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Absolutely the worst movie.

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

I was stunned. This film by Shion Sono stuns me. It is by no means a perfect film, nor it tries to be so, but it is one of the best manifestos of the Japanese psyche, which is revealed with honesty and sincerity. On the surface, I like everything Japan. Deep down, I find Japan and the Japanese to be so hopelessly trapped in its and their own social and economic creation, which is modern Japan. This film chronicles a few lives, and still it tells a universal story of what feels like to be a Japanese today. Japan is a world's notable story of rags-to-riches, and it is even more notable, and revealing, as it seems to reverse the fortune at the stagnation of self development today. It is still too soon to name Japan's story of the riches-back-to-rags nature. But the emergence of China and South Korea and Taiwan and the once third-world Asia puts Japan at a paranoid of getting a lot closer and faster to the rank of rags. I find the boy Sumida in several Japanese friends of mine. Their unspeakable pains and sorrows are much more understood now. Japan has created itself, especially after the second world war, into a society depending on other people's perception and judgment. The Japanese then are left to struggle with the realities of their own, sometimes most degrading and inhuman, and continuing to protect the great image of worldly success and of loyal conformity to the society at large. This great contrast proves too much for a human being. There go suicides, vicious killings, and other unnamed psychopathic episodes as a tragic result. This film makes us wonder which will win: hopelessness or hopefulness. It ends with one winning just an inch over the other. I believe this sad film wants to convey the desperation of Japan and the Japanese at this time. It does well. I recommend this Shion Sono film for everyone who cares more than just about yourself, and I wish Japan well in every way. Dear Japan, you have killed your own father, the old and traditional Japan, and been trying to live with the leftover, being the modernised Japan. Tall order it indeed is, but you are not as short as before. There is a future.

After Love Exposure, I want to give this director's other movies a go. What a mistake, this movie stinks. How could a director who is capable of making something exciting to watching like LOVE EXPOSURE makes something horrible as HIMIZU is beyond me.I like movies that are different. This movie is different. But also very dull and boring. No one could relate to any of the characters depicted.This movies has a lot of uninteresting WTF moments that make no sense at all. I fell asleep twice watching this movie. The protagonist is depicted as mind-numbingly dull fellow. The girl is retarded. Actually all of the characters are retarded. I wonder if the radiation has something with it.I highly don't recommend this movie. What a waste of time.

Some of you already know I'm a huge fan of Love Exposure, but I hadn't seen anything else from Sono until this, so I was greatly anticipating it. It's set in post-tsunami Japan, and this setting is not only a context but a very important part of the plot, perhaps too much so especially at the ending when the film turns a little into a moralizing or even propaganda piece, with the main character crying "Don't give up!" repeatedly while we see images of the ravages of the flood. I gotta say those last minutes moved me to the verge of tears though, but that has more to do with how it builds up and connects previous elements shown in the film in a rather messy way. But I think that's the Sono way, with quick shots and thoughts put together, unexpected transitions, poetry mixed up with violence, sometimes inscrutable characters... This film also has some powerful cinematography going for it, with thinned down and warm colors, probably with some filter involved or maybe just postproduction grading to create this beautiful effect. Also worthy of notice is the soundtrack, with pieces from Mozart and Barber that enhance the poignancy of the film. So in the end it's a tragic and also hopeful love story, with different situations involved that make true sense only towards the end. It has some disturbing scenes, with parents who want their children dead or people who want to kill other people in the street for no rational reason... Situations that are quite effective in portraying not only the material but also the moral and mental damages that can be caused by such an event as last year's tsunami. Still, it's no match to Love Exposure, and I don't think anything else from Sono is/will be.****

The earthquake that struck Northeast Japan in March 2011 forever changed the lives of millions, and we all knew it would eventually be reflected in Japanese films. I just didn't expect it to happen so quickly, much less by Sono Shion of all directors making such an inspirational film that encourages the Japanese youth to never give up. "Himizu" was an adaptation of the manga, but Sono Shion had reportedly reworked the script after the earthquake.The title "Himizu" is a mole species in Japan. The movie is set in a boat rental shack by the lake, and the protagonist was repeatedly covered in mud due to external forces, yet stands up each time. I think in addition to the gloomy darkness seen from a person's perspective, the title also reflects Sono's message that one should advance forward no matter how muddy and hopeless the outlook may be.The first third of this film portrays the despair facing today's youth using extreme examples: Having the perception that they are in the way of their parents' happiness; having an "ordinary life" as a goal rather than having a big dream due to the disappointing job market; and the urge to release anger by physical violence, even murder or suicide. The story paints a bleak picture of today's youth with a touch of quirky comedy while introducing the main characters.The Shion-esque bizarre plot twist goes on full throttle in the second third as the film as characters succumb to their dark desires and go on a rampage, from theft, "Death Note"-like vigilante justice, and finally murder. There is quite a bit of art house scenes and corny WTF lines tossed around. This may make "Himizu" a difficult watch for some, but I thought it really depicted the deranged minds kids may have, and adds the Sono Shion flavor to this movie.The final third is where the drama occurs, and all the loose ends tied up. It shows that even today, there is kindness around you by the "last supper" scene. Followed by the epiphany of what it means to be a "responsible adult". Finally topped off by a cheer to Japanese citizen to never give up and dream big. The presentation was incredibly powerful, and it left me in tears. "Himizu" begins and ends with a jog. The final scene could not have been any more dramatic and inspirational.Repetitive use of Mozart's "Requiem" in this movie was especially memorable. The same passage was played in many occasions throughout the film. While it sounded like jovial comedic support at first, it appeared to raise a sense of urgency in the "second third" as the story progressed, before fully turning into a sombre yet peaceful requiem in the end. Such powerful use of BGM is pretty rare from my experience.Casting for this movie is incredible. The lead couple Sometani Shouta and Nikaidou Fumi delivered performances worthy of their newcomers award at the 68th Venice International Festival. Nikaidou Fumi as the stalker girl Chazawa especially stood out, resembling Miyazaki Aoi in every aspect, from her cute looks, the ability to handle quirky comedy, to dramatic performance (she shed tear in 6 different scenes in this film by my count). She's definitely the actress to watch out for. Kubozuka Yousuke, who also appeared in TIFF's "Monsters Club" (2011), was actually given the opportunity to shine. Remainder of the cast seemed to be directly taken out of Sono's "Cold Fish" (2010). Many directors reuse their "favorite actors", but it was really fitting in this case since their chemistry was excellent. The strengths of each actor were definitely drawn out to the fullest by the director."Himizu" is a powerful film that has everything you might expect from a Japanese flick: Quirky comedy, angst, despair, yakuza, violence, horror, search for self identity, bitter-sweet adolescence, romance, drama, inspiration, and the art house treatment. Not only is it entertaining, it also manages to be provocative and deep.It's a shame that some foreign film critics didn't seem to understand that the reference to 2011 earthquake was not meant to drive the plot nor intended to be the reason these characters are in despair. It's a movie that screams "You are one and only flower in the world" (Sekai ni Hitotsu dake no Hana), as the title of the popular boy band group SMAP's song referenced in this film, which is often used to inspire people in Japan when they're feeling down. This movie is meant to call out a clear-cut message for the devastated Japan to never give up, that one should dare to dream, and that there's hope. It delivered.I thoroughly enjoyed this film, and it easily ranks in my all-time top 5 list of Japanese films. Highly recommended for Sono Shion fans and non- fans alike.