僕は妹に恋をする ▫️2007 ▫️Info

Despite the controversy surrounding the main topic of this film (incest) I don’t think it is a shocking or disturbing piece of media. It is beautifully crafted by Hiroshi Ando , who has made several fringe works with great artistry and gentle care (Blue, for example). It may seem strange nowadays, considering Arashi is fairly mainstream and in my opinion somewhat watered down, but in their early days they were constantly pushing social and cultural boundaries in their work. To me that has been one of the best aspects of their careers.

To start with, the movie is beautiful. It’s slow and smooth, long shots of curtains blowing in an empty room, framing the backs of lonely figures from afar, a distinct color palette that wraps you up in its warmth and softness. All of this artistry laid over the complex emotional growth of the characters, who are also wrapped in thick, foggy emotions that drift out from the screen in hazy waves. Whether or not you feel disturbed by some of the content in the story, the film is well made and enjoyable to look at. The sound design was also carefully attended to, with rich environmental sounds almost like field recordings of different moments in daily life.

This story could have been a classic high school romance but I don’t think it would have felt as immersive and captivating. The risque nature of the forbidden love developing between twins definitely keeps you wondering what will happen, but it isn’t anything erotic or sensational. For me, I was invested because I wanted what was best for the characters and wanted them to find a way through their difficult emotions. It wasn’t painful to watch because it’s gross, it’s because you can feel how difficult it must be for them to navigate their experiences. The ending was so powerful for me. I won’t spoil it, but I think for anyone worried that this film is promoting something unacceptable or putting some weird fetish on display, stay until the ending and feel its full impact.

Matsujun did a really nice job. And he looked great in all the warm, soft lighting. He brought the most tender parts from his Hana Yori Dango days and mixed them with angst and confusion quite nicely. He is a pro at sulking. It was a great pairing with Nana Eikura, who was actually just 18 when this film was made. I could feel her innocence both as a character and as a younger colleague of Matsujun in the real world. I liked the rest of the cast as well, Yuta Hiraoka is a fave of mine and his character was so loveable in this. This was based on a manga so the dynamic between the main characters definitely has those vibes at times, if you know what I mean.

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