JustBruck's Chinese Weekend Movies
Top 3 Japanese Specials Based on True Stories
**To all of you, who read my first article, thanks you so much! I hope that you enjoy this article too!**
I personally really enjoy the type of movies/specials where there is a true person behind the story. After I finish watching one of these types of movies, I immediately go and look up the real-life person and find out all I can about them. I don't know if anyone else is like this, but I love reading and learning about other people's stories.
Country: Japan Genre: Life Year: 2010
Synopsis: At the age of one, Rie Saito loses her ability to hear. She grows up as a rebellious child, running away from home frequently in her hometown of Aomori. By writing calligraphy in a club, Rie starts to open her eyes to the world. She then moves to Tokyo to become Ginza's number one hostess. Based on the true story of Rie Saito. Her bestselling novel was published in May 2009 and has already sold 115,000 copies. A manga was also adapted from her novel.
This movie stars Kitagawa Keiko, who I first watched in Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, but that's beside the point :). Kitagawa plays here role beautifully and truly brings this movie to life. This movie was inspiring and very insightful. I enjoyed it very much and I hope you do too!
Country: Japan Genre: Historical Year: 2007
Synopsis: This movie is about a young maiko, Iwasaki Mineko, who is in training to become a geisha in Gion, Kyoto. This movie shows the real struggles and hardships that the Geishas must go through. Inoue Mao plays the role of Mineko, a young maiko (apprentice geisha) in the Gion district of Kyoto. This story is based on the autobiography of Mineko Iwasaki (one of the sources for Memoirs of a Geisha).
I loved this movie because it shows the struggle and perseverance of the Mineko. Through the entire movie, Mineko must deal with the strict rules of her family house where she learns to be a geisha and the homesickness of her real home and family who she does not get to see for a very long time. More than anything, I watched this movie because of my interest in the subject and my curiosity.
Country: Japan Genre: Life, Drama, Family Year: 2010
Synopsis: This movie is about a two blind people who fall in love and later have a child. In this movie, they find different ways of raising their child and persevere through the hardships that come with having a child. The drama is adapted from the book Ai wa Mieru ~ Zenmou Fuufu no Takaramono, which covers Tatemichi's life as she developed her musical gift despite her blindness. Like Tatemichi, the character gets married and gives birth to a child, despite opposition from people around her. While raising the child, she continues pushing towards her dream of becoming a professional musician.
When I heard about this couple, I immediately looked up everything that I could about them and their son. I came upon this movie and knew that I had to watch. I loved this movie but I did wish that they had added more details in the movie, but other than that, it was a great movie. It made me feel all warm inside because of how they faced their struggles head on. This movie is an inspiration.
All of these movies are based on true stories which make them that much more awesome! I hope that you watch and enjoy them! Thanks so much for reading! If you have any questions feel free to comment or message me :)
