As of now, 2016, no English subtitled DVD print of this film exists. It is Hashiguchi's second feature and has a bigger ensemble cast of young actors all expertly directed with utmost naturalism. It initially centres on Ito, a boy who has a crush of his best friend Yoshida, who himself although polite, is straight, and keen on a girl, Aihara, who in turn seems to detest him and fancies Ito instead!. The script veers from joy to the overwrought: one minute everything is simple, in the next suicidal despair! The film deserves to be a classic- not just pegged as a 'gay' coming of age film which is only one of the many strands in the film (high school coolness and popularity, bullying and jealousy are the others). Parents hardly feature at all. The specifics of family life (an important strand in Hashiguchi's next film HUSH) is completely left out. These are adolescents remember!- they exist everywhere in their own bubble. And unlike HUSH, parts of LIKE GRANIS OF SAND is not easy to watch. There's nothing 'feel good' in it. It is loaded with the pain and confusion of finding out whom you might be, and what choices you will have to make. Choices that in a way determine the rest of your life. Hashiguchi is a director who paces his films beautifully. The long takes never feel forced. It is scandalous no one has bothered to pick this up for distribution with English subtitles. There is a French release with French subtitles only.
Review of Like Grains of Sand
