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When the Rain Falls

When the Rain Falls

2022

Director

Shusuke Kaneko

Runtime

84 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Hazuki clips her nails every time it rains. She caressed 'her' with these fingers back then. Hazuki, an editor of a publishing company now, is attracted by Shiori, the head of planning. On a day when the two women soaked wet in the rain, they enter an motel for shelter and take a shower. There Hazuki sees the image of her lost "girlfriend" in Shiori and eventually they reach out to each other.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

6.9/10

Good


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Excellent

The film centers on a sapphic connection, establishing a primary romantic arc between two women. It explores queer identity through Hazuki’s memories of a former girlfriend, making orientation foundational to the emotional landscape.

Gender Representation

Good

The narrative disrupts traditional hierarchies by centering female agency and professional competence. Both protagonists hold significant roles in a corporate publishing environment, emphasizing intellectual and emotional autonomy.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Fair

As a localized Japanese production, the film appears to feature a homogeneous cultural setting. It does not explicitly present a multi-ethnic cast or diverse ethnic intersections.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The story prioritizes individual emotional truth over rigid social or religious structures. It uses private spaces to explore personal liberation and the deconstruction of corporate formality.

Disability Representation

Minimal

While the film explores sensory triggers like rain and nail clipping, there is no formal depiction of neurodivergence or specific disability.

Strengths

  • Strong centering of sapphic romance and queer identity.
  • Effective portrayal of female professional agency and competence.
  • Nuanced exploration of how memory and sensory triggers shape desire.

Areas for Improvement

  • Limited racial and ethnic diversity within the cast.
  • Lack of representation regarding disability or neurodivergence.

AI Analysis

When the Rain Falls is a sophisticated study of identity and the persistence of queer memory. By centering the lived experiences and professional agency of women, the film successfully subverts conventional romantic tropes. The narrative moves away from high-stakes external drama, opting instead for a nuanced look at how past identities shape present desires. The use of sensory triggers creates a deeply personal connection between the characters and their history. While the film excels in its portrayal of sapphic intimacy and professional subversion, it remains a localized drama with a homogeneous cultural focus.

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