Aristocrats (2021) poster
7.5
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Ratings: 7.5/10 from 238 users
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Ranked #5764
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Hanako Haibara was born and raised in the city of Tokyo. After she gets dumped by her boyfriend, while in her late 20's, she goes on blind dates to find a man to marry. Miki Tokioka was born in a province. She studied very hard and entered a prestigious university in Tokyo. She experienced difficult financial times, but she now works at an IT company. Due to a man, Hanako Haibara and Miki Tokioka meet each other. (Source: AsianWiki) ~~ Adapted from the novel "Ano Ko wa Kizoku" by Mariko Yamauchi Edit Translation

  • English
  • magyar / magyar nyelv
  • dansk
  • Norsk
  • Country: Japan
  • Type: Movie
  • Release Date: Feb 26, 2021
  • Duration: 2 hr. 4 min.
  • Score: 7.5 (scored by 238 users)
  • Ranked: #5764
  • Popularity: #10868
  • Content Rating: G - All Ages

Cast & Credits

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Aristocrats (2021) photo
Aristocrats (2021) photo
Aristocrats (2021) photo
Aristocrats (2021) photo
Aristocrats (2021) photo
Aristocrats (2021) photo

Reviews

Completed
WandereR
16 people found this review helpful
Feb 21, 2022
Completed 5
Overall 9.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

Finding Yourself

Aristocrats tells the story of two women from different social classes, family backgrounds, and outlook on life who embark on a journey of self-discovery and finding their place in the world, amidst the constraints of familial expectations, gender discrimination, class system and traditional values that are deeply ingrained in Japanese society, particularly amongst the upper class or, in the context of the film, the aristocrats.

Based on the novel Ano Ko wa Kizoku by award-winning author and essayist Mariko Yamauchi, which was serialised in the monthly magazine Syosetsu Subaru in 2015 and published as a book in 2016. Yukiko Sode, who is a notable indie-film director, wrote the screenplay adaptation and directed the film. Yasuyuki Sasaki serves as cinematographer while Takuma Watanabe composed the original score. Aristocrats had its world premiere at the 33rd Tokyo International Film Festival in 2021.

What I Appreciated

The character-driven and female-centric narrative is told from the perspectives of the two women, Haibara Hanako and Tokioka Miki, structured in a converging parallel plot format. Certain flashback sequences are involved but, for the most part, a linear storytelling approach is adopted which preserves the overall cohesion and coherence of the multiple POVs. A number of themes concerning conservative social constructs, narrow mindsets and stereotypes are manifested while the concepts of marriage, friendship and love are also explored to a certain extent.

Running at just over 2 hours, this film covers quite an extensive scope but gives the impression of taking its time to allow the various elements to breathe and gradually sink in. Nothing ever feels rushed or abrupt as the tempo of the storytelling remains delicately poised all throughout. This aspect is complemented by the equally subtle cinematography technique that renders a series of exquisitely framed moments. A more subdued colour grading is employed with a slight textured effect that filters the warmer colour palettes. The gently imbued orchestral accompaniment that induces an introspective mood provides the finishing touches to the end product - a motion picture that showcases visual aesthetics and technical artistry.

Where the production truly shines lies in the exceptional cast performances, particularly that of the main leads. Kadowaki Mugi and Mizuhara Kiko are hugely impressive in their respective portrayals of Haibara Hanako and Tokioka Miki. Understatedly emotive and compellingly nuanced, these two fine actresses certainly possess the gravitas to utterly enliven the entire film with their commanding screen presence. My only qualm is that I wished both had more scenes together.

Final Thoughts

Aristocrats, at its core, represents an in-depth character study of the internal struggles of two young women against the backdrop of a deeply traditional society amidst the hustle-and-bustle of cosmopolitan Tokyo. It is bittersweet yet inspiring and the story eventually ends on a high note which provides a fitting closure where both leads finally discover their true worth and find their place in the world. This has been a truly evocative viewing experience.

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Completed
junipercrumbles
0 people found this review helpful
Jan 6, 2023
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 5.0

Finding Beauty In the Imperfect

"Beauty can be coaxed out of ugliness. Wabi-sabi is ambivalent about separating beauty from non-beauty or ugliness. The beauty of wabi-sabi is, in one respect, the condition of coming to terms with what you consider ugly. Wabi-sabi suggests that beauty is a dynamic event that occurs between you and something else. Beauty can spontaneously occur at any moment given the proper circumstances, context, or point of view. Beauty is thus an altered state of consciousness, an extraordinary moment of poetry and grace."

— Leonard Koren, Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers

what i expected to be a humdrum take on dismantling the patriarchy and girlbossing turned out to be a complete subversion, prying our eyes away from the systems in place and dissecting what it means to solemnly accept our fate and destiny; to cultivate beauty out of the incomplete and imperfect, the very essence of wabi-sabi.

it poses a question to those seeking to grind, work, and reproduce in the most functional manner, only to be discarded or disregarded when their productivity ceases or completely stops: who are you, beyond what is expected of you? do you possess a true individuality? and if so, does it pale in comparison to your lack of feeling accomplished in life?

many undertake their responsibilities out of a sense of honor and duty, mistaking it for a life doomed to convention and misery. others are more whimsical about their roles, overestimating their abilities and failing to realize the ways in which they've been brought up prevent what they hoped to expect. without a middle-path, the only feeling that dawns is that of failure, and subsequently, despair.

my favorite scene is one where one of the main characters, while walking through the city, stops and stares at two girls across a bridge giggling on their bike. upon noticing her, they give her a wave to which she returns, warily at first, then enthusiastically.

one of my favorite activities is walking around the city alone, and it's something i do often. for the sake of my faith, i've given up a lot i used to partake in. watching my 20s go by in a blur, all that's left is for me to settle down and start a family. but i also know that nobody wants an orphan with a shoddy past as a future daughter-in-law. that it might just be my destiny to die alone before i meet someone suitable. but it's enough for me to watch the cityscape and observe the crowds of people, and yearn for something outside of the duties that await me. to know that i'm not defined by them, no matter how many men use it to determine my worth. that while my upbringing and newfound morality preclude a lot, i can still blossom into an individual i love being. whatever is destined for me, will find me. i try to make peace with that. this film is an illustration of those who share that same struggle, irrespective of one's social-status, class, and circumstance. perhaps, so long as you put yourself first, you'll draw to you what belongs to you.

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Details

  • Movie: Aristocrats
  • Country: Japan
  • Release Date: Feb 26, 2021
  • Duration: 2 hr. 4 min.
  • Content Rating: G - All Ages

Statistics

  • Score: 7.5 (scored by 238 users)
  • Ranked: #5764
  • Popularity: #10868
  • Watchers: 583

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