Freier Mensch

This is an up-close portrait of an unusual young man who has freed himself from what some might call the artificial demands of contemporary society. He sleeps under a bridge in Kyoto, sometimes enjoying the impromptu companionship of others he encounters in the city, other times just walking, observing, or resting in nature--one shot that resonated with me shows him sprawled on his back on a patch of grassy earth, absorbing some serious 'qi'. Seemingly always dressed in military fatigues, he also has a child-like passion for "playing army" which he demonstrates in a very funny scene. He frequents a record cafe where he listens deeply to classical music and enjoys coffee from a nice china cup, developing a warm relationship with the owner, who strikes me as a sort of serendipitous psychotherapist. To pay for his simple needs, he does some part-time manual labor. (And also, the director informed us after the screening I attended at the Busan International Film Festival, he was treated to meals by the filmmaker, who spent a substantial amount of time with him off and on over the course of about two years, I think he said, starting in 2014.)

As someone who believes it is only natural to sharply question the way humans live their lives in modern times, I felt much empathy for Kei. I want to cheer him on in finding a way of life that does not go against his strong natural instinct about what is meaningful. Is it feasible to keep living the way he does, existing completely in the moment?

This was a very satisfying viewing experience, not least because it is technically immaculate. The crisp, saturated images are beautifully composed, maybe with a slightly Asian aesthetic. The pacing is steady, thoughtful, and never tedious. The sound is masterfully done. (I really wanted to ask the director about his equipment, which presumably was pretty compact, as he shot it all himself.) But most of all, the subject matter and the powerful character at its center offer us a chance to meditate on how we live.

8.5 or 9