As a long-time devotee of Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s enigmatic and thought-provoking oeuvre, I must admit that “Cloud” left me somewhat perplexed yet intrigued. The film presents an enthralling blend of the mundane and the extraordinary, which is a hallmark of Kurosawa’s storytelling style.
Despite being famous for directing thrillers and horror films, Japanese filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa doesn’t typically stick to conventional genre movies. Instead, he consistently introduces unique perspectives when tackling his themes. For instance, in his international hit, Cure, he presented a detective pursuing a disturbed serial killer in an unusual way. Similarly, in Pulse, he depicted real ghosts tormenting internet users with an uncommon style. And in the family drama, Tokyo Sonata, Kurosawa demonstrated his ability to handle straightforward dramas by delivering a heart-wrenching family saga.
Although his screenplays can be bizarre, grisly, and excessively dramatic, he directs them as if they’re high-brow art films, which is why he’s a frequent participant in film festivals since the late ’90s. His upcoming Venice-bound movie, Cloud, follows this trend, combining action and suspense elements with a critique of online shopping and perhaps capitalism as a whole. It’s masterfully directed but not particularly captivating. It might resonate more in Japan than other places, while fans of Kurosawa should consider adding it to their viewing list.
Initially, Ryosuke Yoshii, played by Masaki Suda, appears to be an ordinary individual with a mundane job at a clothing factory. In his spare time, he seeks additional income by purchasing large quantities of items that seem unwanted, like a mysterious “therapy machine.” He then lists these items on a website similar to eBay and earns profits from the difference in prices.
In essence, this is common ground, yet it’s not a typical scenario. We’re dealing with a Kiyoshi Kurosawa film here, where the seemingly routine often takes an unexpected turn, especially when it comes to internet matters. It won’t be long before Ryosuke, who goes by the online alias “Ratel” – a name that means “badger” in Japanese and also sounds like “retail” – grows more daring. He leaves his blue-collar job behind and decides to invest in a stock of counterfeit luxury handbags, hoping to strike it rich with this venture.
Together with his girlfriend Akiko (Kotone Furukawa), who appears to be melancholic but might secretly be a cunning mastermind, Ryosuke relocates to a serene countryside home by the lake, offering him additional space for his inventory and also an opportunity to bring on board a young apprentice, Sano (Daiken Okudaira), who assists in growing his business.
Initially, the film appears to be a straightforward tale about salesmanship, but it soon transforms into a cautionary action story highlighting the perils of excessive greed. As Ryosuke’s adversaries, such as his previous factory boss, a former school rival in reselling, disgruntled online customers, and a few others, join forces to retaliate against his moderately successful business, chaos ensues. Guns are blazing, hostages are taken, threats of torture loom, Sano – once thought to be an ally – is revealed as a yakuza operative, and a state-of-the-art espresso machine malfunctions wildly.
Is any of this plausible? It’s not so much. Does some of it border on absurdity? Absolutely. However, it’s still quite entertaining to behold, despite the fact that the narrative veers off course more than in the director’s more compelling projects. Kurosawa, nonetheless, brings his usual mastery to the action scenes, culminating in a lengthy and brutal climax set in an abandoned steel mill with great energy, and demonstrating his signature realistic flair in depictions of violence and mild gore.
Similar to numerous Kurosawa films, Cloud straddles the line between reality and imagination, transitioning from realism into fantasy around the one-hour mark. The events involving Ryosuke should be accepted with a considerable pinch of salt. Whether or not a viewer decides to embark on such an unconventional journey is a matter of personal preference.
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2024-08-31 01:25