What happens when three by chance meetings turn into moments of self realisation? Japanese director and writer Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy provides clues, but no answers.
The triptych film centres on emotions lost and rediscovered over the years bringing along with it consequences of past decisions. Life is based on decisions.
The second story, Door Wide Open, in my opinion the strongest of the three, concerns a plot of revenge and humans abilities to injure ourselves actively and passively. Actor Kiyohiko Shibukawa’s melancholic performance as an acclaimed university professor stands out. His character’s incapability of escaping from an emotional box was memorable.
Magic, the first story, concerns intertwined relationships and outcomes.
The last of the trio, Once Again, is about reconnecting, longing, then rationalisation.
Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy runs for 121 minutes.
4 Stars out of 5.
Neopa Inc and Fictive LLC.
