The Drudgery Train (2012)

A Movie That Makes One Care Deeply About a Loser

A serious, moving and brutally realistic movie about a 20-something loser who is continually attending peep shows and has a proclivity for offending people. Nevertheless, the screenplay and director did that miraculous thing of making the audience deeply feel for this character.

The lead is, indeed, a loser, and not a "likeable loser" either, as many movies would portray, because the film does not gloss anything over or shade it in pink. This poor sap has never been taught social skills because he had no family, nor schooling. He had to drop out in 8th grade and go to work as a young teen (I guess high school is not mandatory in Japan as it is in the USA). My heart broke for him as it went on, even as I was constantly cringing and thinking, "Noooo, don't do that!" because I was so afraid he'd commit yet another anti-social act while being utterly clueless as to the fact that he was doing so.

But as heartbreaking as it was, it did end well with the lead sitting down to write, and thus having the promise of a career as a writer. This is not a spoiler because, you see, the movie is based on an autobiographical novel. Meaning, the lead was based on the novel writer who had written about truly having had this kind of life.

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The coming of age of underclass teenager in Japan

This is a coming-of-age story based on a novel written by Kenta Nishimura about a young man who has been shunned by society for crimes he did not commit; accused, outcasted, and never given a chance. Growing up without any prospects, Kenta embodies the struggles of the underclass, a person who cannot even dream of improving his life. After a long journey, he finally finds the motivation to pursue his dream of becoming a writer.

Now this is the type of movie that is more for an older audience and it's a type that has more to do with quiet reflection than a boastful storyline, and I do think these are the kinds that you either like or do not like.

The story follows Kenta, a middle school drop-out who has been ostracized by society due to his father's heinous crimes. This association has branded Kenta's family as perpetrators, forcing them to flee. Since the age of 14, Kenta has worked as a day laborer, surrounded by adults who constantly reminded him that he would never amount to anything as a mere middle school graduate. As a result, Kenta grew up engaging in destructive behavior such as smoking, drinking, and frequenting massage parlors and peep shows.

Kenta is a nonconformist and contrarian, not by choice but because society pushed him away for a crime he did not commit. He represents the opposite of the hard-working individual that Japan prides itself on producing; instead of becoming a productive member of society, he rejects the norms. While children are taught from their first day of school to be polite and diligent contributors, Kenta exemplifies the opposite. He doesn’t pay rent, lives at the mercy of his landlords, ignores societal expectations, and constantly finds himself in situations where people remind him of his status as a middle school drop-out.

When he meets Shoji, a peer who also works in day labor but embodies the qualities of a disciplined and conscientious worker, their contrasting personalities highlight Kenta's excessive lifestyle and refusal to grow. Despite their differences, the two become friends. Unlike others, Shoji never blames Kenta or reminds him of his educational shortcomings; instead, he becomes an ally. However, over time, the differences in their lives come to the forefront, and even Shoji starts to drift away.

The movie takes you through a less glamorous view of the underclass society, highlighting their struggles, habits, and aspects of life that you might want to ignore or remain unaware of. A reality that many would rather not discuss. Overall, I enjoyed this movie. It’s always hard to watch films that are challenging, but they serve the purpose of exposing what lies beneath the surface or around the corner.

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