Chonmage Purin

August 5, 2010

Chonmage Purin

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on August 2010 The Japanese film industry has a weakness for “time slip” films, so it’s not surprising that even a quirky and inventive director like Yoshihiro Nakamura (Golden Slumber, Fish Story) would throw himself into the genre—albeit in a typically idiosyncratic way. Based on a novel by Gen Araki, Chonmage […]

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Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on August 2010

©2010 J Storm Inc

The Japanese film industry has a weakness for “time slip” films, so it’s not surprising that even a quirky and inventive director like Yoshihiro Nakamura (Golden Slumber, Fish Story) would throw himself into the genre—albeit in a typically idiosyncratic way. Based on a novel by Gen Araki, Chonmage Purin offers a new take on the idiom. Single mom Hiroko (Rie Tomosaka) works hard at an ad agency while raising her adorable 5-year-old boy Tomoya (Fuku Suzuki); the last thing she needs in her hectic life is complications. Yet that’s exactly what she gets when she encounters Yasubei (Ryo Nishikido), an Edo-era samurai who has somehow been transported to present-day Tokyo. After a fitful start, the two learn to live with each other and, hilariously, Yasubei finds his calling as a confectioner. Amusing and only occasionally oversweet, this flick delivers the entertainment goods. (108 min)