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Fantastic Fest capsule: “A Boy and His Samurai”
“Adorable” isn’t a word that anyone in their right mind would associate with Fantastic Fest.
“Asian?” Definitely. Plenty of Asian horror and gangster fare for everyone.
But “family” isn’t — can’t take the kids to “Human Centipede II.” Or almost anyone, really.
And yet, one of the best movies at this year’s Fantastic Fest is the adorable, Asian, family-ready “A Boy and His Samurai.”
Directed by Yoshihiro Nakamura (“Fish Story,” “Golden Slumber”), “A Boy and His Samurai” is the kind of live-action general audience movie that just isn’t made in the United States anymore. If you’re seeing a picture with this level of skillful sweetness, it probably has a Pixar logo on it.
Yusa (Shiori Kutsuna) is a single mom living in small apartment with her six-year old son, Tomoya (the almost superhumanly cute Fuku Suzuki). Like many single mothers, she is tired most of the time, her job affording her time to microwave dinner and that’s about it.
One day, she and her son see a man standing on the sidewalk looking quite lost. He is Kijima Yasube (Japanese TV star Ryo Nishikido), a samurai from the Edo Period who has been transported to 2009 Tokyo thanks to a rather effective prayer to the Buddha.
Profoundly confused yet deeply polite like any good samurai, Tasube has no idea what to make of the modern world. Tomoya, abandoned by his own father, is intrigued by this new potential role model.
Feeling honor-bound to help out around the house, Yasube soon takes over domestic chores, including cooking (his voice-over meditates on “The Way of the Supermarket”) and discovers a knack for desserts.
Charming without ever becoming grating, “A Boy…” finds its footing early, its deft, light touch never wavering. It is essentially a romantic comedy, but never a crass and particularly sexual one — the paternal love story is about Tomoya and Yasube more than the adults. Suzuki’s grin could melt glaciers, while Kutsuna and Nishikido develop a chemistry that never feels forced.
There are subtitles, but it’s precision entertainment for ages 5 to I-was-at-the-Randy-Newman-ACL-taping. Can’t say that about “Yogi Bear.”
“A Boy and His Samurai” screens for the final time at 5:45 p.m. today.
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