Iranian Director Excels In Japanese . Review on Like Someone In Love

The Japanese film is a story about'true' love and missed opportunities.

The story, along with the screenplay, is stupendous. Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami excels and how! The cast too, gives a wonderful performance. Wonderful cinematography and editing escalate the visual appeal of the film. Like Someone In Love was screened at the 14th Mumbai Film Festival under the'World Cinema' category.

The film revolves around three people; A young college student, Akiko, pays for her education by secretly working in an escor t service(a fact unknown to either her grandmother or her boyfriend), Takashi, an elderly academician, who happens to hire the services of Akiko for one night, but ends up becoming more of a guardian-like-figure for her, and Akiko's controlling boyfriend who mistakes Takashi of being her grandfather instead of'client'.

A dramatic revelation is on the brink throughout the duration of the film. The tension is very much prominent but it gets embedded within the delicate visuals, the pure emotions and the flawless technicality on display.

The cast Rin Takanashi, who plays Akiko, Ryo Kase, who plays her boyfriend, and Tadashi Okuno, who plays Takashi, are superb. The subtitling of the film is neatly done. The screenplay is first-rate. The film keeps you on the edge of your seat at times, and on other occasions lets you sit, back and enjoy the marvellous visuals, acting and music!

A very fine film made by Abbas Kiarostami. Thought-provoking, heart-wrenching and smile-inducing, all at once!

Shivom Oza