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| ©Kazuya Konomoto /The Last Blossom Production Committee |
Running Time: 90 Minutes
Certification: 15
Starring: Kaoru Kobayashi, Junki Tozuka, Hikari Mitsushima, Pierre Taki, Yoshiko Miyazaki, Hideaki Murata, Hiroki Yasumoto, Soma Saito, Kōta Nakayama, Natsuki Hanae
Released back in 2021, Odd Taxi was an acclaimed anime series which depicted a crime noir within a world of anthropomorphic animals. Following that single season and its feature follow-up, director Baku Kinoshita and writer Kazuya Konomoto have teamed up again for an original work entitled The Last Blossom.
The film opens within a prison, where a solitary cell shows elderly Yakuza member Akutsu on the verge of a lonely death. Despite the end being near, he claims to not be done, and is intent on turning things around. This is met with mockery by the only other being in the cell, a talking balsam flower, but Akutsu disputes that while recounting his past.
Viewers are then taken to August, 1986, where a younger Akutsu has moved into a shabby apartment found for him by Tsutsumi, his sworn brother. Joining Akutsu within this location is Nana, a lonely woman accompanied by her newborn son, Kensuke. With a talking balsam flower growing in the yard, the group watch a fireworks display, something that marks the beginning of their shared life.
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| ©Kazuya Konomoto /The Last Blossom Production Committee |
As he reflects upon the past, it is clear that Akutsu has fond memories of the humble life that he lived. The apartment may be worse for wear, but this Yakuza member had easy going dreams about his life, complete with his hobby of hand-drawing a map of Japan to include second-hand stores. It may not be a life that many people have dreamed of, but it is clear that the peace and stillness felt like a dream come true for the protagonist.
He is also faced with his regrets, with the main one being his struggle to admit his love for Nana. While he keeps his true feelings silent, Akutsu enjoys the moments that he spends with the single mother, and how he acts as a father figure to Kensuke. Whether it is through games of Othello, or the use of the song Stand By Me, there is a natural sweetness which effectively captures these heartfelt bonds.
But the happy days cannot last, as Akutsu feels he owes everything to Tsutsumi, despite the nasty edge lurking within his sworn brother. It is clear to see how the pieces connect from the past memories to the lonely present, and one wishes that there were more opportunities for the story to surprise or stand apart. It also becomes evident how the balsam plant struggles to factor into the story, with the prison-set scenes being the only moments of prominence. Yet, it all comes together for a heartfelt story about how happiness can be shared moments with those you love. In that respect, The Last Blossom is a blooming success.
The Last Blossom is available in cinemas now
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