Call Girls

This movie about japanese teenage girls high-gals or Ko-gals (prostitutes) is a very good movie. It addresses many of the feelings of ennui youth have in Japanese society, like the feeling that they cannot be treated as individuals in Japanese society (part of the group-think) there. An important part of the movie shows when Lisa is asked, why does she want to go to New York to study? She states that her feeling is in the USA you "can-do" anything you want just as long as you keep trying and that you do your best. It's a feeling that these girls feel that they are trapped to being less than they can achieve in Japan. Overall, a 9 out of 10. Note: that the picture on the video box makes the movie look like a porno movie but it's nothing like that. It could be said that it's similar to Larry Clark's "Kids".

The journey of 3 japanese girls within a merciless city. This movie has been said to be shot in a documentary style, but do not be afraid : I don't really think so. Harada proves (once more) that he's one of the directors which makes Japan the most exciting, interesting country in the movie industry. "Bounce ko-gals" deals with an exciting trip of desperate cuties. It shows the dark side of japanese girlie way of life : they have to make (soft)porns and spend some time with old dudes to survive. But can they expect something else ? The only way out seems to move overseas. One of them will try to catch a flight. Funny, electric, desperate, light, dark. This one is a must-see.

With the rise of OnlyFans in the West, this movie has renewed modern relevance. It's a film about generational conflict between teenagers and adults and the conflict between perverted middle-age men with money and materialistic teenage schoolgirls selling their body for designer clothes. The movie itself is longer than necessary and meandering at times. The movie covers an interesting topic and has a decent message but the story itself is simple and events in the movie become repetitive. You do get a decent aesthetic feel of Tokyo during the 90s. It's worth watching if it sounds interesting but not a must-watch movie.

This movie was a lot of fun. It deals with a serious topic, high school girls working in the sex industry, but doesn't ever feel depressing. It sort of reminds me of "Midnight Cowboy" or "Kids" but never has a hopeless feel to it. I think it's because it always concentrates on the relationship between the three girls and they way they look out for each other. I enjoyed it immensely.

BOUNCE GO-KALS is one of the best drama I've seen out of Japan. It's not a slow-moving Japanese film, but it's just slow enough, and just fast enough (although the movie is well over 2 hours) to keep you interested and at the same time, emotionally invested. A terrific film that exposes Japanese society for its hypocricy, while even delving into the past of the country. But in the end, it's a movie about hope and a future that, although it may look dark, has a silver lining.

For more excellent movies by the director, check out KAMIKAZE TAXI and CHOICE OF HERCULES, two very good dramas from a man with his pulse on what makes Japan so fascinating.

10 out of 10

(Go to http://www.nixflix.com for a more in-depth review of this movie and other foreign films)