By Bill B
Tatsushi Omori’s film adaptation of Seto and Utsumi (based on the Manga of the same name by Kazuya Konomoto) focuses on Seto – an eccentric, outgoing 18-year-old with a J-Pop-esque personality – and Utsumi, a cool, smart, but antisocial 17-year-old. Both like to spend their time sitting by the river after school.
This is a film where nothing much happens. It’s like a teenage Waiting for Godot.
Despite that, there is no boring second throughout the 75 minute run time, and with the help of clever writing and great acting this film manages to be engaging and funny with no strong plot.
A different theme is present in each of the eight chapters. For example, Seto and Utsumi first meet, Seto gets depressed and Utsumi befriends a street clown.
Hints of romantic comedy are scattered across the film. Seto’s infatuation with a girl gets out of hand, aided by some disastrous text messages. Even worse for Seto, is the girl’s long-term obsession with Utsumi.
The two actors Masaki Suda (Seto) and Sosuke Ikematsu (Utsumi) are so believable in their roles. It is almost like they are improvising a script that sometimes feels like The Odd Couple, sometimes like a scene between Seinfeld and Kramer. It has a lot of physical comedy, too, so even if you don’t understand Japanese, you will find it funny.
Seto and Utsumi screened at the Japanese Film Festival.
