Cast Member: Ittoku Kishibe

‘Happy Flight’ benefits from the versatility of Haruka Ayase – as good in a comedy as she has been in action flicks like ‘Ichi’ – and a variety of low-key characters who give the story a charm of its own.

Ultimately, ‘Hula Girls’ lacks its own identity. It takes a popular concept and rests on the fact that it apparently has a factual source material as its inspiration.

If you just remember to bring a sense of humour, and wonder, you’ll be rewarded with what is easily one of the best Japanese films of the year.

An emotionally potent piece of work, ‘Vital’ tells a fractured, engaging story of obsessive love and controlled anguish, skilfully mixing past and present.

Kitano directs with his usual quirky measured style punctuating the narrative with his classic odd ball humour.