On the TOP 100 List of DVDs.
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The
English title is FIREWORKS, SHOULD WE SEE IT FROM THE SIDE OR FROM THE
BOTTOM. Written and directed by Shunji Iwai. Made for tv
over nine years ago, it's only fifty minutes long but it has more depth
and emotions than most films twice its length. |
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Uchiage hanabi, shita kara Miruka? Yoko kara Miruka? directed by Review of the film and DVD by Jeroen
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The film tells two stories. One of a group of school boys on their way to a fireworks show. Think STAND BY ME minus Hollywood kitsch. The other story is about one of these boys joining a female classmate who is running away from home because her parents are getting a divorce. Both stories celebrate youth in a way I’ve rarely seen on film. The style of the film is very casual with mostly handheld camerawork and quick cutting, so you really have to pay attention to find the beautiful moments… for example this one. To explain fireworks the teacher performs a chemical experiment. Curtains closed so the classroom is dark, the children gathered around her desk. Then for a very short moment with their faces lit by the colorful lights of the experiment a boy and girl look at each other timidly. End of scene. Most people would say what's the big deal but it touched me immensely. |
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| It's a drama for the most part, but there are some very funny scenes like when the boys scream the names of their favorite girls into the dark night sky, and one of them yells 'sailor moon'. The others tell him 'but that's a manga character', and he replies 'what's the difference'. It made me laugh. | ||
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| The ending is perfect. Both stories have their own separate ending and then there's another ending where both stories come together. I still haven't seen Iwai's latest film, ALL ABOUT LILY CHOU-CHOU, but from what I’ve read about it I have a feeling it picks up where this film leaves us. | ||
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FILM and DVD Details |
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| Here we go. Region-free, ntsc, oar 1.33:1, in Japanese
with optional English subtitles. Originally shot on video as a TV
production the film was later transferred to film for theatrical
presentation. The DVD is 24fps film-sourced which means it was
transferred from the newer film elements. Like all Norman's nose DVD's
picture is crystal clear and extremely sharp and detailed. There
are the typical analog video artifacts of course, but they aren't the
fault of the transfer. Absolutely no edge enhancement, perfect
black level and shadow detail which is very good but could be better in
just two or three scenes. Colors are extremely vivid.
There's a glorious pcm stereo track (no Dolby 2.0 thank god) which
sounds perfect start to finish. The beautiful music by Remedios
fills your room! Who needs surround sound anyway? I also love how the dvd cover art is in landscape format instead of the usual portrait style. Not many extras, but there's another disc released by Norman's nose which is loaded with extras for this film. Here's a small review: Shonen Tachi Wa Hanabi O Yoko Kara Mitakatta  First this doesn't contain english subtitles, but don't let that stop you from buying it it's still a must-own if you liked the original film. The biggest part of the disc is the two main characters four years after the film was made going back on a trip visiting all the locations of the film. Then later, they re-enact scenes from the screenplay. Holding their scripts, just walking through the library and gym of the school and later going outside, this is one of the finest and most interesting extras i've ever seen. There's also some interviews, and a very interesting documentary that shows a scene that was shot in one take with four different hand-held camera's, showing in one picture the four viewpoints at once. The dvd is region-free, 4:3, video-sourced. Picture quality could be better (it's rather dark), no big deal. |
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Credited cast overview:
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DVD Details
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