Kikareta onna no mirareta yoru

This one got me by surprise. Although it plays on some general misconceptions, if not prejudice, about Japanese, it offers a very interesting take on human relations.

A guy moves into an apartment and meets an attractive neighbor living in the flat next to his. He becomes obsessed with her and stalks her with some audio equipment.

With time we meet her boyfriend who is a control freak. It is not clear whether he simply stalks the girlfriend or whether it is their role play, yet she is submissive and accepts the relationship as it is.

So, there are two guys stalking a girl, but only one can win her heart.

When Ryo, a journalist, moves into a new flat, the paper-thin wall separating them grants him access into the life of his cute, down-to earth neighbour.

As curiosity gives way to spying, so too does his loneliness become obsessive, as she becomes almost a scientific study project... but soon, mere stalking isn't enough, and he wants to get to know the girl who lives behind the wall.

As they become closer though, Ryo is confused as to his feelings, unable to connect the bubbly woman he considers a friend, with the faceless, fantasy one who lives the other side of the wall.

Voyeurism, romance, bizarre sexual kicks... if you want to see something different, fresh and surprisingly unoffensive, given its perverse theme, then I would recommend this.

The best film venturing "off-the-beaten-track" that I've seen in a long time.