In recent days, Netflix fans have been going crazy over the revenge masterpiece The Glory. With a gripping and intense script full of steamy scenes, the film truly takes viewers to the heights of every emotion.
After watching The Glory, audiences might want to regain their balance with a truly healing work. If you feel the same way, then Call Me Chihiro, starring the muse Kasumi Arimura, will be the perfect choice.
Call Me Chihiro: A Lens Reflecting Modern Society’s Issues
Call Me Chihiro tells the story of Aya, a girl who once worked in prostitution under the stage name Chihiro. Chihiro carries a heartbreaking past. She comes from a dysfunctional family, to the extent that when her mother passed away, Chihiro felt no sadness, no tears, and no regrets—only an overwhelming sense of emptiness. She even felt indifferent at her mother’s funeral.
Chihiro first entered a massage parlor on a tragic day, a day when, had she not stepped inside, she might have ended her life. In reality, the film does not delve into the painful details of her past but focuses on portraying the character’s psychological state in the present and how she helps others with her compassion and kindness.
After leaving her past behind, Chihiro reforms and applies for a job at a bento shop. Although she once held a profession looked down upon by society, that does not mean Chihiro is a person of no integrity. The shop owner saw the kind soul in Chihiro and gave her a chance to start anew. However, not everyone is as forgiving and generous.
Chihiro faces ridicule from others. Some students claim they would never eat food made by a prostitute. A colleague, an elderly woman, makes snide remarks to Chihiro, implying that her past experience would mean she knows how to please male customers.
Of course, no one would feel comfortable in such a situation, and neither does Chihiro. Nonetheless, she always tries to face everything with the most positive attitude possible.
Another issue addressed in Call Me Chihiro is the patriarchal mentality still present in some men. This problem is illustrated through the story of Seo Kuniko, a close friend of Chihiro.
Seo Kuniko was born into a wealthy family. Her father is a successful man, while her mother is a talented woman who holds a culinary degree and can prepare a perfectly balanced nutritious meal, yet dedicates herself entirely to the family.
From the outside, Seo Kuniko seems to live in a perfect environment. However, only she knows how suffocating it is to live with a father who treats his words as “holy orders,” while her mother endures excessively, to the point where forgetting to bring soy sauce for her husband feels like a grave sin.
Chihiro also helps Satake Makoto, a boy living with his single mother. This mother is so busy that she has no time to understand and care for her child properly. These are just three of the issues that the production team wants to evoke for the audience through the film. In fact, almost every character that Chihiro interacts with has their own struggles. Chihiro herself carries loneliness, emptiness, and haunting wounds. However, she is the one who heals everyone.
A Gentle Story with Impressive Performances from the Cast, Especially Kasumi Arimura
Addressing many heavy issues, yet through a slow, calm storytelling approach and beautiful cinematography of daily life in Japan, Call Me Chihiro still gives viewers a gentle feeling.
Regarding the performances of the cast, it must be said that all members did well in their roles. Special mention goes to the two child actors, Toyoshima Hana (15 years old) and Shimada Tetta (9 years old)—though young, their performances were not awkward at all. Particularly, the pure beauty and expressive ability that the lead actress Arimura Kasumi showcases is truly the biggest highlight of Call Me Chihiro.
In the role of Chihiro, the 1993-born actress delivers a very nuanced, natural, and pleasant performance. She does an excellent job of portraying the character’s psychology, allowing the audience to see the transformative change in Chihiro.
Throughout the film, viewers witness a Chihiro who appears optimistic on the outside but hides sadness and loneliness within. However, by the end, she becomes a woman truly freed from the shackles of her past and ready to step confidently toward a bright future.
Overall, Call Me Chihiro is a profound, meaningful healing film. If you are a fan of Japanese cinema, this is a work you should not miss.
The film Call Me Chihiro is currently streaming on Netflix.
Source: Netflix