Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on December 2013

Liverpudlian Freda Kelly in the 60s had the best job a girl could ask for, as secretary to the Beatles and head of their fan club from 1963 until their breakup 11 years later. Nice lady. She still works as a secretary. Missing from this inessential account of the band’s early days are any juicy gossip tidbits or insider insights. “George was the quiet one” is as deep as it gets. The mildly interesting chronological account of the band’s growing popularity repeatedly returns to the uninteresting topic of answering all that fan mail. The vibe is positive, but soon it all begins to sound alike. Japanese title: Aishi no Freda. (86 min)