to hugs and kisses. Thankfully, it wasn't properly show in this movie, so it didn't bothered me so much.

I though at first that the movie had some plotholes. Like, she has to put make-up on her entire self to disguise her black-and-white self. But she remains colorful even under the rain. However, I noticed that it only rained when she was upset or sad, so maybe the rain was magical like her and couldn't affect her. It isn't explained how she comes to this world, but since it is a fantasy, there is no need for that. And as for all her wardrobe, it could be because they are in a movie set, and there are a lot of clothes.

SPOILER...

The ending was very sad. I couldn't live like them at all, without touching the one you love. And when they finally do... :(( so sad. Why??? The final scene was just a way to calm our broken hearts :((

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I love her too!

This film hits me in a way that feels very personal. The first TV drama I watched, about ten or twelve years ago, was Byakuyako, starring Haruka Ayase and Takayuki Yamada, which also starred Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World. Although she played the 'villain' in the first one, I really, really fell in love with her. I loved everything about her and fantasized about going to Japan years later and meeting her by fate. It's embarrassing, but I’ve identified with the feeling of Kenji watching Princess Miyuki through the screen. Damn, he even had the chance to be with her, fall in love, and have his love returned as well.

The plot might be a bit cliché, but they just don’t make films like this anymore. Although it’s Japanese, the film draws many references and inspirations from Western cinema (Audrey Hepburn herself), even in the way it portrays and understands love. But all in all, I loved it.

I love you, Haruka Ayase. I hope that one day you’ll see through the camera screen the admiration I feel for you. You, or one of your alter egos.

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