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The Door Into Summer
(2021)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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While flashbacks and dramatic music are applied to heighten the emotional investment of the spectator, the melo-dramatic nature of these moments elegantly underline that the cast are unable to fuel the emotions of the narrative with their performances.
Posted May 11, 2023
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Electric Dragon 80,000 V
(2001)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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While, thematically speaking, the narrative is an empty shell, the beauty of the monochrome visuals as well as the roughness of the musical accompaniment is enough to keep the spectator engaged from start to finish.
Posted May 11, 2023
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The Executioner
(1974)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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The satisfactory nature of the fighting-sequences is not only determined by Hatsumi’s choreographies, but also by the sound-design.
Posted May 11, 2023
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Three Little Geisha
(1973)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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Takamori’s narrative does more than just serve some youthful actresses for the visual enjoyment of the male spectator, but also allows said spectator to laugh with what is essentially his own phallic stupidity.
Posted May 11, 2023
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Ghidrah, the Three-Headed Monster
(1965)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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The composition of King Ghidorah: the three headed monster proves that Honda has settled for a certain consistent visual style. Once again, his composition has a pleasant visual rhythm...
Posted May 11, 2023
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Go
(2001)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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Yukisada’s Go is a must-see, not only for its elegant composition, but for the societal truth it powerfully sketches out.
Posted May 11, 2023
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Little Nights, Little Love
(2019)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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Imaizumi’s narrative succeeds in touching the spectator by blending an effective narrative structure with a composition that puts emphasis on the communicative power of expressions.
Posted May 11, 2023
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The Ghost in the Well
(1957)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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Ghost in The Well might be a short narrative, but it hits all the right emotional notes for a tragic love story. Toshikazu Kono, in fact, blends compositional drama with musical drama so pleasingly...
Posted May 11, 2023
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Plan 75
(2022)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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With Plan 75, Hayakawa hauntingly confronts the spectator with what would happen if the existence of the subject was radically reduced by the government to how much he/she financially contributes to the society.
Posted May 11, 2023
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Rodan
(1957)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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The use of painted backgrounds to fleetingly introduce different locations like Peking, the Philippines and Okinawa might feel cheap, but it does not detract or disturb the investment of the spectator in the narrative.
Posted Apr 03, 2023
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Ju-on: The Grudge
(2003)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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The lighting-design of Ju-On: The Grudge is fantastic. Shimizu refuses to cheaply exploit darkness to make the scares and horror stronger...
Posted Mar 09, 2023
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Funeral Parade
(1969)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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Matsumoto makes great use of jump-cuts, fast montages, and intertitles.
Posted Mar 02, 2023
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Mad Cats
(2023)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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Reiki Tsuno elegantly blends character-related silliness with situational tension to delivers a dose of cinematic pleasure that does not only provides the laughs but also engages the spectator with well-choreographed action.
Posted Feb 17, 2023
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Birds Without Names
(2017)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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Bird Without Names is an amazing romance-drama narrative. It is due to its effective narrative structure and the amazing acting-performances by Sadao Abe and Yu Aoi.
Posted Jan 26, 2023
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Missing
(2021)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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With Missing, Shinzo Katayama delivers one of the most satisfying drama-thrillers this year.
Posted Jan 13, 2023
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King Kong vs. Godzilla
(1963)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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Honda’s King Kong Vs Godzilla is a splendid Godzilla narrative that delivers thrilling kaiju action while elegantly exploring the impact of the rise of capitalism and consumerism on Japanese society...
Posted Dec 29, 2022
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The Nighthawk's First Love
(2021)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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The naturalistic composition, coupled with the sparse but thoughtful use of musical accompaniment, creates a supportive frame upon which Rena Matsui and Ayumu Nakajima are able to breathe a sense of genuineness...
Posted Dec 17, 2022
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Wedding High
(2022)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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With Wedding High, Akiku Ohku might not only have delivered her best narrative yet, but one of the best comedy narratives of this year.
Posted Dec 17, 2022
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Dreaming of the Meridian Arc
(2022)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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Dreaming Of The Meridian Arc is a pleasant narrative due to the chemistry between Kenichi Matsuyama and Kiichi Nakai and the satisfying delivery...
Posted Dec 08, 2022
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Two on the Edge
(2021)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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Kitaguchu, with his elegant composition, opens up the space for Meiri Asahina to make Otose feel genuine and her subjective conflict the power to captivate the spectator. Asahina, in short, impresses.
Posted Nov 30, 2022
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Godzilla Raids Again
(1959)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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Oda’s narrative offers the Japanese spectator a message of hope, yet not without underlining that what is repressed today will resurface another day – i.e. the truth of the pacific war cannot be effaced.
Posted Nov 29, 2022
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Rageaholic
(2022)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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What stands out in the composition of Rageaholic is the balance that Takahashi has found between adding a stylish touch to his visuals whileengendering a dystopian mood.
Posted Nov 16, 2022
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Ribbon
(2021)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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With Ribbon, Non delivers a highly enjoyable and charming narrative about re-finding one’s passion within destructive confines...
Posted Nov 16, 2022
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Godzilla
(1954)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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While its anti-nuclear and anti-war message is far from subtle, the effective visualization of the atomic-horror, the destructivity of the invisible, still hits the contemporary spectator emotionally.
Posted Oct 31, 2022
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Lake of Dracula
(1973)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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Lake of Dracula lacks the unsettling blend of Western and Japanese elements and the alluring mystery that marks its predecessor, but that does not stop Yamamoto from delivering a splendid and highly atmospheric homage.
Posted Oct 26, 2022
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Pulse
(2001)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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Pulse is an extra-ordinary apocalyptic horror narrative that explores, in a refined way, the destructive impact of consumption...
Posted Oct 26, 2022
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Bad City
(2022)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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Bad City delivers everything one expects from an action-thriller – a compositional rhythm that engages the spectator, many bursts of crude fighting that feel cool, and a violent finale with some unexpected twists.
Posted Oct 19, 2022
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The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
(2006)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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The film does not merely celebrate the beauty of the transiency of being-in-love, but also powerfully stages the tragedy of the missed encounter.
Posted Oct 19, 2022
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School in the Crosshairs
(1981)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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School In The Crosshairs is a heart-warming sci-fi flick that dazzles the spectator with its expressive and colourful effects.
Posted Oct 19, 2022
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Dancing in Her Dreams
(2020)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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Dancing In Her Dreams is a wonderful experience that does not only present a touching exploration of the pain of longing but also functions as an exquisite and elegant celebration...
Posted Sep 09, 2022
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Summer Time Machine Blues
(2005)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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Summer Time Machine Blues is a fantastic time-travel narrative that will not only please sci-fi fans but also please spectators who love Japanese comical narratives.
Posted Sep 09, 2022
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Pale Flower
(1964)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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Pale Flower is a ‘seductive’ nihilistic masterpiece that explores the unescapable subjective problems created by the rhythmic capitalistic machinery.
Posted Aug 29, 2022
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Stigmatized Properties
(2020)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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A horror without well-developed horror and a romance story without satisfying romantic moments.
Posted Aug 23, 2022
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What to Do with the Dead Kaiju?
(2022)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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Satoshi Miki’s What To Do With Dead Kaiju delivers on all fronts. What could have been a narrative that could not fulfill the promise of its interesting premise is turned into an extremely well-structured genre-blend.
Posted Aug 12, 2022
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Shin Ultraman
(2022)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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Besides the nostalgic application of music, musical pieces are also utilized, with great effect, to reverberate the tension that accompanies and the urgency that marks the search for a way to defeat the destructive Kaiju.
Posted Jul 29, 2022
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Any Crybabies Around?
(2020)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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With Any Crybabies Around?, Takuma Sato blends his childhood experiences in Akita and his memories of the people he met during his years of research in Akita to create a narrative about local traditions.
Posted Jun 10, 2022
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Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy
(2021)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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With Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy, Hamaguchi proves, once more, that he is an eloquent master of conversation naturalism and a virtuoso...
Posted Jun 02, 2022
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Mr. Suzuki - A Man in God's Country
(2020)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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A man in God's Country is a wonderful narrative that is not only visually pleasing but explores, with a refined irony, the very problematic dimensions of nationalism.
Posted Jun 02, 2022
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Last of the Wolves
(2021)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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While Last Of The Wolves does not reach the heights of the masterpieces of the genre, Kazuya Shiraishi delivers, with his sequel, another amazing and highly entertaining yakuza/police thriller.
Posted Jun 02, 2022
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They Say Nothing Stays the Same
(2019)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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They Say Nothing Stays The Same is an exquisitely shot meditation about the impact change has on society and subjectivity.
Posted Jun 02, 2022
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Journey to the Shore
(2015)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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With Journey To The Shore, Kiyoshi Kurosawa delivers an elegant and touching exploration of arrested mourning...
Posted May 13, 2022
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Gonza the Spearman
(1986)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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Gonza The Spearman is a fabulous narrative that offers a satisfying exploration of the tragedy of phallic ambition and the destructive potential of desire.
Posted May 13, 2022
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Hiruko the Goblin
(1991)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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Tsukamoto’s film is a classic, a narrative that expertly blends two contradictory atmospheres, a campy one and a threatening one, into an unforgettable experience that is as touchingly lighthearted as is it disturbingly horrifying.
Posted May 08, 2022
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The Inferno of First Love
(1967)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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An extra-ordinary psychological romance narrative that dazzles the spectator with a tragic and heart-piercing experience about love’s power to spur on subjective change and overcome the inhibiting effects of trauma.
Posted May 08, 2022
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Punk Samurai Slash Down (Panku-zamurai, kirarete sôrô)
(2018)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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While this film does not break any new ground or does not best similar comical period drama’s, Ishii’s samurai comedy remains well worth a watch.
Posted May 08, 2022
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Homunculus
(2021)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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"An attempt to offer something fresh to the horror-table, but one that, sadly, fails to blends its pleasing parts into a whole that truly engages and pleases the spectator."
Posted May 08, 2022
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Pieta in the Toilet
(2015)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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Matsunaga delivers a beautiful and highly emotional experience that will leave no one unaffected.
Posted May 03, 2022
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Homestay
(2022)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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With a different lead-actor and more compositional dare, Seta’s film could have been truly emotionally profound and powerful enough to make a radical difference in some spectators’ life.
Posted Mar 04, 2022
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Dreams on Fire
(2021)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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McKie’s film is not only the best dance-film of recent years but might very well be one of the best Japanese films to be released this year.
Posted Dec 30, 2021
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Blue
(2021)
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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
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Blue might not have the epical proportions of "Underdog", but Yoshida still succeeds in hitting all the beats of the boxing genre with perfection.
Posted Dec 30, 2021
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