The 8-Year Engagement (2017) - Japanese Movie Review

 -May contain major spoilers-

The 8-Year Engagement (8年越しの花嫁 奇跡の実話) also known as Bride For 8 Years is a Japanese romantic drama film based on a true story directed by Zeze Takahisa and released on December 16, 2017, starring Satoh Takeru and Tsuchiya Tao.

Summary

Mai (Tsuchiya Tao) and Hisashi (Satoh Takeru) meet for the first time at a restaurant dinner with their friends. After dinner, the friend group decides to go to a karaoke, but Hisashi bids goodbye first and leaves on his own. Mai separates from the group to tell Hisashi that his attitude during the meal was bad and that he should at least act like if he was having fun because he kept to himself and didn't talk at all. Hisashi tells her he is sorry and his attitude is because he isn't good at socializing and also because he was sick that day. Mai apologizes for the misunderstanding and tells him she is going to the karaoke but comes back with medicine for his stomach. Mai sees Hisashi off at the train station, and they say goodbye on a good note.

Hisashi and Mai begin to date and a few months later (after New Year's Eve), Hisashi shyly proposes. On their way back home, they see a couple marrying, and Hisashi, seeing how happy Mai looks, makes a reservation on the spot.

When seeing pictures of trips they have gone together, Mai doesn't remember anything and starts to have a nervous breakdown; Hisashi decides to take her to a hospital.

While Hisashi is working, he gets a call from the hospital informing him that Mai had a heart attack, and when he arrives at the hospital, Mai is in a coma...

Thoughts

Although the summary I just wrote is plainly bad (I didn't want to give the entire movie away) I promise you that the movie is really good. This movie always leaves me feeling sad (although it has a happy ending) because I imagine how awful those 8-years were for the real Hisashi and Mai.

The cinematography is really nice and I loved how the proposal scene was done, it was super cute.

The acting by the leads was really convincing and everyone did a good job with their characters, although I have to say that the scene where we see inside Mai's mind was a little bit awkward.

The main theme song is「瞬き」(-Mabataki- meaning: blink) by the band Back Number and I think it fits well with the movie and the lyrics are very nice.

I recommend this movie if you like movies based on a true story, tear-jerkers and an excellent romance.

Rating

Acting - 10/10

Plot - 10/10

Romance - 10/10

OST - 7/10

Cinematography - 9/10

Overall Rating - 9/10

Extended Movie Info

Run Time: 119 minutes (1hs 59min).

Release Date: December 16, 2017.

Based on: The autobiographical book The 8-Year Bride: If Your Eyes Ever Open by Hisashi and Mai Nakahara.

Directed by: Zeze Takahisa.

Cinematography by: Saito Koichi.

Screenplay by: Okada Yoshikazu.

Music by: Muramatsu Takatsugu.

Starring: Satoh Takeru and Tsuchiya Tao with Yakushimaru Hiroko and Sugimoto Tetta as Mai's parents.