Screenplay: Abbas Kiarostami
Starring: Rin Takanashi, Tadashi Okuno, Ryô Kase
Year: 2012
Language: Japanese
UK rental release date: October 2013
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This week, we jet over to Japan to take in a wonderfully filmed drama from director Abbas Kiarostami, known for the multilingual success Certified Copy. We enter the misunderstood world of escorts with his second piece outside of his home country of Iran with Like Someone In Love.
Akiko (Rin Takanashi, Goth, Neo Ultra Q - TV Series) is a sociology student, who earns a little extra money in the evenings as a high class escort. Persuaded in not seeing her visiting grandmother, or revise for her pending exam by her boss, she is sent to see a special client.
He's a professor of great magnitude and highly respected in his profession. His kind nature impresses upon Akiko, especially as one of his specialities is sociology. Through discussing his work and the mutual appreciation of a painting on his wall, they begin to open an unexpected connection between them both.
The next morning, Takashi drives Akiko to her college. There's more going on her life than just education and work, however, due to some trouble she's having with her boyfriend. Higuchi Noriaki (Ryô Kase, Letters From Iwo Jima, The Sky Crawlers) runs a car garage and sees himself as a successful businessman; a rightful husband to Akiko. He only wants to protect her. Yet, he has been pesturing her a lot recently and intervenes as she tries to attend an exam.
As both men wait on Akiko, they begin to talk. Mistaken identity leads Noriaki to believe that Takashi is Akiko's grandfather. It seems obvious that Noriaki has been bothering Akiko, but from his view it's purely through his love for her and his desire for them to wed. He has an air of honour and tradition about him, believing that must marry but only after he has presented himself formally to her family.
She hasn't allowed this yet, but this chance encounter with her "grandfather" could be his opportunity. Yet, Noriaki has started to figure out what Akiko's job is and begins asking questions. Takashi becomes involved in something he shouldn't.
She hasn't allowed this yet, but this chance encounter with her "grandfather" could be his opportunity. Yet, Noriaki has started to figure out what Akiko's job is and begins asking questions. Takashi becomes involved in something he shouldn't.
As soon as the disc to Like Someone In Love has loaded up the main menu, your speakers are filled with the dulcet tones of Ella Fitzgerald on her song of the same name. It immediately sets the tone for this delicate and sweet drama.
This simple tale is thoughtful and tender, encompassing the touching connection between a call girl and a widower. It holds a strange innocence embedded into its seemingly seedy, if attempting to be classy, subject matter. It really is quite refreshing to see such a brave approach, turning such substance that could have been distasteful into something charming and exquisite.
A lot of this seems to be achieved through its patient demeanour. Even though it is slow, granting the picture a gentle mood, its very involving. When our two leads first meet in Takashi's apartment their conversation is endearing and pleasant. Yet, the hustle and bustle of the busy streets outside intertwine at the same audible level, infusing a strong undercurrent to the piece, leading us emotionally into the events that will soon follow.
There is some intelligent use of sounds throughout the entire picture. The final scene in particular has great use of audio (I can't really say why though without giving too much away!), with externalised noise throwing tension through the glass window that separates the apartment from the outside world.
These external and juxtaposed sounds carry an air of biplicity about them. This is very important to pick up on, as polarity and dual identity are strong thematics overall, and can be attuned to all three of our main characters, like Noriaki's mistaken identification of Takashi, but it's most prevalent when considering Akiko's lifestyle.
Besides symbolic reference, reflections also help to influence some graceful visuals. Take one of the earlier shots, for example, when Akiko's boss leaves the bar to take a phone call: the camera is smartly placed outside the window, focusing on Akiko, capturing what unfolds inside while, in the same frame, we also see her boss on his call, peeping over his shoulder from time to time. It's brief and it's subtle, yet the delicately blended imagery clearly demonstrates the deft camera work from both Abbas Kiarostami and cinematographer Katsumi Yanagijima (a highly regard DOP in Japan, who has worked on such titles as Battle Royale and Sonatine).
The camera doesn't let up for one moment, each shot capturing the elegant performances from the cast while they're beautifully framed, or using the environment to enhance what is already stunningly captured by the lens. Whether it's when the camera holds steady as the neon lights of Tokyo dress the face of Akiko during her taxi ride, or the trusting, lingering shots that stand their ground like in the opening bar scene, Like Someone In Love relies on the lens to tell this affecting story.
A collaboration between MK2 Group (France) and Eurospace (Japan) on a relatively modest budget of $4.8million, it took a mere eight weeks to shoot. This is a sensational achievement when considering how small the crew were on this film. The outcome is a sensitively felt tale, conveyed by deep thematic undertones and a look that should be an example of a masterclass in camerawork. Sometimes, you don't need a monstrous bank account to create such visual allure...just a little bit of light, a decent lens and some eyes that know how to show you beauty in such simplicity. Truly stunning!
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