[Is A.] (2004) User Reviews

Loopholes in Japanese juvenile laws make criminals out of youngsters.

[FilmCriticLalitRao · 7/10 · 28 August 2009]

If there is a prize for strangest film title of all times,it is for sure that Japanese film "Is A" would win it.This strange film was shown at world film festival Montreal and International Film Festival of Kerala."Is A" marks the beginning of Japanese director Kenichi Fujiwara's directorial career.He has earlier worked in various television productions."Is A" is a film about how loopholes in Japanese law system ensure that violent crimes committed by young people go unnoticed.This is something which happens to a young boy who wreaks havoc in the lives of many innocent people by carrying out a daring bomb attack.This is a realistic element in the film but due to some glaring gaps in the weak script viewers fail to make out whether they are watching a thriller with dramatic elements or a drama with thrilling elements.In this film,there is more focus on the portrayal of young children in Japanese families especially at a time when adults seem to have distanced themselves from youngsters."Is A" is a stylish thriller but somehow it is a mystery why it did not click neither in Japan nor at various international film festivals.It is a must for those film fans who would like to discover unusual films.