Moth-eaten Spring: A Dusty, Forgettable Afternoon

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, it depends on if you're in the mood for something that feels like finding an old, dried-up flower in the pages of a book you haven't opened in ten years. If you want high stakes or a twist, you’re going to be bored to tears. But if you like watching people sit around in rooms looking vaguely bothered by their own lives, you might get a kick out of it.

It’s the kind of movie that makes you want to sweep your floor afterward. It’s got that specific, quiet melancholy that reminds me a bit of the mood in One Touch of Nature, though maybe a bit less punchy.

The vibe

The pacing is… well, it’s not really pacing. It’s more like a slow stroll through a neighborhood where nothing happens. There’s a scene about halfway through where a character is just staring out a window, and I swear, I checked my watch three times. Then, suddenly, someone says something that changes the whole tone of the room. It’s weirdly effective, even if the transition felt like the camera operator just suddenly woke up.

The actors—Ryôichi Takeuchi and the rest—have this way of moving that feels very stage-bound. It’s not necessarily bad, just… stiff. Like everyone is trying not to wrinkle their clothes.

Random thoughts

• The lighting in the living room scenes is surprisingly moody, almost like they were trying to save money on electricity.
• I keep thinking about the way Tatsuo Saitō holds his tea cup. It’s a tiny detail, but he does it like the cup is made of glass that might shatter if he breathes too hard.
• The background extras in the street shots look like they are actively trying not to look at the camera. It’s distracting once you notice it.
• Is the dialogue meant to be this dry, or is it just the subtitles? Sometimes it feels like they’re reading a grocery list to each other.

There’s a moment near the end that almost hits you, but then the movie cuts away to someone walking down a hallway for way too long. It’s frustrating! It’s like the director was terrified of us actually feeling something for more than a second.

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s not even a particularly good film by modern standards. But there’s something about the moth-eaten feel of it that stays with you. It’s a bit like watching Two Girls Wanted, but without the spark. 🎞️

Watch it on a rainy Sunday when you’ve run out of chores. Just don’t expect to be changed by it. It’s just… a movie. And that’s fine.