Three Stories of Love | Movie Review

Realistic, raw, and introspective?these are the words that could be used to describe Ryosuke Hashiguchi?s new movie, Three Stories of Love (Koibito Tachi). The film follows an under-appreciated housewife, a depressed widower, and a homosexual lawyer as they grapple with different aspects of love. This movie?s key selling point is stellar performances by the lead actors, all unknowns cast from auditions. To make the movie even more realistic, the screenplay was written by Ryosuke Hashiguchi around the three main actors to better suit their natural personalities. The final product is a two and a half hour film that seems as authentic as if these characters were being observed in real life.

Three Stories of Love shows that love can be many things to different people and that it can come in many different forms. For some love may be liberating and enjoyable, as depicted?by the two young lovers enjoying a late night walk shown in the later part of the movie. On the other hand, as experienced by the three main characters, love can become confining and oppressive?even the lingering love of a husband who is mourning over his recently deceased wife. This movie beautifully shows that perhaps it is up to the individual to find their own happiness in love regardless of the current situation.

Critically acclaimed, Three Stories of Love was hailed by The Hollywood Reporter as a film whose ?sensitive filmmaking communicates the quiet desperation of real-life love?. In addition, the movie was chosen as the second best Japanese film of 2015 at the 37^th Yokohama Film Festival and awarded Ryosuke Hashiguchi Best Director and Ken Mitsuishi as Best Supporting Actor for his role as chicken farmer, Hiroshi Fujita.