THE PLOT:


I am a huge fan of classic cinema from the 1930’s through 1950’s, so the beautiful heroine of a black/white film coming to life to have an adventure in the modern world (the 1950s, but still considered modern in reference to the movie) was brilliant. It brings fresh life to all my favorite tropes. We have the rich chaebol princess looking for a change in her life. Forced cohabitation and work-related stressors. We have the fight between succeeding in a career or choosing love. All the basic plot points are there but it seems completely different when you add the whimsical elements into the mix.

CINEMATOGRAPHY:


The contrast of color with the black and white of the princess, Miyuki, was BRILLIANT! I especially appreciated how all the color seemed to be intensified whenever Kenji and Miyuki were together. It felt like the color was a character in itself with the way it was used to progress the plot.

CHARACTER OBSERVATIONS:


There was not a ton of side characters that took my attention away from our OTP (One True Pairing). The one exception is Shundo, the superstar of the movie company where Kenji works. Shundo’s character is exactly what they mean when using the term “scene stealer.” There was something about Shundo’s confidence that was charming and I couldn’t help but fall in love with this character. Who wouldn’t love a guy who wanted to create a horror musical about reincarnation on a whim? Is it too much to ask for a sequel based on Shundo and his ginormous ego?

FAVORITE SCENE:


I loved so many various moments in this movie. However, I had two that really stood out. My first favorite scene was Miyuki ordering Kenji to take her out into the world so she could explore all the colors. Her being black and white and sneaking around the movie studio was delightful.



My other favorite scene was the final ten minutes or so of the film. I won’t give details since that would spoil the story. But I did tear up multiple times–tears of joy from watching such a poignant and romantic movie.

OVERALL REACTION:


I give this movie a 8.5/10 for its creative plot, amazing cinematography and two characters that will stick with me for years to come. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who loves watching a sweet romance. The relationship between our two leads was delightful from beginning to end, and engaging the whole way through.