Jimmy, played by Hứa Quang Hán, returns to the hometown of the Japanese girl he secretly loved when he was 18, in the film "Youth 18x2: A Journey Towards You".
*This article contains spoilers for the movie.
Movie trailer. The film premiered domestically on April 5th and has currently grossed nearly 26 billion VND after 11 days, according to Box Office Vietnam . Video : Lotte Entertainment
Directed by Michihito Fujii, this film is an adaptation of the memoir Youth 18x2 Japan Slow Train Wanderings . The story centers around Jimmy, 36, who is fired from the game development company he founded. Amidst his despair and disappointment, Jimmy discovers an old postcard with a message from Ami (played by Kaya Kiyohara), the girl he fell in love with at 18. He decides to return to Ami's hometown to see her again.
The film's narrative is divided into two timelines: a summer in Tainan (Taiwan) in the past and a snowy landscape in Fukushima (Japan). The present and past alternate, guiding the audience to follow the two characters. Through a few opening scenes, the film introduces Ami's extended vacation in Taiwan and her meeting with Jimmy. The two spend the entire summer together.
While Jimmy was hesitant to express his feelings, the girl only saw him as a young man. Ami cleverly rejected him, saying she had a boyfriend in Japan. Throughout the summer, Ami diligently studied Chinese to communicate with people, while Jimmy studied Japanese to be closer to her. The climax of the film lies in the girl's sudden return to her home country without explanation, leaving Jimmy behind.
The filmmaker chooses to tell the story from the protagonist's perspective, highlighting his loneliness and alienation. Each train station Jimmy passes through represents a stage in his love life, filled with joy, sadness, disappointment, but all leaving behind valuable lessons. After several train changes, Jimmy unexpectedly meets strangers who gradually become close to him. They even offer him advice about life.
The film's main actors: Hsu Guang-han (right) and Kiyohara Goya. Photo: Rolling Boy Film
"Youthful heartthrob" Hsu Guang-Han conveys the emotional aspects of his character through his eyes and gestures. On Next Apple , the actor said the biggest challenge in filming was clearly portraying the character's psychology at each stage. Jimmy at 18 was a passionate, impulsive young man, while now he is reserved and thoughtful. "The film starts when Jimmy is 36, so I needed to deeply understand his memories, to look back at what happened in the past," Hsu Guang-Han said.
Japanese co-star Kaya Kiyohara delivered a strong performance, earning praise from viewers for her acting in emotional scenes. According to Sohu , despite being only 22 years old, the actress convincingly portrayed Ami, an older character than Jimmy. Kiyohara and Xu Guanghan shared many scenes together seamlessly.
On Next Apple , Hsu Guang-Han praised Kiyohara, saying, "She is a talented young actress. The film doesn't delve deeply into Ami's story, but Kaya still reveals the psychological depth of the character, something not every artist can do."
Through the incorporation of memories, director Fujii Michihito conveys the message that recollections will motivate people, helping them become stronger and more mature. For Jimmy, the time spent with Ami taught him to care for others and get along well with his colleagues. After Ami returned home, he studied diligently and improved himself, hoping for a chance to express his feelings to the woman he loved.
Eighteen years have passed, and as memories of Ami flood back, Jimmy recalls happy moments from the past to overcome his sorrow. The director naturally intertwines youthful memories with the present, allowing viewers to understand the character's inner feelings.
Behind the scenes of "Youth 18x2: A Journey Towards You". Video: Monkey Movies
The film boasts meticulously crafted visuals, featuring numerous locations in both Taiwan and Japan, transporting viewers to a series of famous tourist destinations. The filmmakers utilize predominantly orange and blue tones, evoking a sense of tranquility. The camera captures various angles during the character's journey, such as the train traveling along a snow-covered road in Japan, the character releasing sky lanterns, and admiring the city lights at night in Taiwan.
The film received much praise from critics. HK01 commented: "The work is a man's memory of his youthful love, showing that youth and dreams will make us more mature." The New Lens wrote: " Youth 18x2 proves that Japanese directors are capable of making romantic films far beyond those of other countries."
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