The craziest week of their lives
On Monday morning, Yoshikawa (Van Maruy) wakes up at his desk after working all weekend again. Under pressure, this young executive devotes body and soul to his advertising business, even if it means sacrificing his personal life. But this week he noticed that something was wrong…
Every little gesture, every event seems to repeat itself tirelessly. Could he and his agency colleagues be caught in a time loop? Willing to do anything to break free from it and regain their freedom, they must work together to find the source of this curse and break out of their routine.
Funny, ingenious and exciting first feature film
For their first feature film, director Ryo Takebayashi and screenwriter Saeri Natsuo chose a familiar setting. And for good reason, years before stepping behind the camera, they were themselves in the shoes of Yoshika and his colleagues, ignoring the time loop at the center of the film.
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“We thought about a workplace where employees are constantly subject to deadlines and came up with an advertising agency, explanation in Rio TakebayaTo be as close as possible to the professional world familiar to us and to be able to describe the situations as best as possible.“
For these two former advertising agency employees, the plot of their first film project seemed obvious. In addition to their knowledge of the presented professional environment, the introduction of a time loop into the scenario enabled an in-depth exploration of the notion of repetitiveness and alienation in everyday professional life.
“I always thought the time cycle was a deep subjectdeclares in Rio Takebaya In reference to Un Jour sans fin. It’s an unreal setting and story, but this movie really amazes me. I wanted to keep the success feeling like Monday, but was I able to transfer it to weekly times?“
Transfer successday without end On a weekly scale, the filmmaker succeeds with flying colors, ingeniously multiplying the comic effects produced by the repetition of the same events and the variation of rhythm that surrounds them with numerous events, thus never tiring the audience. But where? in Rio Takebaya And screenwriter Saeri Natsuo manages to achieve brilliance by matching the emotions of their model signed to Harold Ramis in 1993.
After a really fun first half, Like a Monday takes on a powerful moral as agency workers, transcending their individuality, come together for the common good. Then a sublime reconciliation with the child spirit still dormant within them becomes possible, as well as an overcoming of the alienation that has blinded them.
Funnily enough, Like Monday, Ryo Takebayashi’s first film, is now in theaters.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.