Similar to The Fountain, Cyborg She, otherwise referred to as Cyborg Girl, or My Girlfriend Is A Cyborg, is a feature set over more than one time period, and shows how the smallest event can lead to the biggest catastrophes - and the best love stories.
Based upon the Park Chan-wook film, I'm A Cyborg But That's Okay, writer/director Kwak Jae-yong (My Sassy Girl) makes a feature that is similar to Windstruck, which occasionally bore resemblance to the aforementioned film he is most known for directing. Rather than conceiving a feature about a young woman who thinks she's a cyborg, Haruka Ayase portrays a woman who actually IS a cyborg.
Unlike films that secretly borrow concepts from other movies in the hopes that no one will notice, Cyborg She deliberately steals ideas from films like Terminator and Time Cop to create a story that not only makes a mockery of American classics (the Terminator references include the blue time bubble and a man hiding a weapon beneath his trench-coat), but creates a powerfully heartfelt romantic comedy in the process.
Jiro Kitamura (Keisuke Koide) is a geek, who knows as much about women as I do. Despite been close friends with a fellow college student (Kenta Kiritani), Jiro spends much of his life alone, his own birthday reflecting his life's unflinching loneliness. That is, until he meets a young, beautiful, sassy, intelligent, humorous young woman (Ayase), and though they spend only one night together, she leaves an impression on him that he can never forget.
So, you can imagine the shock he receives exactly one year later when the woman he has been unable to stop thinking about returns - only this time, she isn't entirely human. Discovering the origins of the woman he begins living with, Jiro finds himself falling in love with his robotic house-mate. The question remains: if a human can learn to fall in love with another, can the same be said for a cyborg?
Ms. Ayase is brilliant in her role as the cyborg, her stiff movements, general ignorance regarding society and facial expressions, developing a character who truly is a machine, yet at the same time is capable of showing enough emotion to notify the audience of the humanity she may hold within. Mr. Koide is as equally impressive as the lovesick Jiro, the lustfully passionate feelings he exhibits towards his cyborg companion, alongside his angst at being unable to have a typical relationship with her, being adeptly conveyed.
Upon discovering the woman of his dreams is not only a cyborg, but is from the future, Jiro says something akin to 'fair enough'. Not bothering to focus on the strangeness of these circumstances, the film is able to quickly move forward, uninhibited by irrelevant questions, however, those of you, who, after viewing the trailer believe the film will be a collection of action scenarios, think again. Much of the film works perfectly as a character drama, and on every other occasion, offers the audience side-splitting hilarity in the form of uniquely entertaining humor.
The effects that accompany a number of the scenes are superbly delivered, and though they are not always the same caliber offered by Hollywood, they are fabulous all the same, and effectively bring more depth to the feature. A moment when the cyborg begins to illicit sparks after taking a swig of alcohol helps establish how she is presently inebriated, while another moment when the world around Jiro becomes hazy, is representative of him leaving contemporary society behind by entering a portal through time.
Although much of the film is in chronological order, the feature doesn't entirely conform to this rule, the past and future of the characters being provided considerable depth, that assists us in understanding the present. This is accentuated by the score and chosen songs, which compliment much of the film, and assist the audience in comprehending the mood during every crucial moment.
Cyborg She's conclusion moreover may leave audiences questioning the ending's authenticity, and though there are several possible interpretations that can be exhibited by Jae-yong's decisions, the film loses none of its influence. The intensity of the emotions steadily rise until the film's inescapable climax, and upon the credits making their way across the screen, its doubtful a single iris will remain dry. With this in mind, be sure you go into this film with a box of tissues.
Despite there been moments in the film that don't entirely make sense, Cyborg She is one of those rare features that reminds us the best films, seldom have to.
Based upon the Park Chan-wook film, I'm A Cyborg But That's Okay, writer/director Kwak Jae-yong (My Sassy Girl) makes a feature that is similar to Windstruck, which occasionally bore resemblance to the aforementioned film he is most known for directing. Rather than conceiving a feature about a young woman who thinks she's a cyborg, Haruka Ayase portrays a woman who actually IS a cyborg.
Unlike films that secretly borrow concepts from other movies in the hopes that no one will notice, Cyborg She deliberately steals ideas from films like Terminator and Time Cop to create a story that not only makes a mockery of American classics (the Terminator references include the blue time bubble and a man hiding a weapon beneath his trench-coat), but creates a powerfully heartfelt romantic comedy in the process.
Jiro Kitamura (Keisuke Koide) is a geek, who knows as much about women as I do. Despite been close friends with a fellow college student (Kenta Kiritani), Jiro spends much of his life alone, his own birthday reflecting his life's unflinching loneliness. That is, until he meets a young, beautiful, sassy, intelligent, humorous young woman (Ayase), and though they spend only one night together, she leaves an impression on him that he can never forget.
So, you can imagine the shock he receives exactly one year later when the woman he has been unable to stop thinking about returns - only this time, she isn't entirely human. Discovering the origins of the woman he begins living with, Jiro finds himself falling in love with his robotic house-mate. The question remains: if a human can learn to fall in love with another, can the same be said for a cyborg?
Ms. Ayase is brilliant in her role as the cyborg, her stiff movements, general ignorance regarding society and facial expressions, developing a character who truly is a machine, yet at the same time is capable of showing enough emotion to notify the audience of the humanity she may hold within. Mr. Koide is as equally impressive as the lovesick Jiro, the lustfully passionate feelings he exhibits towards his cyborg companion, alongside his angst at being unable to have a typical relationship with her, being adeptly conveyed.
Upon discovering the woman of his dreams is not only a cyborg, but is from the future, Jiro says something akin to 'fair enough'. Not bothering to focus on the strangeness of these circumstances, the film is able to quickly move forward, uninhibited by irrelevant questions, however, those of you, who, after viewing the trailer believe the film will be a collection of action scenarios, think again. Much of the film works perfectly as a character drama, and on every other occasion, offers the audience side-splitting hilarity in the form of uniquely entertaining humor.
The effects that accompany a number of the scenes are superbly delivered, and though they are not always the same caliber offered by Hollywood, they are fabulous all the same, and effectively bring more depth to the feature. A moment when the cyborg begins to illicit sparks after taking a swig of alcohol helps establish how she is presently inebriated, while another moment when the world around Jiro becomes hazy, is representative of him leaving contemporary society behind by entering a portal through time.
Although much of the film is in chronological order, the feature doesn't entirely conform to this rule, the past and future of the characters being provided considerable depth, that assists us in understanding the present. This is accentuated by the score and chosen songs, which compliment much of the film, and assist the audience in comprehending the mood during every crucial moment.
Cyborg She's conclusion moreover may leave audiences questioning the ending's authenticity, and though there are several possible interpretations that can be exhibited by Jae-yong's decisions, the film loses none of its influence. The intensity of the emotions steadily rise until the film's inescapable climax, and upon the credits making their way across the screen, its doubtful a single iris will remain dry. With this in mind, be sure you go into this film with a box of tissues.
Despite there been moments in the film that don't entirely make sense, Cyborg She is one of those rare features that reminds us the best films, seldom have to.