New Showbiz

You are here:
Far Away, So Close

Far Away, So Close

2013

Director

Masahiko Nagasawa

Runtime

108 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

27-year-old Sakumi Shimura lost the last 10 years of her memory from a car accident. Sakumi can only remember events up to when she was 17-years-old, but she accepts her fate and tries to stay positive. Nevertheless, Sakumi is bothered by the loss of her memory. She tries to remember with the help of Yoshihiko, who thinks of himself as her boyfriend and her friend from their high school days.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

4.8/10

Fair


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The story centers on a romantic bond between Sakumi and Yoshihiko. It lacks explicit queer narratives or non-cisnormative identities, operating within a traditional heteronormative framework.

Gender Representation

Fair

Sakumi serves as the emotional anchor, providing a meaningful look at female interiority and resilience. However, the dynamic relies on Yoshihiko assuming a traditional protective role.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Limited

As a Japanese production, the film features a homogeneous cast and setting. It functions as a culturally specific drama without utilizing diverse casting to challenge ethnic norms.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Fair

The narrative explores themes of fate and personal trauma through a lens of individual endurance. It focuses on psychological journeys rather than critiquing institutional structures like religion.

Disability Representation

Good

The film offers a thoughtful study of retrograde amnesia. Sakumi maintains agency, using her condition to explore the complexities of identity rather than serving as a mere tragic device.

Strengths

  • Provides a sophisticated and respectful exploration of cognitive disability and amnesia.
  • Offers a meaningful focus on female interiority and emotional resilience.
  • Delivers a deeply character-driven narrative centered on the complexities of human memory.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-cisnormative gender expressions.
  • Operates within a homogeneous demographic with little racial or ethnic variety.
  • Relies on traditional gender hierarchies and protective male-female romantic dynamics.

AI Analysis

The film excels in its nuanced portrayal of cognitive disability, treating Sakumi's amnesia as a profound exploration of identity rather than a simple plot point. This provides a strong, character-driven core to the drama. However, the production remains within very traditional boundaries. The demographic is homogeneous, and the romantic structure follows conventional heteronormative patterns without subverting established gender roles or exploring queer identities. Ultimately, while the film provides depth regarding the subjective experience of memory, it lacks broader social or ethnic diversity, remaining a culturally specific and traditional domestic drama.

How are these scores produced? →

Similar Movies

Movie poster for Lose My Self

Lose My Self

2014

No user ratings available yet
Diversity score: 4.9 out of 10
Movie poster for My Father's Memory

My Father's Memory

2017

No user ratings available yet
No diversity score available

Street of Memories

1940

No user ratings available yet
No diversity score available

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.