Aristocrats

Sophisticated, layered book adaptation by Japanese director Sode Yukiko (Good Stripes, 2015) that shows contemporary Tokyo from the differing perspectives of two women. Hanako has always been able to rely on her privileged background, but suddenly finds herself alone when her relationship with her fiancé ends. Under pressure from her wealthy family, she goes in search of a new potential husband. Her story is subtly contrasted with that of Miki, played by model-actress Kiko Mizuhara (Queer Eye: We’re in Japan!, Norwegian Wood). She has arrived from a less affluent family in a smaller town to build a life for herself in Tokyo. Two women from completely different backgrounds who meet by chance because of the same man: aristocratic lawyer Koichiro.

In shots composed with extreme attention to detail, Sode is able to finely dissect modern Tokyo with all its various social bubbles and accompanying standards of behaviour. She also manages to beautifully deconstruct the typical woman-meets-man story by placing the emphasis on solidarity, identity, background and class.

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