Manji

A devoted wife, Rika, finds her life shattered when her husband, Kenichi, is diagnosed with a terminal illness. As his condition deteriorates, Rika grapples with the emotional turmoil and the difficult decisions that lie ahead. The film explores themes of love, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Manji was met with a mixed to positive reception from critics, who praised its emotional depth and strong performances, particularly from Yûko Takeuchi. However, some found the pacing to be slow at times, and the narrative to be overly sentimental.

• Praised for its powerful and emotional portrayal of a wife's devotion.

• Yûko Takeuchi's performance as the central character was widely lauded.

• Some critics found the film's deliberate pacing and melodramatic elements to be a drawback.

Google audience: Audience reviews for 'Manji' often highlight its poignant story and the moving performances, with many viewers appreciating its honest depiction of love and loss. Some audience members noted that the film's emotional intensity can be quite overwhelming.

The film is based on the novel of the same name by Japanese author Natsuo Kirino, though it is a different story from Kirino's more famous novel 'Grotesque', which was also adapted into a film titled 'Manji' in 2017.