Oh Lucy! is an interesting movie to put it into plain terms. Off the bat the thing I appreciated about this movie is the visual transitions between the scenes. Even in the very beginning the scene does not change after the suicide until another train can be heard moving. Further on in almost every scene the transition happens either with a door opening, vehicle moving, or when Setsuko (Lucy) begins to move or walk. The transitions are subtle, but after further reflection I noticed it happening more and more.
Another thing of Oh Lucy! that stood out was the circular journey the Setsuko goes through. She begins her journey in a train station witnessing a man take his own life. Throughout this straight downhill or a cycle she somehow finds herself in another train station, but instead of witnessing a man take his life she sees herself perhaps start hers again with the real hero of this movie, Takeshi Komori (Tom). There is something about this circular journey that really elevates the movies story for me.
Finally, the thing I appreciate most about Oh Lucy! is the fact that she does not win. One can argue that her ending with Tom is a win for her, but Setsuko set out to California to be with John. She finds him and never once does John show interest in her. The closest thing was their moment in the car which ends with John basically telling her it was a mistake. She embarks on this journey to win the love of a man she just met and she does not get it. It was a bold choice from director and writer Atsuko Hirayanagi to create this movie where the protagonist does not get the thing she desires. I wholeheartedly believe that this choice sets her film apart from others following a similar story, and that’s the type of thing I want to see more of.
7/10 for overall rating. There were bits of the story that seemed over-the-top and I felt as though it dragged during the motel bits, but still an enjoyable film.
Zachary Dalton and Reviews 