Ameya tanuki: A quiet, weird dream you might actually like

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, it depends on if you like movies that feel like a Sunday afternoon nap. If you need a fast plot or big explosions, stay away. You’ll probably hate it. But if you’re the kind of person who likes watching dust motes dance in the light, this is for you. It’s definitely not for everyone, but it’s got a weird, soft heart.

The whole thing feels like it was filmed in someone’s backyard. In a good way. The camera moves slow, almost like it’s scared to wake up the characters.

Small moments that stuck

• There’s a scene involving a bowl of noodles that lasts way too long. I think the actor actually forgot their line, but they just kept eating. It felt strangely real.
• The lighting in the kitchen scenes is just… nice. It doesn't look like expensive studio gear. It looks like my grandmother's house.
• One of the tanuki costumes looks like it was bought at a discount store in 1995. I loved it. It’s so obviously fake that it becomes charming.

Sometimes, the movie just stops. Like it forgets it’s supposed to be telling a story. I don't mind that, but I can see why a normal person would get annoyed. It’s not trying to win any awards, that’s for sure.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Ameya tanuki (1931) through its definitive frames.

It reminded me a bit of the slow, hazy feeling in Spring Fever, where nothing is really happening but you can't look away. It’s got that same weird energy.

I found myself wondering if they even had a script for the second half. The dialogue just drifts off into nonsense about the weather. It’s frustrating, but also kind of relaxing? I don't know. 🦝

If you’re looking for high stakes, go watch The Knockout instead. But if you want to feel like you’re sitting on a porch somewhere quiet, give this a try. It’s not a masterpiece. It’s barely a movie. But I liked it.