Following on the heels of a number of recent Lesbian themed movies such as "Notes on a Scandal", "Maple Palm", "Loving Annabelle" and "Saving Face" comes Kawano Koji's much talked about Lesbian love story "Love My Life".
Adapted from the manga of the same name by popular female writer Yamaji Ebine, "Love My Life" stars Yoshii Rei (Yokai Dai Sensou) and Imajuku Asami (Tomie:The Beginning, Colors) as two attractive college students who also happen to be lovers and whose almost perfect relationship runs into some trouble.
Those expecting (or hoping for) a salacious, bawdy and sensationalistic film (like "Bound" or "Manji") will probably be disappointed as "Love My Life" does not have gratuitous scenes of the girls kissing and having sex. Rather, it plays very much like a conventional "J-Dorama" love story complete with the obligatory melodramatic plot lines, cute actresses and accompanying alternative "J-Rock" soundtrack.
Being a fan of Showtime's sometimes controversial "The L Word" drama series, I was pleasantly surprised at how similarly "Love My Life" focused on the relationship between the two girls. We get to know a lot about the characters and their lives...Izumi Ichiko (Yoshii) is the Literary Arts major who works part-time at a local CD music store and also does English to Japanese translation work on the side. Her father (played by Ishida Ira) has himself recently "come out" and is dating a very much younger man much to Ichiko's shock. Her brooding partner Eri, comes from a conservative family and has ambitions about pursuing law. While she has had many relationships in the past (both male and female) she feels that her relationship with Ichiko is different and wants very much to keep it strong.
As with "The L Word", the girls also have to deal with a number of common relationship issues as well as some specific to their sexual preference (past lovers, commitment, intimacy, prejudice, career goals, breakups).
It is to Kawano's credit that the story is told in an almost matter-of-fact and candid manner and without being relegated into a "soft porn" skin flick. The girls do share some moments of intimacy but it is done in a very brief, tasteful and touching manner (contrary to the somewhat erotic poster art).
Credit should also go to screenwriter Kanasugi Hiroko who successfully captured the tone and mood of Yamaji's manga work.
As noted the rock soundtrack is very good compliments of singer/songwriter Yoko whose upbeat songs match well with the film.
Some may find the film be a bit sappy and "too cute" at points but it is refreshing to see a good romance story where the characters seem like real people and not movie creations.
"Love My Life" is a bit of an oddity among Japanese movies but is a definite good movie which focuses on an alternate lifestyle, done in a way that doesn't make the Lesbian relationship out to be as lurid as has been portrayed in past films.
Adapted from the manga of the same name by popular female writer Yamaji Ebine, "Love My Life" stars Yoshii Rei (Yokai Dai Sensou) and Imajuku Asami (Tomie:The Beginning, Colors) as two attractive college students who also happen to be lovers and whose almost perfect relationship runs into some trouble.
Those expecting (or hoping for) a salacious, bawdy and sensationalistic film (like "Bound" or "Manji") will probably be disappointed as "Love My Life" does not have gratuitous scenes of the girls kissing and having sex. Rather, it plays very much like a conventional "J-Dorama" love story complete with the obligatory melodramatic plot lines, cute actresses and accompanying alternative "J-Rock" soundtrack.
Being a fan of Showtime's sometimes controversial "The L Word" drama series, I was pleasantly surprised at how similarly "Love My Life" focused on the relationship between the two girls. We get to know a lot about the characters and their lives...Izumi Ichiko (Yoshii) is the Literary Arts major who works part-time at a local CD music store and also does English to Japanese translation work on the side. Her father (played by Ishida Ira) has himself recently "come out" and is dating a very much younger man much to Ichiko's shock. Her brooding partner Eri, comes from a conservative family and has ambitions about pursuing law. While she has had many relationships in the past (both male and female) she feels that her relationship with Ichiko is different and wants very much to keep it strong.
As with "The L Word", the girls also have to deal with a number of common relationship issues as well as some specific to their sexual preference (past lovers, commitment, intimacy, prejudice, career goals, breakups).
It is to Kawano's credit that the story is told in an almost matter-of-fact and candid manner and without being relegated into a "soft porn" skin flick. The girls do share some moments of intimacy but it is done in a very brief, tasteful and touching manner (contrary to the somewhat erotic poster art).
Credit should also go to screenwriter Kanasugi Hiroko who successfully captured the tone and mood of Yamaji's manga work.
As noted the rock soundtrack is very good compliments of singer/songwriter Yoko whose upbeat songs match well with the film.
Some may find the film be a bit sappy and "too cute" at points but it is refreshing to see a good romance story where the characters seem like real people and not movie creations.
"Love My Life" is a bit of an oddity among Japanese movies but is a definite good movie which focuses on an alternate lifestyle, done in a way that doesn't make the Lesbian relationship out to be as lurid as has been portrayed in past films.