Amiko isn’t like other children. Her endless energy and curious eccentricities make her an outcast at school and get her in trouble at home. When a painful family loss disrupts her seemingly idyllic seaside life, her sense of isolation intensifies, yet it doesn’t stop Amiko from inviting people into her world.
Morii Yusuke’s directorial debut is a confident and compassionate story about a child’s imagination. The film balances sorrow with joy and harsh lessons with naive delight – much like growing up. Crucially, Amiko never forgets who is at the centre of the story. The wry humour and detailed compositions of small-town Japan, as well as the film’s hopeful tenor, are reminiscent of Ogigami Naoko or Hirokazu Kore-eda’s works. The gentle and languorous atmosphere is enriched by a score from upcoming folk star Ichiko Aoba.
Kana Osawa delivers an exquisite, force-of-nature performance as young Amiko. Effortlessly natural, her commanding presence and vitality carry great weight whilst ensuring the film never falls into despair. Amiko’s unbeaten spirit in the face of tired adults and uncooperative classmates lets us go through the pain, as well as experience flashes of mischievous whimsy, alongside a spiriting musical sequence that will ensure you’ll never listen to a conga drum the same way.
米洛·马查多·格拉纳,马修·阿马立克,萨利夫·西塞,弗朗索瓦兹·勒布伦,米沙·莱斯科特,欧嘉·米尔施泰因
阿曼达·塞弗里德,丽贝卡·利迪亚德,马克·奥布莱恩,道格拉斯·史密斯,玛雅·巴斯蒂达斯,Vinessa Antoine,林恩·格里芬,瑞安·麦克唐纳德,玛雅·米沙里维克,兰内特·瓦雷,塔拉·尼科迪莫,乔伊·克莱恩,Siobhan Richardson,Aliya Kanani,Ambur Braid,Elizabeth Reeve,Miyeko Ferguson,Michael Schade,Karita Mattila,Jorell Williams
史蒂夫·库根,乔纳森·普雷斯,Vivian El Jaber,比约恩·古斯塔夫松,阿尔芳西娜·卡罗西奥,David Herrero
胡婷华,涂一乐,逗哥,喜子,袁洁仪
张静初,芦芳生,余皑磊,高冬平,董畅,张宁浩,李晓川,富冠铭
河合优实,田中丽奈,根本真阳,森山未来,杉田雷麟,岩男海史,吹越满,萩原圣人,涩川清彦,酒井若菜