Unloved (2001)

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Former screenwriter for Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Kunitoshi Manda makes his directorial debut with this understated drama about a woman who is defiantly happy where she is in life. A skilled employee at the local city hall, Mitsuko (Yuko Moriguchi) refuses to take the civil service exam that would advance… More Former screenwriter for Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Kunitoshi Manda makes his directorial debut with this understated drama about a woman who is defiantly happy where she is in life. A skilled employee at the local city hall, Mitsuko (Yuko Moriguchi) refuses to take the civil service exam that would advance her career -- much to the chagrin of her boss and co-workers. Her work on a report catches the attention of a well-groomed owner of a wildly successful software company named Eiji (Toru Nakamura). After a year of being divorced, he dreams finding Ms. Right. When Mitsuko refuses his offers of employment, he asks her out on a date. Following a spontaneous night of lovemaking in her modest apartment, Eiji takes her to an exclusive boutique where he buys her a fabulously expensive cocktail dress with matching shoes. He then escorts her to an equally ritzy French restaurant, much to Mitsuko's growing apprehension. When Eiji ducks out of dinner on emergency business, she makes a beeline to the nearest homespun noodle shop. When they meet again, she gives Eiji back the dress and tells him that the high-roller lifestyle he circulates in just is not for her. A couple days later, Mitsuko runs into Hiroshi (Shunsuke Matsuoka), a 28-year-old slacker who spends his time working in a warehouse and strumming on his guitar. Mitsuko finds his lack of pretensions comforting. Yet when Eiji and Hiroshi finally meet, both are baffled while Mitsuko would choose a scruffy loser over life with the beautiful people. Fits of jealousy and insecurity ensue. This film was screened at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi