Blindly In Love

(Hakoiri musuko no koi, 箱入り息子の恋)

UK Premiere

Kentaro (Gen Hoshino) is an introverted thirtysomething man, drifting through life without much ambition. Unassertive and socially inept, he has no friends to speak of and whiles away his days in his boyhood room playing video games and caring for a pet frog. Concerned for their childlike son, Kotaro’s mother and father attend a matchmaking event in the hopes of arranging an omiai (formal marriage interview). They finally find a beautiful bachelorette, Naoko (Kaho), and are surprised to discover that she is blind. Naoko’s father, a high-earning salaryman is adamant that Kotaro is not the right fit but, despite this hurdle, the two singles meet and begin a tentative romance. More hurdles arrive in succession – will their love survive?

Masahide Ichii’s tender romantic drama gives centre-stage to the frustrating dilemma of wanting to grow up, but not knowing how, and illustrates the current issue of an increasing number of eternal bachelors in Japan.

星野源が、「彼女いない歴＝年齢」の気弱な市役所勤めの男性を演じるロマンティック・コメディー。息子を心配する両親が親同士の代理見合いに参加したことから、ある女性と知り合った健太郎。彼女が盲目であることを知った両親の杞憂をよそに、健太郎は初めての恋に目覚める。(Japanese synopsis by Eikoku News Digest)

2013/117 min/English Subtitles