Bloodtype Online

    Well guys this is a new one on me.  Wakeful Nights is a Japanese comedy that tells the story of a traditional comedy troupe losing three of it’s members to death.  Most of the film takes place at the wakes of the Master, his top apprentice, and the Master’s wife.  The narrative is pieced together thru the stories told by the troupe of their memories of each of the deceased, all of which is done in flashbacks.  The story is very strange in that it really doesn’t have a beginning or end, and nothing happens.  Which is probably why I’m having such a hard time putting together this synopsis of the plot. 

    This is a difficult movie for me to review.  The story is told in such a unique way and is really a series of character studies that give the viewer a brief glimpse into the lives of the comedy troupe.  In spite of this being billed as a comedy I didn’t really find it that funny.  I expect this is because you need to be familiar with modern Japanese society.  The movie actually takes time to explain some of the jokes and slang used, but it doesn’t really help.  If you have to explain the joke it isn’t going to be funny anymore.  Now there are a few really funny moments, the best being the first joke that they set up involving the wife of one of the troupe members.  But overall much of the movie’s humor falls flat.  

    I did want to mention the cast.  While much of the humor didn’t work for me some of the scenes at the wakes where the characters were remembering their dead friends are very well done.  As a group the cast does a wonderful job with both the comedy (when it didn’t need to be explained to me) and the drama, which is a rare thing.  I found this part of the film to be far more enjoyable then the humor. 

    I really wish there were more that I could say.  I honestly think that if you are either Japanese, or familiar enough with Japan to “get” the jokes then you are going to enjoy this movie more than I did.  It seems to be a well acted and written film.  Unfortunately not everything translates well from one culture to another, including films.  This is one of those movies that just doesn’t play well to a Western audience.  Because of this I can’t recommend Wakeful Nights.   

**

-John “El Juan” Shatzer