Rent a Friend
No Ordinary Love
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1h 18m
Tokyo International Film Festival
Writer director Mayu Akiyama’s debut film is a fresh and surprising romantic drama focussed on an unusual relationship. When aspiring journalist Nasa meets 'friend-for-hire' Sota she decides to engage his services with a view to writing about the experience for the online publication she works for, but things don’t go entirely as planned. Akiyama populates her film with engaging, convincing characters whose multi-layered relationships provide the film with a complexity that belies what could be viewed as a straight-forward romcom premise. Featuring particularly endearing performances - Sumire Ashina As Nasa’s roommate, Tamaki, rounds out the impressive young cast - the film expertly illustrates the messiness, unpredictability and value of friendships.
Japan - 2018 - 1h 18m
Directed By: Mayu Akiyama
Written By: Mayu Akiyama
Starring: Atsushi Hashimoto, Eri Tokunaga, Sumire Ashina