Toshio hires Yasaka in his workshop. This old acquaintance, who has just been released from prison, begins to meddle in Toshio's family life.Toshio hires Yasaka in his workshop. This old acquaintance, who has just been released from prison, begins to meddle in Toshio's family life.Toshio hires Yasaka in his workshop. This old acquaintance, who has just been released from prison, begins to meddle in Toshio's family life.
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Featured review
I don't write many reviews, but when I do, they're short and to the point.
I don't consider myself a "film aficionado", and I'm certainly not an expert. I'm merely going to give a review of a normal, working class guy with a slightly above-average IQ.
I've seen many Japanese and Korean films, and so I am used to the slow pace of the movie. For those who don't know, picture 60 seconds of watching a family eating a meal while not saying a word.
With that said, I feel that it was too similar to other movies of the genre, and to me it was predictable. I knew what was coming around the corner. While I wasn't really amazed that my predictions came true, I was amazed that my predictions came true within 30 seconds of my making them. Just ask my wife -- she can't stand watching movies with me.
While a typical American movie watcher who only watches junk that comes out of Hollywood (a movie based on video games, comic books, or a remake of something from 30 years ago) might have been shocked by some of the things that happen, I think someone who indulges in Asian films will also see what's coming, and where things are going.
While, as another reviewer mentioned, the ending leaves you scratching your head and screaming, I was a little lost about the ending. I won't go into details, but I'll just say that I didn't understand the turn of events, and wonder if it is even physically possible for the movie to have ended that way.
All in all, very good acting, and was pretty enjoyable, but if you're looking for a feel-good movie, don't watch this one.
I don't consider myself a "film aficionado", and I'm certainly not an expert. I'm merely going to give a review of a normal, working class guy with a slightly above-average IQ.
I've seen many Japanese and Korean films, and so I am used to the slow pace of the movie. For those who don't know, picture 60 seconds of watching a family eating a meal while not saying a word.
With that said, I feel that it was too similar to other movies of the genre, and to me it was predictable. I knew what was coming around the corner. While I wasn't really amazed that my predictions came true, I was amazed that my predictions came true within 30 seconds of my making them. Just ask my wife -- she can't stand watching movies with me.
While a typical American movie watcher who only watches junk that comes out of Hollywood (a movie based on video games, comic books, or a remake of something from 30 years ago) might have been shocked by some of the things that happen, I think someone who indulges in Asian films will also see what's coming, and where things are going.
While, as another reviewer mentioned, the ending leaves you scratching your head and screaming, I was a little lost about the ending. I won't go into details, but I'll just say that I didn't understand the turn of events, and wonder if it is even physically possible for the movie to have ended that way.
All in all, very good acting, and was pretty enjoyable, but if you're looking for a feel-good movie, don't watch this one.
- criticalmass048
- Nov 20, 2017
- Permalink
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe director Koji Fukada was present at the screening of "Harmonium" at the Ghent Film Festival, where the movie was in the official competition selection. During a Q&A following the screening, he revealed that the Japanese title "Fuchi ni tatsu" could best be translated as "Standing on the edge", but the translation didn't quite have the same nuance. That's why he changed the international title to "Harmonium", referring to the musical instrument, but also because there was the wordplay on "harmony", which is an important element in the film. The use of the harmonium as a characteristic feature was a distinct choice, as the director saw it as a symbol of the traditional Japanese family.
- How long is Harmonium?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $17,191
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $3,453
- Jun 18, 2017
- Gross worldwide
- $153,283
- Runtime2 hours
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.66 : 1
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