Until the Break of Dawn (2012) User Reviews (2)

Somehow reminded me of Okuribito

[maximkong · 6/10 · 16 September 2013]

Tsunagu, like Okuribito, is another film that brings positive light on the subject of death. During the main character's apprenticeship, his grandma taught him to lead some of the connection or "tsunagu" between certain individuals who wanted to glimpse their dearly departed. The key thing is that the main character's story was not the centerstage - this film spent much time developing a few clients' stories.

Thus, we get to see a good blend of relationships-family, love couples and best friends. Some arcs were pleasant to watch, some were cases where things may not go as well as planned, but all were generally heartwarming. Through a one-time chance to reconcile with the dead, the movie also raised the issue of moving on in life.

While the execution was smooth, and some scenes may be designed as tearjerker, the whole movie seemed to lack the extra ingredient to make it truly stand out. Some scenes were overly dramatic. Another turnoff for me is that some of the actions that somehow made the ghosts seem to be able to 'contact/touch' physical matter made the whole process too easy as if it is from a children's cartoon. Hence it is a 6/10.

Connecting Dead And Living Is Hard Work.

[net_orders · 6/10 · 21 February 2022]

This is a tale about an inherited power to negotiate connections between the dead and the living as well as sponsor meetups for one night only (until dawn breaks). The Connector's principal tool employed during negotiations and get-togethers is, of course, a magic mirror (mirrors play an important role in Japan's ancient myths and one is part of the current emperor's symbiotic regalia). Scenes of the life and times of a wavering apprentice Connector who is sort of learning his trade from his grandmother who is the reigning Connector serve to link together stories of the still living and those who will die and their subsequent brief rendezvous (mostly to clarify causes of death and to find missing valuables). These slices of life are often presented as over-the-top melodramas and closely resemble TV episodes. Melodramatic segments are usually dragged out. So is the movie's ending . The Director is credited as the sole screen writer. Interior scene lighting is usually a disaster. Scenes are way too dark especially during the initial two thirds of the film--you just can't see much of the actors which is frustrating to the viewer and a major disserve to the players. Subtitles can be fiction (starting with whoppers such as "okaeri" being translated as "hi"--it gets far worse!) . Some of the music suffers from string-instrument overkill. Closing song seems appropriate and is very pretty. Although the film's concept is not original, the movie may prove to be mildly entertaining. Viewed at Japanese Film Festival Online. WILLIAM FLANIGAN.