Film review: 告白(Confessions) 2010

Kokuhaku is a 2010 Japanese drama film that centers around the character of Moriguchi Yuka (Matsu Takako) a revenge driven middle school homeroom teacher. Her daughter was murdered by her students and decides to take action on them because her students (14 and under) are protected by the Juvenile Law of Japan. It revolves around the main casts' point of view of the whole situation/incident with lengthy monologues on their justification, reason/alibi or what not told in a "confession".

The acting by whole is superb especially the female leads Moriguchi and Kitahara Mizuki a.k.a Mizuho (Ai Hashimoto); the oblivious but likeable new teacher: Werther, people might find him a miscast but he shines as being the pitiful, trying hard neophyte; and the students bearing the brunt of Moriguchi's vengence, did a very good job bit got little bit annoying at times but something of praise for adolescent actors.

The movie has a slow pace but justifiable and enjoyable. The plot is somewhat simple yet the style on how it unfolds won't bore you. It keeps you entertained, well enough to sit through the lengthy dialogues and some annoying yet funny parts mostly of Werther.

The scoring is good, they've utilized good ambient songs from western rock and JPop though they should really stop using a lot of alternative/indie rock songs for it seems like you're watching an extended music video of Radiohead. None the less it set the mood in the right direction, really clever choices of song and artist.

The movie climaxes into a very thought provoking Big Brother-esque style scene but this one isn't boring, It's a fun chess game between the bluffer and the one with the nuts. Unlike the typical rhetorical mambo-jumbo this one is by far more fun, imaginative and playful than what I've seen so far but none the less does a good job of making you think.

A definite must watch for all Japanophiles and a very good film for film lovers looking for something different.