Express at Berlinale: Wheel Of Fortune And Fantasy presents a fragile portmanteau of affection and longing

Rysuke Hamaguchi’s ‘Wheel Of Fortune And Fantasy’ (Guzen To Sozo) freshens the overused system of splitting the narrative in a number of disparate elements, leading to a movie that’s winsome but oddly profound. It has gained the Silver Bear grand jury award on the simply concluded 71st (digital) version of the Berlin International Film Festival.
Two finest mates are catching up behind a automotive. Meiko has simply completed with a tiring day’s work, and is now listening to Tsugumi speaking excitedly a couple of man she’s simply met. He’s apparently good. Good-looking, attentive, good to speak to, and, look ahead to it, not involved in leaping her bones on the primary date. He’d moderately maintain on, giggles Tsugumi. Isn’t that one thing? Meiko heads out into the night time, having dropped off her good friend, and fetches up at a luxurious workplace, almost abandoned at that late hour. Where sits a handsome man. Is he as attentive and good to speak to, because the one Tsugumi met?
The alternate between Meiko and the man-in-the-office, which begins off as an altercation earlier than simmering down, is revelatory. He is an ex, however has Meiko left him behind as a lot as she hoped? What occurs when residual emotions are rekindled? This first half, labelled ‘Magic, Or Something Less Reassuring’ faucets into the issues that come up when two folks break up: is it at all times attainable to maneuver on? Perhaps it’s, and maybe in that transferring on, is each a closure and a brand new starting.
The second half, ‘Door Wide Open’ references a professor who insists on leaving his workplace door open when college students, particularly engaging feminine college students, are within the room. This apply ought to have stood him in good stead when the attractive Nao reveals up, and places into movement an alarmingly dodgy ruse. We know the backstory: a vengeful scholar has requested this self-same Nao to show right into a ‘honey trap’ with a view to break the instructor’s status. What we don’t know is the way it will pan out.
Sexually express phrases shared out loud between two folks can result in arousal, and the fallout thereof. For somebody who’s ultra-cautious, the professor appears unusually oblivious to the inappropriateness of the state of affairs. Isn’t it awkward for him? Is he for actual? The interlude reveals us {that a} sure type of naivete might be harmful, and actions have penalties.

We are excited to announce the Golden & Silver Bears in addition to the awards within the Encounters part of the 71st Berlin International Film Festival. #Berlinale https://t.co/CyfMZzQklF
— Berlinale (@berlinale) March 5, 2021
The third section, my favorite, is about an surprising, life-altering encounter between two girls. ‘Once Again’, shot throughout the pandemic, mentions a virus which has destroyed all superior types of communication, and Tokyo has lapsed again right into a pre-computer period. Moka, on the town for a high-school reunion, is on her manner again when she spots somebody she hoped to reconnect with. Is Nana, now grown right into a swish girl residing a cushty suburban life, the identical woman?

No digital footprints implies that we now have to depend on our notoriously fickle recollections. Nana was Moka’s past love, and that was a few years in the past, however the coronary heart doesn’t overlook a soulmate. The two girls alternate notes over civilised tea, and in that brief interval, the protected veneer of respectability worn to disguise actual emotions begins to crack. And as they half, we hope that will probably be the beginning of a extra significant life than the one they’ve lived to date, the perfect type of notice to go away a film on.