My initial motivation for purchasing a ticket was to "admire the leading actress, Ayase Haruka." With this mindset, I entered the cinema and, after watching the film, came to realize that "this was the only reason to enter the theater."
I'm not saying the film is poorly made. The sets, costumes, characters, and props all appear to have been meticulously crafted, reflecting the time and money invested in recreating the Taisho era from a century ago. In this regard, the entire crew deserves praise.
However, as far as the plot is concerned, don't expect too much. While the early part of the film creates a sense of suspense, by the mid-to-late stages, almost all the mysteries are resolved, revealing a familiar pattern in Japanese cinema: a propaganda film emphasizing "peace is important, so we should do something about it." Honestly, my heart sank when I saw the propaganda message again. How tired I am of this trope.
Perhaps this is the inevitable result of Japan's post-WWII influence on its filmmaking culture.
In summary, if you intend to watch this film, please refrain from overanalyzing the plot's plausibility and focus instead on the female lead and the set design.
I'm not saying the film is poorly made. The sets, costumes, characters, and props all appear to have been meticulously crafted, reflecting the time and money invested in recreating the Taisho era from a century ago. In this regard, the entire crew deserves praise.
However, as far as the plot is concerned, don't expect too much. While the early part of the film creates a sense of suspense, by the mid-to-late stages, almost all the mysteries are resolved, revealing a familiar pattern in Japanese cinema: a propaganda film emphasizing "peace is important, so we should do something about it." Honestly, my heart sank when I saw the propaganda message again. How tired I am of this trope.
Perhaps this is the inevitable result of Japan's post-WWII influence on its filmmaking culture.
In summary, if you intend to watch this film, please refrain from overanalyzing the plot's plausibility and focus instead on the female lead and the set design.