Quick Review #13: Subarashiki Sekai (movie)

Title: Subarashiki Sekai すばらしき世界 (Under the open sky)

Currently available for viewing on: Netflix (subject to geographical location)

Rating: 5 /10

Recommended for: 

- Those who are interested in stories about former inmates who face challenges in starting a new life after their release from prison

- Fans of Yakusho Koji

Liked:

- The acting of Yakusho Koji. If not for his acting, I think I might not have finished watching this film. Yakusho balanced the contrasting aspects of his character i.e. the hot-tempered and rash personality when he was still a gangster vs. the toned-down and comparatively mellow side after his long stint in prison and switched between both seamlessly. 

- Nakano Taiga & Nagasawa Masami - Nakano's acting as a director who progressed from someone who didn't think too well of former inmates to one who truly supported the lead character's journey to start a new life was memorable. Nagasawa Masami may not have appeared much but she left a strong impression as a feisty go-getter who didn't mince her words.

Disliked: 

The story being the biggest issue here - frankly speaking, the theme of former inmates' struggles to be accepted by society again is not new. As such, the developments were predictable and left very little to imagination. If only there was a different way of presenting this theme or if there was a different perspective to the issue, it would have made the movie more engaging and interesting. And since the movie was pretty long, I found the pace to be really draggy at some points and couldn't wait for the film to end.