DOG IN A SIDECAR (SAIDOKÂ NI INU). Viewed on Streaming. Subtitles = eight (8) stars; cinematography = five (5) stars; film-to-digital transfer = three (3) stars. Director Kichitaro Negishi channels a familiar theme by showing what happens when a sheltered, inhibited grade-school girl (SG) unexpectedly encounters her (or at least her mother's) exact opposite (in the guise of a free-spirited young women who is "too old to be her sister and too young to be her mother") . Using a flashback, Negishi relates how a now part-time realtor spent her vacation some 20 summers ago when the girl's mother abandoned her children and loser husband (who sells used cars that are mostly stolen and re-plated) and was "replaced" by the husband's mysterious (and well-financed) girl friend (GF) who one day abruptly just shows up to cook a meal. The GF quickly bonds with the SK and pulls the latter out of her shell by introducing her to life in the real-world (most of which she had been missing out on). The Director also uses this same theme as a thread that runs through his tale: the GF seems also once to have been a withdrawn little girl (which is why she bonds so expertly) and the now realtor (prior to the flashback) is shown helping a shy grade school girl overcome her hesitations. Regrettably, all good things come to an end. The mother returns (to the field of marital battle) and the GF is kicked out after the two literally butt heads (the mother is knocked out!). Acting especially by the two female leads is simply delightful to watch. Yûko Takeuchi cast as the GF is not only stunning to look at but hilarious to watch with dynamic facial expressions that are usually the hallmark of a stage-trained actresses (which she is). Kana Matsumoto plays the SK who is acting (very effectively!) about 10 years younger than she really is (which may account for the lack of typical scene stealing by a child actor since she is not!). Cinematography (semi-wide screen, color) is so-so. Color and lighting are fine with many tracking shots that do not become distractions. But some scenes seem a bit out of focus at least initially. Film-to-digital transfer has problems and may have added to poorly focused scenes. Panning is jerky due to inept domain conversion. Subtitles are fine. A movie that leaves the viewer wishing it had been a bit longer! Highly recommended. WILLIAM FLANIGAN, PhD.
Review of Saido kâ ni inu
