📋 Movie Overview

• Title: Plastic

• Release Date: October 4, 2024 (Japan & limited international)

• Genre: Drama / Music / Romance

• Director:

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  Daisuke Miyazaki

• Cast: Takuma Fujie (Jun), An Ogawa (Ibuki), Sumire Ashina, Kyôko Koizumi

• Where To Watch: In theaters & digital platforms from October 2024

1. Plot Summary

In Plastic, teenage Jun, a struggling musician, transfers to Nagoya and finds connection with Ibuki through their shared love of the fictional 1970s glam rock band Exne Kedy. Their bond deepens amid youthful hope, but as their paths diverge—college for Ibuki and music for Jun—their relationship strains. A surprise announcement of the band’s reunion reopens emotional doors.

2. Notable Elements

• Music-driven storytelling: The film pulses with glam-rock tracks by Kensuke Ide, capturing nostalgic energy and defining the mood.

• Authentic emotional beats: Early scenes—Ibuki riding her bike to a familiar busker’s song—feel intimate and genuine.

• Visual rhythm: Director Miyazaki skilfully balances reflective, still frames with dynamic concert sequences, creating visual harmony.

• Realism in growth: The time jumps from their hopeful teens to the disillusion of early adulthood, heightened by the backdrop of COVID-19 isolation.

3. Themes & Messages

• Nostalgia versus adulthood: The film explores how youthful passion can define identities but also create disillusionment as adult responsibilities take hold. Music as emotional anchor: For Jun and Ibuki, the band’s reunion is more than a concert—it’s a chance to reconnect with a lost part of themselves.

• Cultural tension: By reviving 70s glam rock in modern Japan, Plastic examines how music transcends generational and cultural boundaries.

4. Personal Impressions

👍 Strengths:

• The pairing of Jun and Ibuki is natural and emotionally compelling.

• Music sequences feel lived-in—energetic, unpolished, and heartfelt.

• Thoughtful pacing allows both quiet moments and bursts of emotional release.

👎 Weaknesses:

• The second half may feel sluggish, as the early chemistry loses steam amid suburban malaise.

• Some plot shifts, like during the pandemic, feel underdeveloped compared to their emotional weight.

5. Audience Recommendations

• Highly recommended for: Fans of Before Sunrise, Once, or any music-driven, character-based drama.

• Less suited to: Viewers seeking plot-heavy or fast-paced stories—this is more about mood and emotion.

6. Conclusion & Rating

Plastic is a bittersweet ode to young love, nostalgia, and the power of music to shape identity. Its melancholic tone and understated performances linger long after the credits. While it loses some momentum later on, it resonates deeply with anyone who’s hel