A best-selling novel turned box office hit (not to mention award-winning drama), Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World recycles the Japanese romance into a perhaps sentimental, but emotional tale to set genre standards and call forth the imitations. It’s a standard tragedy, a story of “pure love” between two teens in 1986. Saku, is your average lethargic motorcycle-riding boy, who takes notice of a beautiful, highly intelligent and athletic girl, Aki—deemed unattainable for him. But a chance encounter leads into the blossoming of romance and so forth.
However, in the present, Saku (now Sakutoro) is an apathetic city man in his thirties, engaged to the (also) beautiful Ritsuko. She discovers a tape from her past and leaves immediately, and by chance, Sakutoro finds out she is in his childhood town. This gets his nostalgia going, and he decides to return and recount his memories from his romance-filled teen years with Aki.
And the plot meticulously unfolds, constantly alternating between the present and the past via recorded audiotapes as the viewer learns the intricacies of the romance and its after-effects. The film milks the melodrama, but often with good reason. Every moment that calls for the rush of emotion, we feel it. Director Isao Yukisada deserves a deal of credit for crafting a well-structured tearjerker.
The pic resembles the more melodramatic side of Korean romance, especially Failan and the recent The Classic. All the films deal with reflective looks upon lost loves and individuals struggling to understand or cope. The lighter moments of Crying Out’s flashbacks sport a similar charm to The Classic’s carefree moments. The almost rural environment and childhood innocence add to this purity of a first-love romance to make it all the more endearing.
The performances are also very strong all around. The charismatic Masami Nagasawa does a good job as Aki, especially with her convincing change in character later in the film. Mirai Moriyama, playing the teenage Saku, does fine as well with hilarious expressions, intense ones and a subtle personality. They become such a memorable couple that viewers turning to the TV drama may have difficulty accepting another cast playing the parts. On the adult side are Takao Osawa and Kou Shibasaki who fill their roles adequetly—Osawa gets plenty of time to shine and add another layer to his character.
Shibasaki plays Saku’s fiancée in the present, but she is somewhat underused, actress and character-wise. The childhood true love romance is, of course, far more important and dramatic for the viewer, but the filmmakers barely attempt to sympathize with Ritsuko. Her character is given an inexplicable limp and expected to win everyone over with each painful step she takes. If she had a stronger presence, an interesting romantic tension may have added complexity to the present timeline.
Another major problem is the 135 minute running time. The film makes much good use of the length for the most part, but the later acts get bogged down with piles of uneasy and occasionally cliché scenes to wrap up the story.
However, Crying out Love, In the Center of the World is hardly a snooze-fest. It’s a powerful, abashedly classic romance (that even takes the time out to refer to Romeo and Juliet several times without batting an eye) and it works to please (or rather tear up) audience who may not mind the broad strokes. If you want a nice throwback romance and would like to hear another language besides Korean, Crying Out serves as a fine, touching experience.
Reviewed by Tarun
