Director: Takumi
Saitoh
Notable Cast: Issei
Takahashi, Mayu Matsuoka, Takumi Saitoh, Lily Franky
When starting a massive marathon of films for any kind of
reason, particularly when it comes to similarly themed ones for a film
festival, it’s always nice to start off with a strong film and that’s exactly
what Blank 13 was for me. With no
real expectations of the film going into it, outside of the brief description
on the Japan Cuts 2018 website, my own blank slate was filled by a film that
plays things in a crafty way to tell what might have been a casual, if not
rather boring, familial dark and slightly comedic drama. Blank 13, directed by Takumi Saitoh who is more known for his
modeling and acting career and sports his first feature length film here, is a
rather fascinating ball of threaded stories meant to create a blurry flurry of
feelings rather than a more straightforward narrative. Yet through the
impressive execution, the sly tonal shifts make Blank 13 a film that strips and audiences and leaves its mark, even
if the basic plotting comes off as par for the course.