The Movie: Last Shadow at First Light
The Director: Nicole Midori Woodford
The Cast: Masatoshi Nagase, Mihaya Shirata, Mariko Tsutsui, Peter Yu
The Story: Ami, haunted by recurring apparitions, embarks on a journey from Singapore to Japan in search of her missing mother. Amidst the transforming landscapes, Ami's dreams, hauntings and lost mother unveil their true form.
The Rating: 7 / 10
The Review:
This is one of those dark, moody films that might end up being really slow and dull but for some reason, filmmakers in Japan know how to turn them into very well thought out and engaging cinematic experiences. Director Nicole Midori Woodford creates a very compelling and slightly supernatural story set within the aftermath of the 2011 Tohoku tsunami and the effects of all the people who were lost during the devastating storm. Lives were changed and families were torn apart leaving long lingering cultural, economic, and environmental damage and one can only imagine how souls could also be left wandering and lost.
The supernatural element is very interesting and it's played in a way that you never really know if it's really happening or if it's all in the character's heads which for me made it an even more effective part of the story. The real emotion comes from the family dynamics as, even years later, people are still grieving and not willing to give up on lost loved ones which has lasting effects on their own lives.
Visually, this movie is quite stunning, even with a rather muted palette which is fine since it does match the mood of the story. One of the more striking images is a sea wall that was built after the tsunami that vividly represents how, while meant for protection, the mental and emotional walls we put up inside ourselves often cut us off from our natural surroundings and change the dynamic of how we live. I think this is really the point of the story when it comes down to it. We're better off as human beings when we are connected and open to communicating with and supporting each other.
If you've ever lost a loved one, through tragic cicumstances or otherwise, this movie will hit you in the emotions and it will make you think about your own struggles with grief and loss. That might sound kind of depressing but it can also be very enlightening and inspirational.
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