[Japanese Movie] Memoirs of a Teenage amnesiac

 

From the smallest thing, everything can change. From a flip of a coin and the choices you make, all can make a difference. All you have to do, is take a step in any direction.

Naomi, played by Maki Horikita, fall down the stairs - to save her camera. All her choices from before, is all forgotten in that one moment. Four years of impressions, feelings, facts and friends - all memories gone, and changed. 

 She didn't know the boy Yuji, played by Kenichi Matsuyama, who sat with her in the hospital. Even though he mention, he once wanted to kiss her.  

 She didn't remember the best friend Mirai, played by Yuya Tegoshi. Even though he always thinks of her best. And always tries to give a smile on her face.

And she doesn't remember the boyfriend, who is not there to see her, in the hospital.
Her father tries to help her remember, but how can she remember the forgotten?

She starts school again, and sees everything in a different light. With this, she can change. Not remembering who she was, makes a pretty big picture of who you can be. Naomi are just doing the things she think is right and wrong, for the moment. And for her self, in that stage.

So maybe when she picked "heads" on that coin, it was meant to be. Running back for the camera, and falling while hurrying... maybe that coin, was a lucky one. Maybe, she didn't fall - but dived.

Memoirs of a Teenage amnesiac (Japanese/American 2010) is a story about Naomi Sukuse, who loses her memory. At first, the main problem is the amnesia itself. But later, it evolves to be more about who she was before the amnesia, and who she is now. How she looks at things differently, from another light and perspective.

The movie is based on the book, with the same name - written by Gabrielle Zevin. And directed by Hans Canosa. It takes place in a Japanese/American school - so it involves a lot of the English language. It was meant to be filmed in America. But it changed, when they wanted a setting and background - that only Japan could give.

I myself, adore this movie. Japanese movies tend to be, way overreacted. It gets to much angst, and the probability is really low.
But in this movie, it holds a very reasonable line. Yeah, of course - the amnesia is a big thing to begin with. But this movie really makes up for it. And it is a fiction, so it is probably allowed.
The message with this movie is incredible and I love the way they tell it.

The pictures through-out the movie, is beautiful. And the way they mix it with the story is great. To see the pictures show up, like that... especially in the end, is a little bit of a mind-blow.
But in the other hand, I love photography too. And the photos made it really beautiful visual, and the storytelling just got better. 

The movie involves a lot of English, of course. And I think they do a great work with the language too. It is a little bit unsure with the pronouncement, sometimes. But overall, okay.
The only thing which went a bit to far - is Yujis depression. But after a hole, of a little bit to much angst, it went right back up and smoothed it all out - getting it only better again. So I forgive that little point of weakness.
The soundtrack makes it go further, in getting the right feeling to the scenes. In whole, the movie is great and worth the watch. I recommend it.

Memoirs of a Teenage amnesiac Trailer ~