News

“It Must Be Love” is Junko Emoto's second directorial feature film, previously having directed “The Extremists' Opera.” While having acted in movies, a notable example is Shutaro Oku's “Death of Domomata,” Emoto is also very active in theater. As a filmmaker, she often brings elements of stage performance into her productions; “The Extremists' Opera” follows the eccentric activities of a theater group comprised entirely of women. For “It Must Be Love,” the director takes a more experimental approach, following chaotic romantic lives with the world set within a theater. While a neat concept, the picture is more frustrating than engaging.

It Must Be Love is screening at Osaka Asian Film Festival

The film takes place over several years, with the narrative set within the confines of a theater studio with an interactive audience. Rumi, her sister Aki, and another woman named Rie are romantically involved with one man.

Nowadays, there is a standardized formula for countless Christmas movies. Recurring themes range from stories of redemption to emphasizing the warmth of a strong family bond and festive cheer. Yet, it is always fascinating to see flicks that depart from the usual holiday tropes and instead focus on an issue that may be too challenging for casual moviegoers, who prefer a more sanitized portrayal of reality for the holidays. Shutaro Oku's unusual yet effective feature, “Death of Domomata,” uses the happiest time of the year to explore recovering from drug addiction and the harsh realities that come with a dysfunctional rehabilitative environment.

on Amazon by clicking on the image below

As a filmmaker, Shutaro Oku is still relatively unknown to many but has made a decent amount of films, a notable one being “Seiza.” Generally, he's more active in theater, having directed various theatrical presentations, including...