I will speak in broad terms at first for the sake of avoiding spoilers, but will still tag the review as many themes are not immediately obvious.
The film begins slowly but certainly attempts to establish a plethora of motifs relatable to a young, queer audience: being used for sex and in general, questioning one's own value, and even wishing that you possessed the genitals necessary to procreate with the bodies which you are attracted to. Our protagonist, Shima, struggles with all of these things. He, at times, says he hates himself.
Again, not here to FOCUS on certain key points of the plot - tangible events were not what I had such an issue with. I had an issue with its conclusion, or lack thereof. This is where we get more specific, so please, stop reading if that is a problem.
If this movie had a healthy relationship, a man who once thought he was straight and that he needed a wife falling in love with his new coworker and then opening up to him, it would have received a 7. Nothing is too impressive, but everything is more than sufficient: setting, crisp and precise (or absent) dialogue, et cetera.
Unfortunately, it didn't.
Shima's lover never once throughout the movie says that he is not straight. Now, in the world we live in, I am very much all for beliefs which counter our essentialist ideas that labels are necessary, but this movie was not aware of these conventions, it was ignorantly conforming.
Shima is an anxious young man. He struggles with depression, anxiety, and compulsive thoughts stemming from paranoia. When he opens up to his boss about how their relationship has been nothing but sex, his companion throws it in his face. All of a sudden, the single comment about the businessman wanting a family because his died is the center of it all. Everything is about the family, not the heteronormativity insidiously present; he doesn't even comfort Shima's many valid worries. Instead, he critiques them and insinuates nothingness.
In the end, this remains. He says something along the lines of "You'll make a good wife." once they reunite. This was the 'happy ending'. Still no apologies, just a one-sided approach on Shima's end. He said he would go with their flow even if things might end, and his boyfriend never comforted him, just selfishly glad that he was loved back. So many signs of an abusive relationship. Ugh
I have been studying Asian queer film and sexuality in societies for half a decade, now. These gender roles contorting to gay relationships is not a sight unseen. As a matter of fact, it is universal, but particularly present in films like this.
In short, the problems Doushitemo furetakunai (2014) has are common in its genre, field, and setting. Unfortunately, its audience—a demographic primarily consisting of young women looking to reclaim their threatened sexuality from a society which disenfranchises them with violence and lacking autonomy—sometimes serves a purpose not immediately obvious.
If you have a critical eye or are a queer youth looking for a film to warm your heart, this is NOT it. If you are a woman, young or old, looking for one of those familiar tales which seem to entertain you infinitely, this will be an 8 out of 10.
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