Review - 'Youth 18x2'

Jimmy - played by Hua Quang Han - returns to the hometown of the Japanese girl he secretly loved at the age of 18, in the movie "Thanh Xuan 18x2: Lu Trinh Towards You".

* Article reveals movie content

Trailer 'Youth 18x2: Journey to You' — Movie trailer. The film premiered domestically on April 5 and has earned nearly VND26 billion after 11 days of release, according to *Box Office Vietnam* . Video : *Lotte Entertainment*

The work was directed by Michihito Fujii, adapted from the memoir Youth 18x2 Japan Slow Train Wanderings . The content revolves around Jimmy, 36 years old, who was fired from the game programming company he founded. In the midst of depression and disappointment, Jimmy discovers an old postcard with a message from Ami (played by Kaya Kiyohara), the person he fell in love with when he was 18 years old. At this time, the boy decides to return to Ami's hometown to see her again.

The film is divided into two timelines: a summer in Tainan (Taiwan) in the past and a snowy scene in Fukushima (Japan). The present and the past alternate, leading the audience to follow the two characters. Through some opening scenes, the work introduces the period when Ami went to Taiwan for a long trip and met Jimmy. The two spent the whole summer together.

While Jimmy shyly expressed his feelings, the girl only saw him as a young man. Ami even tactfully refused, saying that she had a lover in Japan. During the summer, Ami tried hard to learn Chinese to communicate with everyone, while Jimmy learned Japanese because he wanted to be close to her. The climax of the film also lies in the girl suddenly returning home without giving a reason, leaving Jimmy behind.

The filmmaker chose to tell the story through the male lead's perspective, showing loneliness and isolation. Each train station Jimmy passes through represents each stage of love, sometimes happy, sometimes sad, sometimes disappointing, but all leave behind lessons. After changing trains a few times, Jimmy accidentally meets strangers and gradually becomes close. They also give him advice about life.

The film's main actors: Hua Quang Han (right) and Kiyohara Goya. Photo: Rolling Boy Film — The film's main actors: Hua Quang Han (right) and Kiyohara Goya. Photo: *Rolling Boy Film*

"Youthful male god" Hua Quang Han conveys the character's emotional aspects through his eyes and gestures. On Next Apple , the actor said the biggest challenge when filming was clearly portraying the character's psychology in each stage. Jimmy at the age of 18 was an enthusiastic, impulsive boy, but now he is quiet and full of thoughts. "The film begins when Jimmy is 36 years old, so I need to understand his memories deeply, looking back at what happened in the past," Hua Quang Han said.

Japanese co-star Kaya Kiyohara played her role well, receiving praise from the audience for her good acting in emotional scenes. According to Sohu , although only 22 years old, the artist was convincing when playing the role of Ami, who is older than Jimmy. Kiyohara and Hua Quang Han had many scenes with good chemistry.

On Next Apple , Hua Quang Han praised Kiyohara: "She is a young and talented actress. The film does not introduce Ami's story in depth, but Kaya still reveals the depth of the character's psychology, which not every artist can do."

Through the interweaving of memories, director Fujii Michihito sends the message: Memories will motivate people, help us become stronger and more mature. For Jimmy, the time spent with Ami helped him care for others and get along with his colleagues. After Ami returned to his country, he studied hard and improved himself in hopes of having the opportunity to express his feelings to the person he loved.

18 years have passed, when memories of Ami come flooding back, Jimmy recalls the happy things in the past to overcome sadness. The director naturally arranges the interweaving of the past youth and reality, helping viewers understand the character's inner thoughts.

Behind the scenes of 'Youth 18x2: Journey to You' — Behind the scenes of "Youth 18x2: Journey to You". Video: *Monkey Movies*

The work is carefully crafted in terms of visuals, with many scenes in Taiwan and Japan, taking viewers to a series of famous tourist destinations. The filmmaker uses orange and blue as the main colors, evoking a sense of lightness. The camera captures many angles in the character's journey, such as the train traveling along a snow-covered road in Japan, the character releasing sky lanterns, and admiring the night view of the city in Taiwan.

The film received many compliments from experts. HK01 commented: "The work is a man's memory of a youthful love, showing that youth and dreams will make us become more mature people than before". And The New Lens wrote: " Thanh Xuan 18x2 proves that Japanese directors have the ability to make romantic films far beyond other countries".

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