Review of Memories of Matsuko (2006) by Raymond L — 08 Dec 2007

Adorable, kitsch and pop, what the Japanese do so well. Seamlessly mixing the frivolous with the deeply philosophical. It's got funky production design, MTV editing and a modern soundtrack that plays on nostalgia.

Mad and fun, and yet it still manages to muse on bigger issues of dissaffected youth, parental acceptance, social alienation, even the meaning of life. The film's tragedy is imbued with an overall utopia emanated from the ultimate optimism of title character Matsuko, a wonderful turn by Miki Nakatani who plays Matsuko with equal parts depair, bewilderment and idealistic, naive charm.

Eita is cute as the bored but curious nephew who finds direction in uncovering the life of an aunt he didn't know and yet felt closest to.