About the Pink Sky
dir by Keiichi Kobayashi

This film takes place entirely inside the memory of the lead character, Izumi. In the memory Izumi is in high school and finds a wallet with $300,000 yen belonging to a wealthy college boy…the drama and self discovery spring from her initial decision not to return the wallet and ultimately what happens when her friends discover she has it. 

There were several things I loved about this film—the sound design for one, the cinematography, and the easy humor and repartee between the three lead girls. The cast, especially Izumi (played by Ai Ikedea), really captured that disinterested quality so many teens have that is simply masking for a secret hunger for self discovery. There was one casting choice in particular that I questioned, and some subject matter that I felt was sloppily handled, but all in all a solid offering from an exciting and gentle new voice in  Japenese cinema!