Original Title: Kiraware Matsuko no Isshō | 嫌われ松子の一生
Release: 2006
Country: Japan
Director: Tetsuya Nakashima
Cast: Miki Nakatani / Eita
Running Time: 130 Min.
Written by M. Douglas
Published: 02/27/07
In a world where dreams are sometimes put aside, forgotten, or perhaps even misdirected, there are times when one must adjust to their situation and make the best of it. But what if one’s dreams were to be thoroughly dashed throughout their entire lifetime? Director Tetsuya Nakashima’s (who helmed the 2004 hit Kamikaze Girls) latest film Memories of Matsuko strives to showcase just that.
This time around the plot follows protagonist Kawajiri Matsuko (Miki Nakatani), a woman whose life is filled with extreme adversity and tragedy after the unfair departure from her job. Through all the hardships, she continues to uphold an undying hope that there’s something better that lies in her future. Her willingness to continue through life confronting surprisingly detrimental odds is inspiring to say the least, and it’s very convincing due in part actress Miki Nakatani. She is absolutely fantastic at portraying Kawajiri. Her ability to switch from the comedic aspects to dramatic aspects that are intertwined in the film is magnificent and truly displays her acting range. If you seen Train Man: Densha Otoko, her other film, you would notice that she was somewhat held back in her portrayal of “Hermes”; she had to stick closely to likeliness of her character in the original novel. Here she is able to fully demonstrate her ability to incorporate the many facets that her role calls for. Excellent work from all the other actors as well, but Nakatani definitely is the driving powerhouse of the film.
Another aspect of the film that I enjoyed was the stunning visuals. Each scene was a delight to watch, and dare I say it, perhaps the most visually stimulating Japanese film I’ve seen in awhile? But what should one come to expect from the same man who brought you the colorful and vibrant Kamikaze Girls? At times, the weight of the scenes was accurately portrayed through the vibrant atmosphere of the film, dependent entirely upon what the scene was trying to convey. This in itself reinforces the already strong performances from the actors, delivering a visually satisfying film along with strong acting to produce a thrilling portrait of dark comedic madness.
The music is delightful as well. The soundtrack provides a whimsical tone to the film, and also delivers the effect punch in some scenes. Interspersed throughout the film are musical numbers, much like a play, in which the actors participate in. In the sense that I might spoil some of the film’s effectiveness with these scenes, I will refrain from going into any further details. The least I can say is that it’s a great soundtrack.
Memories of Matsuko is a magnificent film overall. With the combination of acting, visuals, and music, it essentially provides a journey in which there are no happy endings; rather, it explores notion that the journey is more important. A dark, twisted, and at times humorous film about life, Memories of Matsuko is a film I wholeheartedly recommend.
