Kiss Me Through the Window (2020)

Lockdown to freedom

This is my first lockdown film from Japan. The Philippines have made loads of these but this short film is of a different kind.

The story follows two neighbours as they get to know each other and start dating only to be stopped by the curfews: not allowed to leave their respective apartments, not allowed to meet, not allowed to go out on to the balcony. While one girl religiously follows the rules, the other one is fed up and eventually manages to talk the first one to throw the caution into the wind: they go out for a walk through the empty streets of Tokyo....

Today I remember the lockdowns fondly: what a strange and incredible, never to be repeated experience, that was. We all went through the same feelings as do girls in this film: listen constantly to the news, util you reach the overdose and then rebel, go out and breathe free.

There is not much dialogue, and what is said is mostly just nonsense lost in the news broadcasts. The romance is shown from the beginning and through every stage of development via short scenes. The curfew put strain on it but they decided their love is more important than anything else. So they go out fully masked! The reason for lockdown was never really explicitly said: pandemic or pollution or something else....in the end it is not important!

The music is great. Acting and cinematography top notch. An interesting short film.

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