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Explosive Emotions Displayed Subtlety

Steven Fujita | Long Beach, CA | 06/27/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Takeru (Jo Odagiri)is a celebrity photographer in Tokyo and younger brother of Minoru (Teruyuki Kagawa). They are the offspring of Isamu Hayakawa (Masato Ibu), who owns the local gas station. Minoru works at the gas station. Minoru is kind, gentle, and responsible: the typical good guy. Takeru is a player. On the one year anniversary of their mother's death, Takeru visits his hometown. His girlfriend at the time, Chieko (Yoko Maki)now works at the gas station. Minoru likes Chieko, Chieko still has feelings for Takeru. For one night, Takeru has feelings for Chieko. The three go an outing at the waterfalls. Chieko dies. Minoru is arrested.

Since Takeru's return, Minoru has been the peacekeeper between Takeru and Isamu. But after the arrest, it is the other way around. The synpopsis on the cover reads, "years of suppressed anger and betrayal come to the surface, revealing a gulf of jealousy and resentment between the brothers that threatens to tear their family apart."

The synopsis is the action that is displayed on the screen. The night before Takeru is to testify at the trial, he argues with Minoru. Then at the trial, he says what he is saying is to get his brother back.

The last scene does bring the story together, and it is so subtle that it is easy to miss. During their argument, Minoru says something to Takeru about Takeru's personality. The ending didn't make sense to me until I remembered that exchange. The result is that Takeru realizes it is not Minoru who had to be redeemed, but himself.
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