Hi everyone!

Ever listened to this podcast and thought “I could do that!” or “That doesn’t seem so hard!” or “This guy has no idea what the hell he’s talking about!”

Well, soon enough, I’ll start Takeover Tuesdays, where a listener or fellow film podcaster can takeover our show with their review, sticking mostly to our format, and in return, in addition to the glory of being on this humble podcast, I’ll also run whatever promo you would like and place that promo into our regular rotation until the podcast gets some proper sponsors. It’s like free advertising while it lasts. Think you have what it takes? Reach out to us at the website at onemoviepunch.com or on social media in the usual places.

And now...

Today’s movie is “Oh Lucy!” (2018), the debut feature-length film from Atsuko Hirayanagi, based on her short video of the same name. The film follows Setsuko (Shinobu Terajima), who is urged to take an English class by her niece Mika (Shioli Kutsuna) with an instructor named John (Josh Hartnett). Once she pays, however, Mika and John head to Southern California, and Setsuko sets out after them with Mika’s mother, Ayako (Kaho Minami).

Spoilers ahead.

Some films fly completely under the radar, despite excellent reviews. Case in point: “Oh Lucy!”, which only showed in three theaters earlier this year after making the rounds at multiple film festivals around the world. I felt the same thing happened with another underrated film, “Columbus” (Episode #017), which only opened in two theaters, despite being one of my favorite films from last year. It’s always a mystery to me how we can have thirty screens for the same film, but can’t find at least one per market for an excellent film like “Oh Lucy!”.

Hirayanagi’s film opens with a bizarre, but poignant scene about karōshi, literally translated as “overwork death”. It’s a very real phenomenon in Japan, affecting roughly 30,000 per year, and in this film, used to make the viewer immediately lose their footing, becoming unsure about who Setsuko is and what the film might be about. Her journey continues by being swindled by her niece, taking charge of her own life, and running after what she wants, even when knowing it was a bad idea. Setsuko’s journey shows the unfair way in which unmarried middle-aged women are still viewed in Japan, while breaking every social, familial, and personal barrier she finds.

Shinobu Terajima is so very good as Setsuko, almost gleefully defying social expectations until events in the film take a dramatic turn. Hirayanagi really finds the right camera angles and pacing to match Terajima’s performance. The supporting cast is also pretty good, although Josh Hartnett felt a little too much like a younger Brad Pitt. The costumes and sets are integral to the story and well chosen, and I even dug the ending, as morbid as it is.

“Oh Lucy!” (2018) is a highly underrated Japanese drama about unmarried middle-aged women in Japan, and the social constraints and stigma they face. Atsuko Hirayanagi excels in her first feature-length film, transforming her short video into a wonderful and unexpected travel story. Fans of Japanese dramas, or fans of excellent independent film making, should definitely check out this film. It isn’t to be missed while it’s available for streaming.

Rotten Tomatoes: 100% (CERTIFIED)

Metacritic: 69

One Movie Punch: 9.0/10

Podcast: onemoviepunch.libsyn.com/episode-219-oh-lucy-2018

“Oh Lucy!” (2018)is not rated and is currently streaming on Hulu.

Episode 219 - Oh, Lucy! (2018)

Episode 418 - Suspiria (2018)

Episode 417 - Dear Ex (2018)

Episode 416 - Capernaum (2018)

Episode 415 - First Reformed (2017)

Episode 414 - Free Solo (2018)

Episode 413 - Black Panther (2018)

Episode 412 - Polar (2019)

Episode 411 - Mid90s (2018)

Episode 410 - Pick of the Litter (2018)

Episode 409 - The Old Man & The Gun (2018)

Episode 408 - Mirai (2018)

Episode 407 - Velvet Buzzsaw (2019)

Episode 406 - Moonlight (2016)

Episode 405 - Ánimas (2018)

Episode 404 - Terrified (2017)

Episode 403 - The Wife (2018)

Episode 402 - A Star is Born (2018)

Episode 401 - Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)

Episode 400 - Annihilation (2018)

Episode 399 - Ingrid Goes West (2017)

Joseph Dobzynski, Jr.

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