Great acting all round, especially Masaki Suda in a challenging role that could be grating or sentimental if dialed too high or too low. The story, however, does not stretch to cover contemporary social concerns, and the characters seem to mope around in a melodrama detached from present-day Japan. Whatever Kore-eda manages to capture in Shoplifters seems to evade Mipo O here. The writing, also, relies on too many contrived set ups. Tatsuo is wallowing in self-pity after causing an accident at work, and avoiding everyone - but we are supposed to believe he obsequiously goes home to have dinner with the family of a mentally diminished man he bumped into at pachinko? Chinatsu is street smart and world weary, but she falls instantly in love with the stranger who follows her brother into her living room? The same lazy contrivance sees Tatsuo wander into the very bar where Chinatsu is turning tricks. (And he always manages to leave without paying...). There is something in this story, but it is under the surface, and ultimately under-realized. Lots of good elements, but it doesn't quite gel.
Review of The Light Shines Only There
