Movie Review: Nada Sou Sou

I recently watched the movie Nada Sou Sou (Tears Flowing Endlessly). It's a Japanese movie which starred Nagasawa Masami (Prodai, Last Friends) and Satoshi Tsumabuki (Lunch No Jou, Spring Snow). It's a heart warming movie by Nobuhiro Doi.

It's a story of an 8-year old Yotaro who gains a 3-year old step-sister, Kaoru, when his mother marries a jazz musician who plays in a club in Naha, Okinawa where they live. Before long Kaoru's father deserts them, and not long afterward Yota's mother becomes terminally ill. Her dying wish is for him to watch out for Kaoru at his grandmother's place on a small island off the coast of Okinawa. He fulfills her wish and becomes very protective of his younger sister who calls him "nee-nee." Thirteen years later Kaoru returns to Naha and comes to live with him as she starts high school. Yota works hard making deliveries of vegetables from an open-air market by day, and in a restaurant (he is a licensed chef) by night to save money to fulfill his dream of having his own restaurant. He also assumes the role of pushing for Kaoru's entrance to a university. This allows less time for his beautiful girlfriend Keiko, the daughter of a doctor and a medical student at Ryukyu University. It seems that Yota's dreams start to come together when Mr. Kameoka sells him a place for a restaurant. Yota works hard constructing the place, but just as he is to open, the real owner appears. Being swindled, Yota is left with a large outstanding loan. Keiko's father's plans do not include a working class son-in-law as he explains when he offers to pay Yota's debt. Although he refuses, Yota concludes he is not best for Keiko's future. Years later he continues to overwork even after the debt is paid and Kaoru starts university study. With her feelings of love for Yota growing deeper, they mutually decide to live apart.

The story taught me to value my family and to keep my promise to someone I deeply love. Not only that this movie brought tears in my eyes, but also it gave me the feeling of warmheartedness. Lots of members in the website that I often go to commented about the ending. They've been asking why does he have to leave Kaoru chan alone in that world. Well, for me, I think he's done with his purpose. The moment Kaoru chan left him when she got into college, it seemed that his purpose for living was no longer there. He has always been there for his sister. He has always been helping and guiding her. However, when she left, it means she no longer wants to be dependent on him. Well, in this life, we all have purpose to live and we continue to strive to look for that until we'd be able to find it. We always look for the bright light to reach for it, to fulfill our dreams.

I actually didn't intend to criticize the director and the write of this movie when I thought of writing this one. I think the writer killed his main actor to make this film a blockbuster one. Moreover, I think it's done for it to leave in our mind. I have seen many great films already. However, only the ones where the main character died left a great impact in my mind. Well, the writer was able to catch my attention, omedetou gozaimasu!