Cast Member: Haruka Ayase

‘All-Round Appraiser Q’ is a winning crime film with a brilliant heroine and a very pleasant dynamic between her and the adoring acolyte Yuto.

Kwak Jae-Young has a PhD in stirring emotions and this film has more heart-pulling moments of manipulative magic than a room full of kittens playing with balls of string.

‘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.

Unpretentious, well crafted, a great central performance and some excellent action make ‘Ichi’ a hugely enjoyable experience and refreshing take on the samurai genre.

‘Our Little Sister’ is another beautiful work to add to one of the most impressive canons in world cinema, a sincerely-acted, thoughtful meditation on family and the relationship between very different sisters.

‘The Magic Hour’ is a fun comedy, though not the classic it promises to be. It still has an enormous amount to recommend it though and is a good starting point for those looking into Japanese comedy.