How many of you guys Jdrama lovers who just thought of one day you walk away from home go to other places where theres no one that know you? well Im one of those, actually watching drama is just my one way of escaping reality.
The story is about a girl who just came out of prison and being like that is not a good thing specially in japan, you will be treated different and not just you but also your family.....she just felt nobody understand her and she's just a burden so she left, making one million yen in each places she goes then repeat the process again and again.
Its a relaxing movie to watch, the scenery is great from beach to farm to shopping district. There are moments where there are no background music and all you can hear is sounds....waves, wind, walking etc. so yes its one of those slow japanese movie so its not for everyone.
Two main actors I like are in this movie aoi yu and moriyama....IMO these two actors are the best showing emotions without talking and aoi yu for me is the female moriyama LOL. This movie has open ending...and I really like open ending in a movie, cause with that we have our own interpretation so our attachment to the film will continue even after the ending credits and this movie has a great ending credits song that really embodies what a ending credits song/music is suppose to be, which should bring the feels that summarize what you just watch. THE FINAL KICK!!!
Check my Blog for other reviews & other JDramas stuffs. (｡◕‿‿◕｡)
https://thatjapanesedramaguy.blogspot.com/
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The film was a bit draggy, but a couple of indie film lovers would probably like this. The cinematography was quite nice for a low budgeted film but nevertheless the cast were big timers which was unexpected.
I loved Aoi's role here as Suzuko, she made the character much realistic. Her features would show a calm girl on the outside but could burst like a bubble any moment. The younger brother Satoru was a good supporting actor and made Suzuko's role much more stronger because of him.
The main character Suzuko, skipped from town to town, changing places as soon as she saves up 1 million yen, professing that she's really not finding herself but instead running away from circumstances that lead from one thing to another. In the end, love crept on to her and she had no way to shrug it off but basically, the story revolved around Suzuko skipping towns, meeting new people and her younger brother whom she left behind, trying to be strong against the bullies in his school.
There was only this thing that confused me in the end. Her dialogue at the ending sort of put my understanding for last 1/3 part of the film. I think the director or script writer intended that to confuse their viewers to make their own conclusions. Which I usually tend to hate because it means its one of those cliff hangers again.
Soundtrack wise, the ending was cute. Reminded me of Synesthezia's ending theme song which was just perfect. There wasn't much dialogue in it that would be very memorable, except for the one where the main character had a conversation with her brother and at the ending part where some sort of confusing revelation/not was given.
Over all the film give an impact but wasn't as enjoyable as I thought it would be.
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Very watchable and pretty, but then, if Yu Aoi wasn’t in it, I might say something else entirely.
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This review may contain spoilers
MY OPINION!!
I like this movie, the connection with her brother was really sweet and I loved how she stood up for her self. To me I feel that it was complete and honestly I’m happy with the way it ended. Some people may get caught up over what she said at the end but the way I interpreted it was that the relationship she had with the guy was real, him taking money and maybe even cheating on her as well. The part where it was a “misunderstanding”because he only kept taking money from her so that she wouldn’t make the million yen and leave after that, plus where he went after her so things wouldn’t end like that was not real. I thought that was pretty obvious and so I’m a little confused as to how people are confused by that but I guess that is just my opinion. All in all it was a nice movie and I will rewatch it in the future!Was this review helpful to you?
Good watch for anyone feeling stuck in their 20s
This is my first ever review on here, and I've had this movie saved on my Instagram for years now. Frankly, I had a little higher expectations, but the story itself was still enjoyable and profound. The topics and overall uncertain nature of one's 20s were captured perfectly, and I found myself relating to the protagonist's experiences as a 20-something-year-old. I loved how Suzuko stayed true to herself, but we also see her grow up, and even acknowledge that some of her actions may not be the most reasonable ones towards the end of the film. On the whole, it was a solid watch for anyone feeling stuck in life and wanting to escape from the constricting and stressful surroundings of everyday reality.Was this review helpful to you?
things had escalated quickly but in a smooth way taking us to different stations of her life how she had being bullied and explaning the reasons that had her decide to live the free worry life.
people can sometime be mean toward you without even making the attempt to understand your reasons, circumstances or feelings and that summarize most of her journeys.
what Ryohei did although it was kind of cute but at the same time not justifying to any of them. The end was really teasing and provoking.
In general a really sweet and soft movie
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When I say simplicity, it wasn't that the plot was boring or too thin. But, the way they presented the story, the character's struggles and her way of thinking and making ends meet was really good, simple, clean and realistic. Plus, the love story was realistic as well.
The acting, in addition, was really good. Especially the leading lady was phenomenal.
However, the ending was so so, as it left many questions answered. And that felt like the movie was presenting just a glimpse of the girl's life.
So, overall, six out of ten.
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it was such a good movie
I love this move so much the whole story of this movie is so beautiful how she goes to a new city in the country side of japan evertime she reaches 1 million yen. I however just really did not like the guy she fell for, I feel like they could've made like more reason for her to fall for him because he was just not it😭, I mean the whole rest of the film I was just wondering how she fell for him so yeah I think mabye they could've casted somone better for that role or gave him more personality. I think the ending is very beautiful though, I think it really shows us alot by how he ended using her for money and she imagines him coming back and explaining that it was for her to stay longer since when she makes 1 million yen she needs to move but says "that would never happen". Alot of people also seem the be very confused by the ending and some say he really did care for her and not the money but I feel like those people didn't even watch the same movie as I did. It clearly shows us how he was using her and he even seemed to be hitting on a girl while with her. I think the movie was beautiful and shows us how life can't always go the way you want it too.Was this review helpful to you?
My April Recommendation movie
Watched this because the recommendation challenge by 𝑫𝒂 𝑩𝒂𝒐…The story follows Suzuko Sato, a young woman who ends up with a criminal record after an incident involving a roommate. Because of this, she feels disconnected from her family and struggles to fit into society. Especially because her family also suffers because of her criminal record. Especially her younger brother.
Determined to escape her past, Suzuko makes a simple rule for herself: whenever she saves one million yen, she moves to a new town and starts again from scratch.
She becomes a "professional drifter," intentionally avoiding deep roots or long-term attachments.
However, despite her efforts to remain detached, she eventually meets someone who begins to challenge her habit of running away.
That's pretty much the story without giving anymore spoilers.
What I like:
+ Despite her effort to stay detached, I really like she still stay in contact with her little brother
+ Kinda love the ending, where she's in the end choosing herself.
What I don't like:
- This movie really bored me…
- I didn't really understand the ending until I asked AI. Haha…
The one thing people write about this, in my opinion the one that make me said touché is PHope: "However, the ending was so so, as it left many questions answered. And that felt like the movie was presenting just a glimpse of the girl's life."
Yeah unfortunately this movie just really is not my cup of tea. But I am glad I can watch this…
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This review may contain spoilers
Exploring or escaping? The point here is you're trying to search for yourself.
You're an adult, you're in your 20s, and you're trying to find out where you belong.The cinematography and rawness of the scenery was a major charm in this film. Throughout the story, we see the female lead, Suzuko, immersed in different scenarios in the city, seaside, mountain, and in a small town. These changes captured the great contrast of her past to her changing present. It was really enjoyable also to see her in the peaceful vibe outside the city, and a culture where there are ordinary interactions between the old and the young.
What I really enjoyed the most in this film is how Suzuko chose herself without really being selfish to her brother Takuya and others. Every time she left town after saving a million yen, she was still considerate of the people around her. When the film ended, I was really proud of her. I was readying myself to get disappointed, but her decision stayed true to her character. That was the point of the film. Regardless of saving a million yen or not, or having an unresolved misunderstanding, Suzuko has set her mind to pursue herself. Afterall, she's still in the process of "becoming".
I'm also happy for her brother. Initially, I thought there will be a tragedy by the end, but this film showed me otherwise. Both Suzuko and Takuya had their own struggles. Despite being apart, we get to see them grow through the hardships after sticking around and seeing the result of their own decisions. The storytelling in One Million Yen Girl delivered that message well, and surely showed a story of hope and growth.
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Recommended this on reels, should've stayed in my "plan to watch" section
Some bravery or perhaps cowardice is needed to leave behind your family/hometown. A young girl faces challenges post incarceration with minimal support and no friendships. Works part time jobs until she makes 1 million yen and then hops to another city. The character is largely passive but introspective. The movie is visually appealing but storyline lacking.The letter writing was cliche but made me favor the brother. He dealt with severe bullying in the aftermath of his sister's imprisonment and abandonment.
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This review may contain spoilers
I wish I could escape like her
One Million Yen Girl feels like a poetic escape. It captures the longing we all experience at some point in our lives. The desire to leave everything behind, move far away, and restart our lives. We all have felt this way at least once when things get difficult, when it seems like nobody understands us and we don't belong in the place we've spent our whole lives. In those moments, it can feel like we have nothing left and that the old version of ourselves is long gone, leaving only the option to start over where nobody knows us.Sometimes escaping is easier than facing our demons, and this movie encapsulates that struggle. When Suzuko moves away and embarks on her bold journey from one place to another, it feels like a victory. However, as time passes, it becomes evident how long and challenging that journey truly is. When difficulties arise, the first thought that comes to mind is often to run away. It's hard to deal with shame and difficult situations, and isolating oneself can feel like the easier option, but how long can one actually carry on like that?
That's precisely what the movie portrays. When she first moves to the coastal city, it seems like she has found a place to be happy. But when those around her start taking an interest in her and want to know more about her or when she moves to the mountains and they all expect her to be the "peach girl", Suzuko realizes that she cannot escape from herself. She can move to a new city and a new place, but the burden she carries is something she cannot leave behind.
For me, this movie was poetic and, in a way, felt like a small victory when she found love. Yet, like her, we were also deceived into thinking that was the ultimate solution, and maybe we were fooled twice.
One aspect of this movie I found very eye-opening is the reason behind her wanting to earn one million yen. Renting accommodation in Japan is a very pricey affair, with landlords demanding key money and other non-refundable fees, a deposit and sometimes several months' rent in advance. It's like the price of freedom is that one million yen-
I knew I would love this film from the first frame; the nostalgic feeling of blue and green tones along with the melancholic atmosphere in every shot spoke deeply to my soul. The backdrop of the Japanese countryside and coastal beach area feels so healing; it embodies the dream many of us have to move to a city far away and attempt to restart our lives.
I love the actress; she is so delicate and intriguing to watch. This is definitely one of those movies you don’t want to miss if you love Japan.
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