A story we've seen from Japan a thousand times: Pretty girl transfer student from Tokyo to Hicksville falls for the brooding bad boy in class. It treats this middle school romance as if it's a little more mature than it is. What sets it apart are some of the directorial choices in editing and sound. There are some over-the-top drama moments that would kill the film if they weren't normalized by the weirdness of…

Drowning Love, adapted from George Asakura’s manga, explores an intense and mature love story between two teenagers, brought to life through strong performances, especially by Nana Komatsu. While emotionally captivating, the film feels tonally mismatched with its characters’ young ages and includes some implausible plot points. Despite minor flaws, the story offers a powerful message about love, protection, and the…