Japanese drama from Shochiku and writer-director Keisuke Kinoshita. Five high school friends reunite in their small home town after going their separate ways for the past few years. Each is dealing with various personal issues, including pressure from parents to marry, troubles with work, and finances. They soon discover that the years have changed some of them more than others, and their friendships are tested.
This movie is all over the place, in both quality and storytelling. Some acting is decent, particularly from Keiji Sada and Ineko Arima as star-crossed lovers who are doomed if they reunite. Unfortunately, they are more supporting characters, and all five of the lead guys aren't nearly as good. The scenario could have been tightened up and made a little more clear, and there's a plethora of cultural references that will be lost on most Western audiences. The film's widescreen, color cinematography seems wasted for much of the film, but some scenes at a sacred site are made more visually impressive by the format.