100 Yen Love is the story of Ishiko, a total slacker and someone struggling to finding motivation in life, who after a horrible personal event decides to train to be a pro-boxer.
Now I think if you're going to draw inspiration from the film, it is supposed to be when you see Ishiko take control of her life and transform herself to achieve her goal. It probably says more about me than the film that I found the early scene where she "borrows" a chopper bike to go buy late night alcohol in Snoopy pyjamas more aspirational.... There is something endearing and awesome about Ishiko's don't give a crap attitude, but is also an example of just how well the character in the film is realised.
This attitude though compensates for Ishiko's inarticulate shyness and lack of self confidence. Ishiko is monosyllabic and hides behind her hair and has no idea where her life is going. The lead performance from Sakura Ando is terrific, completely varied throughout and really bringing out the different aspects of Ishiko's personality as it develops and transforms through the film.
Some of the training scenes and montages drift a little close to cliche. What does save them, and give them a sense of something different to the norm is the way that these scenes feel like a form of expression for Ishiko and a way for this shy and reserved person to communicate. The fight scene itself is brutal and doesn't shy away from how inexperience and unready Ishiko is for this.
Although the other characters are not strongly realised, Ishiko is such a layered character that this doesn't matter. This is Ishiko's story from start to finish.
Overall, the film does just about get its balance right between quirky absurdist humour and heart-shredding drama. It is stylistically shot, with a cool soundrack and in Ishiko has a memorable and fascinating character, who is the subject of a strong storyline, that may inspire some people out of their Snoopy pyjamas
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