is a 2006 Japanese romance film directed by Nobuhiro Doi. Starring

Masami Nagasawa is a common Japanese given name and can be given to either sex. Possible writings *惟美, meaning "Considerate beauty" *真己, meaning "True self" or "Truth, Snake" *昌美, meaning "Prosperous beauty" *雅美, meaning "Gracious beauty" *� ...

Satoshi Tsumabuki is a Japanese actor. His breakthrough film was ''Waterboys'' for which he was nominated for the 'Best Actor' award at the Japanese Academy Awards, and won the 'Newcomer of the Year' prize. He is also the bassist and lead singer of the Japanese ...

, Kumiko Aso as Kaoru Aragaki, Yotaro Aragaki and Keiko Inamine, the film depicts Okinawan step-siblings, Kaoru and Yotaru, growing up.

Cast

- Yotaro Aragaki *

- Kaoru Aragaki * Kumiko Aso - Keiko Inamine *

Takashi Tsukamoto is a Japanese actor, singer, and model. He has released three single CDs: "Itsudemo Boku wa" (いつでも僕は, Anytime I am...), "Hitorigoto" (ヒ・ト・リ・ゴ・ト, Soliloquy), "New Morning". He also portrayed the character Shinji Mi ...

- Yuichi Shimabukuro * Tomi Taira - Mito Niigaki (grandmother) *

Eiichiro Funakoshi is a Japanese actor, ''tarento'', and presenter. He is represented with Horipro. He graduated from Nihon University Mishima High School and Nihon University College of Arts Film Department (in which he was classmates with Hiroyuki Sanada). His ...

- Kameoka *

Isao Hashizume is a Japanese actor. He also worked as a narrator for documentaries, both on television and film. He trained as an actor at Bungakuza. 週刊現代6月5日号「私の地図」第485回 p84-86 Selected filmography Film Television Awards a ...

- Keiko's father

Reception

''Nada Sōsō'' was nominated for Best Actor (

) and Best Actress (

) for the 2007

Japanese Academy Awards The , often called the Japan Academy Prize, the Japan Academy Awards, and the Japanese Academy Awards, is a series of awards given annually since 1978 by the Japan Academy Film Prize Association (日本アカデミー賞協会, ''Nippon Akademii- ...

. However, for the 2007

Bunshun Kiichigo Awards The Bunshun Kiichigo Awards (文春きいちご賞 - ''Bunshun Kiichigo Shou''), or ''Bunshun Raspberry Awards'', is an award presented in recognition of the worst in film. It was founded in 2005 by the Japanese publication company Bungeishunj� ...

, ''Nada Sōsō'' was ranked 4th worst film and Masami Nagasawa as worst actress. ''

The Japan Times ''The Japan Times'' is Japan's largest and oldest English-language daily newspaper. It is published by , a subsidiary of News2u Holdings, Inc.. It is headquartered in the in Kioicho, Chiyoda, Tokyo. History ''The Japan Times'' was launched b ...

'' Mark Schilling comments that the film "has the feel of a more hardscrabble, pure-spirited time and place, when struggle, sacrifice and premature death for the virtuous on-screen heroes were as common as chopsticks." Film critic Victor Chan commends the film, saying, "''Nada Sou Sou'' boasts of all-round great acting by its cast, and its simple but homely style neatly complements the strong rural Okinawan setting, making this movie a classic triple hanky tearjerker which should appeal to not just the young Japanese movie fan, but also older audiences who have been starved for good tearjerkers." Calvin McMillin, reviewing for LoveHKFilm, criticises the relationship between Tsumabuki and Nagasawa, saying they "do a serviceable job as would-be lovers, but both performances are somewhat problematic in execution. Although likeable enough, Tsumabuki doesn't seem to be able to handle the emotional scenes, as it always looks as if he's going to laugh even when he's breaking down in tears." He criticises Nagasawa's acting by stating " heis so over-exuberant (perhaps intentionally so) in the initial parts of the film that she's more of a grating presence than an endearing one. However, Nagasawa's performance improves considerably as the more dramatic aspects of the plot kick into overdrive." He also underlines the film's main downfall in trying to "adhere to the "Pure Love" aesthetic

hat A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mecha ...

the filmmakers completely gloss over the complications that could arise from a blossoming romantic relationship between these step-siblings by purposely avoiding the issue at any cost."

References

External links

*
German review
* 2006 films 2000s Japanese-language films 2000s romance films Japanese romance films Films directed by Nobuhiro Doi Films set in Okinawa Prefecture Films shot in Okinawa Prefecture Films about siblings 2000s Japanese films {{2000s-Japan-film-stub