Review of Noriko's Dinner Table (2005) by Arnold P — 26 Apr 2010

Just finished Noriko s dinner table â?¦.IM going to resist the temptation to sneak off and research other reviews before posting here, cos that would be cheating. Well. Its a very long film; at around 3 hours I guess, and at times it does feel like ...(read more)it could have been a little sharper. But I don t begrudge the length: unlike some movies, where the coyote syndrome starts to cut in, I didn t feel like chewing off my leg once. The movie is a companion piece to the very excellent Suicide Circle But those expecting the same extraordinary images of the first film might be disappointed: this is a (mostly) slow moving and introspective study of identity, the roles that we play, and that others and society impose upon us. 17 year old Noriko runs away from her seemingly loving family to Tokyo where she meets the chilling Kumiko; a woman with no individual existence. What follows is profound and, at times highly unnerving as the personalities of Noriko, her younger sister Yuka, and their family are all annihilated. The performances of all of the actors is outstandingly committed; I cannot believe that the last set piece of this movie could have been shot in more than one take; the strain on the actors must have been unimaginable.

This is big, grownup cinema, don t expect explanations, don t expect to understand all of what takes place I sure as hell don t. Do however expect to be awed by the sheer daring of this wonderful piece of work and the brave actors, who are called upon to give performances of such extraordinary power.

You might love this move, you might hate it, but you sure as hell wont forget it.

Arn.

XXX.