A refined psychological portrait of youths on their way to maturity that is reminiscent of a film such as Like Grains of Sand with which Ryosuke Hashigushi won a Tiger Award three years ago. In Fishes in August, it is all down to the vulnerable quest of young people who are confronted with new and unknown feelings and first pose questions about issues such as love and friendship, loyalty and betrayal. Kenji is a secondary-school pupil, member of the school swimming team and in love with his classmate Reiko. It looks as if he doesn’t have a chance when Reiko tells him she has a soft spot for Arai, the star of the swimming team. Reiko asks Kenji to arrange something with his rival. Kenji agrees, despite his own feelings. But Arai understands Kenji’s true feelings and tries in turn to mediate between Kenji and Reiko. In the meantime, Kenji is kicked out of the team during thepreliminary rounds of the championship because he doesn’t have the right competitive mentality. When he is on his way for a date with Reiko and meets her with Arai, his fighting spirit is ignited and a decisive confrontation ensues. Fishes in August is the first feature by Takahashi, based on a novella by Natsuo Sekikawa. Actors Ren Osugi and Moro Morooka were previously seen in respectively Hana-bi and Kids Return by Kitano Takeshi.
