Review of The Harimaya Bridge (2009) by Ryan T — 23 Apr 2010

The first time I saw this film I saw it on a low quality projector in DVD format and noticed a lot of blurring and unfocused moments. Also it was in a lecture hall setting opposed to a proper theater.

Last night I saw the Harimaya Bridge as it was meant to be seen, in a theater on film and it really made a big difference for me.

This film is truly a cross culture experience for the viewer. Those of you who are familiar with traditional Japanese films such as Kurosawa and Ozu will see the influence from the slow pacing, which most western audiences are not used to. This method of story telling allows the story to unfold naturally in front of you and as the audience it gives you time to get to know the characters on a deeper level and soak in the settings, which in the case of this film is very important.

This is the first full length feature for director, Aaron Woolfork and he has does a wonderful job of capturing the essence of the inaka (rural) Japan along with characters who are real.

I truly enjoyed this film and recommend it to those interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the culture and those who have experienced it for themselves.