Shōta Sometani

TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH: Clash of Cultures in Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Latest
TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH: Clash of Cultures in Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Latest

Regardless of its narrative, Kurosawa’s focus on Yoko — and Maeda’s marvelous performance — keep the movie afloat.

THE BOY AND THE BEAST: The Power of a Well-Told Story

Bakemono no Ko, translated as Monster’s Child, is making its English run under the name The Boy and the Beast. It is a gorgeous-looking film, but what separates it from the rest of the disposable moving images we’ve been subjected to this year is the grace with which it tells its story. I have been to the theaters a lot this year, but I have only been brought to tears a few times.