It was a good attempt as to tackle a different story than the usual, but all the supposedly heart-felt family drama (mother abandoning her child and it getting described as "humans arn't perfect"... jaywalking can be described as that, not too sure about child abuse) and the culture of repressing towards abuse just wasn't for me. Also what's with all the trans movies hiring actors to perform trans women? Surely there must be at least one or two transwomen actress in the entire nation of Japan? Just came across as quite awkward.
Plot summary
One spring Hiromi, who is the mother of an 11-year-old girl Tomo, left home for the umpteenth time. Tomo is accustomed to such a mother and as always went to Makio's place. He is a brother of Hiromi and has lived with Rinko, a pretty girlfriend. Actually, Rinko is a transwoman. She works as a caregiver in a nursing home where Makio's mother Sayuri who suffers from dementia is living. Rinko makes a delicious meal and sometimes cuddles Tomo. She is a little confused, but Tomo, Rinko and Makio start to live a life together. One day Rinko teaches Tomo to knit to control her temper. Rinko was also taught by her mother at the age of puberty when she struggled with her sexuality. A daughter neglected by her mother. A gentle uncle and his transgender lover. An angsty boy who recognizes a sense of himself as a gay - A warm "knitting" reorganizes unconventional family.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.BLU 1080p.BLUMovie Reviews
As Liberal as the most conservative country's movie can get
Perfect!!!
Delicate and touching view in a dificult matter. Soundtrack is great. It's all about love the story.
Heart-warming and Touching Story
Close-knit is a heart-warming story about a girl being devoid of motherly love, taken in by her uncle family, where she met a rather different person, a transgender woman, who was living together with her uncle. It was then she had the experience of what's it's like being in a normal family, being taken care and showered with love that she has never felt before.
Ikuta Toma threw in a superb performance, different from the usual cool and handsome lead actor roles, playing as a transgender woman. Same goes for the child actor who played as a girl who put up a tough front towards everyone around her as she has no one else but herself to rely on. Nonetheless, she is still being a child emotionally vulnerable and yearns for affection.
There were a few tear-jerking and touching moments that you can't help but feel for the characters. This film strives to show that there are different types of people in the world and for them, having the courage to accept themselves as well as having the support of loved ones around them will make a difference in their lives. And That love can come in different forms and that they are beautiful in their own ways.
This film was shown as part of film festivals across several countries.