Time-slip, Time-jump, Time-travel, etc are the elements that unbound the creator's imagination and open up various possibilities. The movie "Junihitoe wo Kita Akuma" took one of these elements and made us dive into the classic "Tale of Genji". with our main character Ito Rai. Knowing the original Genji Monogatari isn't mandatory to watch this movie but it'll certainly make you appreciate it because the movie unfolds the classic tales from a different point of view.

Rai in his timeline lived like a side character under the shadow of his talented younger sibling. The frustration from his incompetence was eating away Rai until he teleported into the Heian Era or more specifically in the story of Genji. A not so uncommon build-up, true. But the filmmaker took the opportunity here to throw us into the Genji tale from a different side. Rai starts living in this time period as Raimei, a seer for Kokiden Nyogo, the first wife of emperor Kiritsubo. In Genji Monogatari, Kokiden is portrayed as a villainous woman, who plots against Genji to ensure his own son Suzaku gets the throne. With our main character Raimei by her side, the movie shows a different side of Kokiden. A mother and a woman with strong conviction and love for her son. Her characteristics rub off on Rai and we see some character development. It's alright to be not the chosen one but possible to This is what impressed me most about the movie.

I don't have much to say about the acting of the casts because I can't tell the difference between bad or good acting unless they are too obvious.

For whatever reason, the comedy tag is in this movie. there wasn't much comedy and one shouldn't expect one since the original Genji Monogatari is rather dark, full of complex love, hate, taboo relationship, and tragedy. There are a couple of Genji Monogatari movies, and my suggestion will be to watch one first.

*btw, the song Raimei was singing to Rinko at 65 minutes, is "Cherry(チェリー)" by Spitz's(スピッツ). Just saying, because they're my favorite band.