Hinokio

I saw this at the Japanese Film Festival in Sydney and I thought it was fantastic. The whole story is clichéd as a whole, however with all the plot twists changing directions you have to just let it take you where it wants to go.

The story involves a young boy who lost his mother and was confined to a wheel-chair from a car accident. He spends his time locked in is room, using a robot that he can communicate from his computer as his eyes to the outside world.

Some moments in the film could be considered to many audiences as quite corny, however, the darker elements manage to balance the film as a whole quite nicely. At times the film feels it gets a bit long too, however this is only because there are so many ideas crammed into it that sometimes you really have no idea where it is going and are wanting to find a resolution all too soon. The ending, however, is far more than satisfying enough.

Use of cg is really great too, although it is usually saved for the right moments so that it is most effective. The use of first person perspectives and computer game footage was masterfully utilized to make interesting comparisons between reality and virtual-reality. Much more interesting than it was in say, Doom.

I think the most important thing about this film though, is that the characters are presented in ways that you can only feel compassion for them. You get the sense that the makers also felt the same way.

Verdict: You'll laugh, you'll cry.

After his mother "Sayuri Iwamoto" (Mieko Harada) is killed in a car accident and he is left extremely distraught and temporarily crippled, a young boy by the name of "Satoru Iwamoto" (Kanata Hongo) decides to stay in his room rather than venturing outside. Likewise, his father "Kaoru Iwamoto" (Masatoshi Nakamura) is also emotionally impacted by this tragic event and subsequently buries himself in his work as a robotics engineer at his company. To that extent, he eventually comes up with the idea of making a robot through which Satoru can interact with other children his age at the local elementary school from the comfort of his bedroom. At first, not knowing any better, some of the other boy behave rather cruelly to Satoru by taunting him and becoming physically aggressive with the robot. However, after they are publicly chastised in class for their behavior and come to know Satoru a little better, their behavior changes. So much so that Satoru becomes best friends with one particular boy named "Jun Kudo" (Mikako Tabe) who has recently gone through a similar tragedy with the death of his father. However, it's only after he learns that Jun is actually a girl that the emotional bonds between them deepen even further--and this both pleases Satoru and increases his anxieties. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that I typically don't care for movies that cater to younger audiences but, after reading another person's review, decided to give this one a try. That being said, although it is certainly suitable for younger audiences, I can honestly say that it also holds some entertainment value for adults as well as it touches on genuine human emotions during the course of a variety of circumstances and events. Admittedly, there are some scenes which might not resonate as much with American or European audiences, but even so, I thought it was an enjoyable family movie for the most part, and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

I've just watched this movie. It's very touching and great story. they's no any technical features. indeed they don't make some real effect in movie. its only background. on first there are feelings of real people. and it's shown very great and subtly. you know, you just can't ignore feelings of this young boy and his new friends with their own problems. it is the movie about real life and real problems. i nearly started to cry when the basic character (boy) said to his father that he will never forget him. it's really strong moment of the film and then when he says about meeting with his mother. its really touching! i think you'll get a lot of pleasure when you'll be watching this kind story of little boy and very strong people around him.

I'm very like the plot of this movie. From the first scene, still stop me of everything to see every scene... The story of the youth show on the right way, sincere in the manner and have imaginary.

Modern Animation can go along with beautiful scenario of suburb of Japan in a harmonious theme.

Sometime sub-ego or super-ego when we're in pain / in vain, we don't know how to cope with it. Without the REAL friend or the best friend helping, that person may stuck and can't get out of that blackhole and show off with drastic action...

This picture,not only without the conflict of the youth actor in the best acting but also the person behind. I would like to thank you for the guys behind this scene. And want to see this kind of good picture again !

Very impressive ! Thailand Fans

To be completely honest, this is a film that I had little to no interest in watching. However, because a couple of my Internet friends seemed quite interested in it, I decided to give it a shot. Now I am glad I did. I was concerned at first that the film was going to be nothing more than a kid makes friends with a robot film, but Hinokio does not fall into this overdone plot device. Instead this film delves into a number of the ills of modern society in a fresh and entertaining manner.

The film opens with Hinokio making its entrance into an otherwise mundane homeroom class consisting of such students as the nerdy Joichi, the hyperactive Kenta, and the teacher's pet Sumire. Also in the classroom is the moody Jun who, although a bit intrigued with the new "student", is not overly impressed by the new arrival. We soon learn that Iwamoto Satoru a young boy who is rehabilitating from a car accident controls Hinokio. The robot allows him to attend school and interact with other students while he recuperates at home. However, instead of being warmly embraced by his new classmates, Satoru, or Hinokio, is the victim of pranks. However, after he refuses to tattle on Jun, Kenta, and Joichi, the four soon become friends.

While Satoru's relationship with his friends, especially with Jun, is the primary story, Satoru's relationship with his father, who the boy blames for the death of his mother, is also central to the film. Because of his reluctance to interact with the outside world and muteness with his father, Satoru resembles a Hikikomori, or shut-in, a social ill that has spread in modern Japanese society.

At times humorous and at times quite moving, Hinokio is a good film to watch for those immersed in the violent films of Miike Takashi or the nostalgic oeuvre of Ozu Yasujiro. It reminds us that there are other films that while not overly artistic can really move an audience or just make one smile.