Snowy Love Fall in Spring (2005)

This movie is produced for those who keep whining that Japan doesn’t make good romantic stories.

The plot is centered on the Japanese upper class in 1912, an era that’s very rare to find in Japanese or Asian productions in general which made me appreciate its use. Although the beginning was a bit slow, the love story was done quite well and let me tell you, this is not one of those cheesy stories where everything gets resolved with “I love you” and “I love you too”. This is a mature romance that goes in depth of emotions and struggles to reach its peak. While watching the romantic developments, you will get a taste of flowing innocence, painful denial, endless suffering, forbidden encounters as well as hunting desire that led the storyline into dark yet enjoyable corners because it was one of the basic chapters of this movie.

The story’s developments weren’t always right or very well done. Actually, some of them felt predictable and quite bothersome to follow such as familial quarrels and the barriers against the main leads’ relationship. However, if we judge it by the overall atmosphere; the screenwriting was able to pull it off and create a pleasant and mature love story.

The acting department was almost flawless. As usual, Tsumabuki Satoshi was able to get complete control of his role like he always does; that guy is an astonishing actor indeed. It doesn’t matter what kind of role you give him, he will manage to shine in it no matter how badly written it is. On the other hand, Takeuchi Yuko happens to be an expert in romantic stories. Of course, I am not denying her acting skills but if you saw her other romance oriented productions, you will notice that she always manages to create gripping chemistry with her partners and this movie wasn’t any different.

Spring Snow is all about chemistry, so if Satoshi and Yuko didn’t pull it off the way they did; everything about this movie would’ve fallen apart. It was so consuming and very different from other Japanese productions; from now on, that’s how chemistry is supposed to be done. Moreover, the characters’ development was quite neat and enjoyable overall even if some of them felt quite messed up at times.

You should watch this if you’re looking for mature romance, great acting and astounding chemistry. Needless to say, if you’re expecting something fluffy and cute then you’re definitely in the wrong place.

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This was considered a romance movie? The scenery of the movie, the old buildings, cherry trees, the historical part of the movie was all very well done. As for romance, if sex can be called romance, then okay, this movie had romance, but come on now, where was the romance in this movie? Really, seriously? Genre is most definitely drama and historical, but most certainly not a romance. Absolutely and thoroughly disgusted with the plot, I love Yuko chan, she is one of the sweetest and greatest actresses out there, Satoshi is another really great actor, so seeing them together, you'd think great, an awesome romance, not sure what to call this movie, but a real major letdown for sure.....I wouldn't even give this movie a 1% rating...

If you want to watch a real romance, Natsu no Koi wa Nijiiro ni Kagayaku is a real sweet and true romance drama...

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