Favorite films

Recent reviews

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  Angel Dust 1994

  ★★★★½ Watched 18 Jun 2023

  Gakuryu Ishii has managed to captivate me once again. the film is a gripping blend of psychological spirituality and murder mystery, what does it for me though, is again the atmosphere. Ishii's stylistic world building and visual language is totally unique, the sombre hues and music, and the dismal lighting and photography are instrumental in creating it.
  got major cure vibes from it obviously, but they each have different things to offer. and i found cure far more terrifying as a horror.
  this is going to the favs list.

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  The Taste of Tea 2004

  ★★★★½ Watched 21 May 2023 7

  had the most fun in a long time watching this. it's the well controlled surreal humour, with the constant warmth permeating the film that works so, so well.
  and with a bunch of idiosyncratic, warm, goofy characters. the affectionate, mundane family life in countryside Japan. adorable teenage romance. weird cute grandpa. i could keep going.
  this fixed me for a while.
  (also HIDEAKI ANNO CAMEOO!)
  (also found out Aoi is played by singer Anna Tsuchiya who made the openings for Nana)

Popular reviews

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  August in the Water 1995

  ★★★★★ Watched 23 Mar 2023 2

  I found myself yearning for trees, leaves, ground and water. And i wanted to hug all of them and forget everything else.

  I've never felt so cleansed by a film perhaps ever. Although starts as an innocent teenage romance and gradually shifts tone, tackling heavier themes, ecological concerns from both macro and micro perspectives, and they're more relevant than ever. Makes you really feel your detachment from nature, makes you "yearn for trees, leaves, ground and water".
  What gets retained…

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  Picnic 1996

  ★★★★½ Watched 17 Mar 2023 7

  I guess I'll just have to die. I'll wash away all your sins.

  I did not see that coming. Entered this thinking it'd be an hour of an abstract piece that'd help with my dissociation, turned out to be much more emotionally evocative. Mr. Iwai has this exceptional ability to kindle warmth and tenderness in a harsh, unforgiving environment, in the most nihilistic fashion. Kind of mirroring our real world. One of those films that make me so glad i…