New Showbiz

You are here:
March Comes In Like a Lion

March Comes In Like a Lion

2017

Director

Keishi Otomo

Runtime

138 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Rei Kiriyama is a 17-years-old shogi (Japanese chess) player. He debuted as a professional shogi player when he was in middle school. He lives by himself in Tokyo, because his parents and younger sister died in an traffic accident when he was little. One day, Rei Kiriyama meets three sisters who are his neighbors. The three sisters are Akari Kawamoto, Hinata Kawamoto and Momo Kawamoto. This is his first meeting with someone outside of the shogi world in many years. Having meals with the Kawamoto family brings warm feelings to Rei Kiriyama. As Rei Kiriyama continues his shogi career, his interactions with his neighbors allows him to grow as a shogi player and as a person.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

4.5/10

Fair

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Minimal

The film lacks explicit LGBTQ+ characters or romantic arcs. The story operates within a standard social framework, focusing on the protagonist's platonic bonds and trauma recovery.

Gender Representation

Fair

The Kawamoto sisters provide the narrative's emotional and structural stability. They avoid submissive archetypes, instead exercising agency through communal support and emotional intelligence.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Limited

The cast is ethnically homogeneous, reflecting a culturally specific Japanese setting. While it lacks multi-ethnic representation, it maintains high cultural authenticity without race-bending.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The story prioritizes 'found family' over traditional nuclear structures. It explores social isolation and the mental health toll of high-stakes professional competition.

Disability Representation

Good

The film offers a sophisticated portrayal of invisible disabilities like depression and trauma. Rei’s mental health is treated as a complex, central pillar of his identity.

Strengths

  • Sophisticated and nuanced portrayal of invisible disabilities, specifically depression and trauma.
  • Subverts traditional gender hierarchies by centering emotional stability on the Kawamoto sisters.
  • Strong exploration of 'found family' and non-traditional communal support systems.
  • High degree of cultural authenticity within its specific Japanese setting.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-cisnormative characters.
  • Minimal racial and ethnic diversity, reflecting a very homogeneous cast.
  • Does not engage with diverse religious or multi-ethnic perspectives.

AI Analysis

March Comes In Like a Lion is a character-driven drama that prioritizes psychological depth over demographic breadth. It excels in its nuanced treatment of mental health and its subversion of traditional family structures. While the film lacks explicit LGBTQ+ identities or multi-ethnic casting, it finds strength in communal, emotionally-driven support systems. The narrative moves away from rigid social hierarchies to focus on the human condition. The film's primary impact comes from how it frames internal psychological struggles with agency, offering a sophisticated look at social withdrawal and the importance of found community.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.