Barbarella finds a masterpiece in MISSING by Shinzô Katayama

Published: November 1, 2022, 8:12 PM CST by Barbarella

Hello, my friends. Barbara here. In an exceptionally strong movie year, I find Missing to be among the best offerings, with its genuinely compelling story, gripping emotional chords, and intriguing layers. The film hits theaters in limited locations this Friday, November 4, 2022, and On Demand November 18, 2022. It should be seen by anyone who loves strong storytelling and isn't triggered by suicide references.

After the loss of his wife, Santoshi Harada (Jirô Satô) struggles with debt and depression. When he reveals to his daughter Kaede (Aoi Ito) that he's found a way to make a quick buck by collecting a reward from an infamous serial killer he thinks he's found, she fires him. However, when he disappears soon after, she fears the worst and begins searching to uncover the mystery of what happened to him.

Written and directed by Shinzō Katayama, Missing eloquently conveys life's uncertainty in a masterfully orchestrated story that unfolds dramatically and puts the talented director at the top of the list of those to watch. to watch. It's not surprising, however. After working as an assistant director on many Japanese films, Shinzō Katayama met Bong Joon-Ho (Parasite) while working on TOKYO! and later served as his assistant director on Mother soon after.

His commercial debut, Missing takes me on an emotional rollercoaster ride that I never expected from a "serial killer" movie. The disappearance of Kaede's father turns her life upside down, reminding us how fragile our daily routines can be. Her emotions swing between fear, despair, anger, hope, and determination as she searches for answers, tries to get help, and tries to keep her sanity.

I feel every shred of anger and despair as she navigates between those who try to help her and those who seemingly have no desire to help her in her search. I appreciate how it presents different agendas demonstrating how some people can offer help with strings attached and others only seem interested in offering a different kind of assistance than what Kaede is looking for. Her dogged determination leads her into dangerous territory, which in turn leads us into an intriguing mystery.

While Kaede's story is powerful, it's her father's story that touches me the most. I love how it takes us back in time so we understand how it gets to the state it was in before its disappearance. Jirô Satô delivers such a virtuoso performance that it brings tears to my eyes that I don't even bother to wipe away. Beautifully told and emotionally moving, the story allows us to capture all the devastation of his loss, making him more sympathetic than he was when we first met him.

It's not just Santoshi and Kaede's story that the film presents that enhances our understanding. It also gives us insight into the serial killer (Hiroya Shimizu), showing how he got started on this path. Most movies never give that insight into why and how, and I love what Missing does.

Sometimes messing with the timeline of events can have a negative effect on a viewer - I'm watching you and your time jumps, "The House of the Dragon" - but the changes here really serve to enhance the unraveling of the mystery and intensify the impact. I love their execution.

In fact, I love everything about this movie, from Hiyoko Takai's emotional score to how the characters' interactions and behaviors reveal so many aspects of the human condition. I love how I find relevant content throughout the film and...