Key of Life (2012)

My faith in Japanese movie is back!

Actually I'm kinda lost interest in watching movies from japan
I know there are many great movies from them especially classic ones but just recently or these several years it was just a hit or miss or just acceptably great.

Okay, I think "Key of Life" was the most enjoyable Japanese film that made from the last 3 years that I encountered as for now and i will see some more and hopefully just as satisfying.

The movie itself is a combination of comedy/crime/slice of life.
The comedy isn't exaggerated and relies on coincidence circumstances that really works well and funny. The story is minimalistic and easy to relate. No overly complicated plot but simply complex enough and i find it smart w/ smile on my face.

The two main characters are very good actors (you are familiar with them and you often see them in dramas). The interaction is the strongest point. There were not much talk unlike other comedy but shows more character action for situations.

I will not say anything about the music since there was only few in certain scenes but sometime silence is effective.

Try this movie and I think it's not that hard to like and very relatable regardless of taste. You may find it not groundbreaking but I'm sure its impossible to hate.

100% spoiler free and I didn't say much but see it for yourself.

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As soon as I saw that Kagawa Teruyuki acted in a main role here, I knew this would be excellent. I'd previously seen him in (the later produced) series "99.9 Keiji Senmon Bengoshi" and "Roppongi Class".
And, as expected from any film shown on the JFF Theater platform, the actors are brilliant. They are indeed so brilliant that there is no need for dramatic music, or experimental camera work -- the actor's way of portraying their characters is what carries this film.

Most of the film's value comes from how the characters react to their circumstances (or, rather how they try to shape them) -- which is why the actor's capabilities are so important.
I don't want to spoil anything about the plot and its little twists and turns. Maybe just this: This is not a "firework of jokes" kind of comedy -- yes, there are some scenes that made me laugh out loud, like right in the beginning, when Kanae Mizushima straightens her desk and then takes out a small vacuum cleaner for the finish; most of the comedic bits are more subtle.

And a short word about the romance -- yes, there is a romance story -- it was very cute. Two oddballs falling in love with each other, over their shared passion for plans and lists, was sweet to watch. And the hug in the end was everything.

As the best comedies do, this film also touches upon question of human existence: What is love? And what are you willing to do for it? What makes you "you"? How do you "know" who you are? And can you be an ethical killer?

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