Good Stripes

(Good Stripes, グッド・ストライプス)

UK Premiere

Midori (Akiko Kikuchi) and Masao (Ayumu Nakajima) are a couple in their late 20s who have reached a ‘four-year itch’ in their relationship. Finding their life together has become dull, and their personalities irreconcilable, they consider breaking up. Just then, Midori discovers she is pregnant. Feeling obligated to stay together for the sake of the baby, they unenthusiastically decide to marry. As they prepare for their shotgun wedding and learn more about each other’s backgrounds, vast differences in their values and upbringing arise…but so too does a new found understanding.

In her widely-acclaimed second feature, promising director and screenwriter Yukiko Sode tells an original and charming love story that provides an insight into Japan’s increasing practice of weddings expedited by an unexpected pregnancy.

長年の付き合いですっかりマンネリ状態になったカップルの緑と真生。別れることも考えていた矢先、緑の妊娠が発覚する。子供のために結婚を決意した2人は、改めてお互いの生まれや育ちの違いを知ることになり……。結婚を控えた男女の気持ちをリアルに描いたラブ・ストーリー。(Japanese synopsis by Eikoku News Digest)

2015/118 min/English Subtitles