REAL

A mysterious journey into the human subconscious for the origins of trauma and true love, REAL marks acclaimed director Kiyoshi Kurosawa's maiden voyage into the realm of science fiction. Based on Rokuro Inui's award-winning novel The Day of the Perfect Plesiosaur, Real tells the strange tale of two lovers, separated by coma, who meet in some shared space deep within their psyches.

Called "sensing," the innovative practice performed by neurologist Dr. Eiko Aihara (Miki Nakatani) allows entry into the subconscious mind of a comatose patient so as to stimulate memories and emotions that could accelerate the recovery process. Through this procedure, Koichi Fujita (Takeru Satoh) enters the mind of the love of his life, Atsumi Kazu (Haruka Ayase), a manga artist who attempted suicide. Koichi encounters all manner of weirdness within Atsumi's subconscious, such as philosophical zombies and subliminal fogs. In a fascinating yet frightening experience, he tries to decipher what pushed his lover to try to take her own life.

While revisiting the timeless myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, Kurosawa manages to address important social themes like environmental awareness, recurrent suicides in Japanese society, and an artist's freedom of expression.

Mesmerizing and wildly imaginative, Real is at once a ghost story, a monster movie, and a mind-boggling psychological fantasy. Accompanied by the excellent performances of young stars Ayase and Satoh — who is enjoying the huge domestic success of last year's Rurouni Kenshin — Kurosawa's serene and powerful look at this story of ultimate love locks the audience in a quietly disturbing embrace.

Giovanna Fulvi

Special thanks to The Japan Foundation, Toronto.