Info in Movie News | Japanese cinema continues to deliver fresh and authentic portrayals of youth, and Nemurubaka: Hypnic Jerks is no exception. Directed by Yugo Sakamoto—best known for his action-packed Baby Assassins series—this film takes a different route, offering a deeply personal and relatable exploration of friendship and self-discovery without the need for high-octane action.
As The Japan Times notes, Nemurubaka: Hypnic Jerks is based on the manga by Masakazu Ishiguro and scripted by Aya Satsuki, that tells the story of two college roommates: Yumi (Shiori Kubo) and Ruka (Yuna Taira). Separated by only an apartment, their characters are alive, but their personalities are totally different. It is Yumi who just does not know what to do, and on the other hand, Ruka is an ambitious musician striving to make it big. The dichotomy at the core of the film is what makes it the most memorable and genuine, laughed at and invested in alike.
There is a moment in the movie so fascinating and important in spite of its small size when Yumi prepares a rice bowl with tempura for Ruka. She gets a shrimp tail from the sink, which she had passed by a moment ago, and puts it into the dish to make it look bigger. They are practically bootleggers in the topic of their financial issues and are good improvisers, and this is a quiet moment when it is shown.
During this time Ruka has already found herself in the star moment that causes Yumi to think about the realization of her own life. These thoughts results in the feeling of envy and self-doubt. The deep-penetrating and relational conflict touches the young people who havenτt decided what to do with themselves and who are in the whirlpool of ambitions and uncertainties.
The Nemurubaka: Hypnic Jerks manga adaptation labors off from other manga adaptations due to the fact that the actors act in a very controlled and naturalistic manner. The live-action versions which most popular manga usually have where overexpressions and slapstick comedy are the main features differ very much. After all the communication and sarcasm talking everything, the performing by Kubo and Taira drive the popular world, is entirely in the earth of reality. Besides, the characters are much relevant to the real world; they are neither severe nor heavy characters.
Nemurubaka: Hypnic Jerks could be seen as an empty and shallow story, but its actual version is rather a twelve-piece cake which prompts a good discussion. The storyline won't be only about the friendship, it will open up more questions regarding purpose, growing up and the struggles of making then walking one's own way in life. This movie is different in its own way and gives a sense of release because it does not limit itself to seriousness, rather it is also filled with relatable characters and a message that comes from the heart. This plot is a fantastic coming-of-age telling, the fans of which will definitely like it as it offers a new facet of the cinema of Japan.
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