The animation Drawer Hobs (2011) by Director Kazuchika Kise known for his work on Ghost in the Shell only runs for 24 minutes. But from the moment it started and ended, I can not stop thinking about my life choices. Do not get me wrong. My statement may seem frustrating for some; however, that is not the case.
After loving the musical comedy Lady Maiko (2014), the next film I watched that day was Our 30-Minute Sessions (2020). Just a little context, I usually do not read the synopsis or watch trailers. Well, in this case, maybe I have seen a short presentation during the JFF Plus press briefing. But I did not know which film it was. Having that said, I was continuously surprised by each film, one of which is Our 30-Minute Sessions (2020).
A thousand thanks. I beseech your pardon. The pleasure will be mine. These are three sentences you’ll always hear (or, maybe read is the correct word) the characters say in the film Lady Miko. Honestly, I like it because it’s beautiful to hear like a piece of music. Their language and most importantly the story filled with the colourful melody made Lady Miko, a 2014 musical comedy one of my favourites in the first JFF Plus: Online Festival.
A smartphone can be a treasure trove. It is a line from the film Stolen Identity released in 2018. The line may seem like an understatement; however, it is a fact and valid in several situations. This film does not need to teach us this, but sadly, it is something that people often neglect.
Like the films in the Cinemalaya 2020, the JFF Plus: Online Festival film selections also captured my heart. But there is one film from the latter that pierced it. After watching it, I kept questioning myself why I choose to click that one first from all the films available that day. That entry is called Gon, The Little Fox, a stop motion animation by Takeshi Yashiro.
