GEKKO NO SASAYAKI
MOONLIGHT WHISPERS
1999

July 3, 2001
Towne Theater

Japanese high-schoolers fall in love, and what should be his dream relationship turns into her reevaluation of what being in love means to different people.

-->Directed and Written.....Akihiko Shiota
-->Written.....Masahiko Kikuni and Yoichi Nishiyama
-->Takuya Hidaka.....Kenji Mizuhashi [Fishes In August]
-->Satsuki Kitahara.....Tsugumi [Instantly jumps aboard the MichaelVox Top Ten]
-->Tadashi Uwmatsu.....Kouta Kusano

I promise this is like nothing you've ever seen before. A terrific conversation starter. Takuya secretly pines for the gorgeous Satsuki, a classmate, even going so far as to spar with her in martial arts before class. He says he enjoys it when she hits him on the head, it makes him know he's alive. A classmate gives him a note to pass to her but she declares that she would rather be pursued by Takuya and not the more experienced classmate. Takuya is beside himself with joy. It's a dream come true. They begin an incredibly beautiful courtship with conversations, walks, video games, bike rides, and of course, sparring. A locked drawer contains proof that what he wants out of their relationship is quite different than what she had in mind, but later, she realizes that his way has its charms (and perks) as well.

I don't want to say any more about the plot because it goes in ways an audience has never seen before. What begins conventionally goes way over to the other side by the time the film ends.

This sort of slice-of-life film from Japan is pretty rare. The parents are over-protective, both families have money, sex in high school is a common thing, and even in rigid Tokyo, a man (or kid) can have needs that aren't exactly common.

I was most impressed by this frank and honest-to-a-fault story. The power that each lover has and uses in their own way is a joy to watch.