This movie gave me butterflies in my stomach, which is kind of rare in romantic dramas and movies nowadays.

While the story is more of a "slow burn" in romance, the chemistry between the actors is STRONG and gives the film its intensity. The Holly Golightly-type heroine is slightly more vulnerable than you’d expect, which makes her more likable as you watch the film than maybe you would on paper. Definitely watch for Liu Ye’s discreet facial expressions of a reserved man who has fallen head-over-heels in love and desperately trying to hide it.

This film seems like two movies in one, but they both seem like such great stories, that you don't feel too much disconnect once the first set of plot points are completely abandoned. Very rewatchable.

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Seemingly simple premise, with an interesting tour of some towns and cities in rural Japan. The initial motivations for Suzuko come from some overly-villainous characters, which takes away from what is some otherwise rich and realistic(ish) soul searching. If anything, watch and rewatch for Yu Aoi--she's absolutely magnetic, as always, and makes something small, like making an a cup of shave ice, striking. Be warned that the end is not typical, though some people like that kind of thing.
Very watchable and pretty, but then, if Yu Aoi wasn’t in it, I might say something else entirely.

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