Initiation Love

Immerse yourself in the 80s of Japan, where Suzuki (played by Shota Matsuda) is a university student looking for a job. He is a bit of a loner, but that changes when he meets Mayu (Atsuko Maeda), a dental assistant. She seems too good to be true but shows a genuine interest in him. He tries to keep both feet on the ground and gradually opens up to her.

These abundant and contradictory feelings of a budding relationship, finding the balance between exposing yourself and the fear of being hurt or of hurting or disappointing yourself are conveyed by Suzuki in a striking, subtle and sometimes melancholically. But are Suzuki’s feelings for Mayu just a puppy love (“initiation love”) or perhaps more?

This film adaptation of the beloved bestseller ‘Initiation Love’ by Kurumi Inui (published in 2004) shows an atmospheric staging, the great acting performances and the balance between the naive beauty of a new relationship versus the routine that can quickly creep into a relationship make Initiation Love a strong film that is sometimes painfully recognizable. The fact that this subject is told from the man’s perspective certainly makes it original. You are dragged along on this emotional rollercoaster from the start and eventually blown off your chair when the film reaches its end.

To recover from the relief for one and the indignation for the other, you can of course go to the Studio Skoop café to have a nice chat. In short, a great night out.

All images: © 2015 “Initiation Love”