Japan Film Festival JFF 2023: And your bird can sing

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And your bird can sing
A review by Gerlie Uy


"Why watch this film?," JFF asked.
And I answered, "I watched it because I fell in love with Hakodate in Hokkaido during my recent trip to Japan." So, while watching the film, I spotted three familiar spots, the train station, the railway of the tram along the main road, and the spiral walkway leading to the skywalk and overlooking the ocean. I was happy to spot these three because I knew them when we were able to circle Hakodate's main thoroughfares at night. Of course, I was expecting more scenes featuring the place but the film is something about feelings, not visuals.

My impression of the Japanese when I visited is that they were polite, kind and helpful. In my two-week vacation, I am in awe with their attitude and consideration of others. But I also observed shady nightspots in Shinjuku when in trains Japanese men are polite and even look sideways when we accidentally look eye to eye, side dishes with price tags when you receive your bill when tips are not allowed, and a floor full of "hentai" or manga pornography when I thought manga is all just cute, fun and innocent.

I know, it's all because, there are always two sides in a coin.

"And your bird can sing" is a film that gave us a glimpse of Japanese adulting. They may not be raucous but they surely can have fun nights with booze and real music, they may be swingers too but they do it with honor (and oh, they can break up without fuss or drama; but oh, oh, they can retaliate in some other ways too. Spell stealth) and they may also seem to live like they don't care but they look after their friends and family.

This film is a long play but it is when you reach the ending that you will understand that when it is meant fighting for, that is the time "and your bird can sing." Watch for yourself how the characters unfold as I won't spoil it here for you.

This film was made in 2018, and now I wonder how a sequel in 2024 featuring more of the beautiful spots of Hakodate and a follow-up story on the main characters would turn out. I'll be waiting JFF.

Japanese Film Festival, Philippines

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