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hello friends,
today i watched Omakase directed by Tristan Au on Not Even Emily's channel, which can be found here.
it's roughly a 20-minute short film on parental relationships, being an asian American, and finding yourself :) you can read more about the film and main cast here.
I can't say I relate to everything in this film but I do understand the main character, natsumi's, discomfort when parents and others ask about your future plans and future relationships, particularly romantic relationships. the concept of dating is a taboo thing in asian communities and it's worse when you're a girl. my male counterparts seem to be having an easier time talking about dating (╬≖_≖)
this is slightly offtrack to what the film covers but i felt annoyed at first when i was asked cheeky questions about my relationship status and if i've been hiding a boyfriend being their backs. eventually, i came out as queer to my friends and i became uncomfortable with the idea of me having a boyfriend. i would laugh at their questions but now, i have to try and hide a look of disgust at the slight thought of me bringing a boyfriend home and acting all lovey dovey with him.
anyways (spoilers)
i love how omakase means "I Leave The Details Up to You”. it's a great thing to keep in the back of your head when watching the film.
the film is fantastic. mark irked me so much and it was excrutiating watching the dinner scene. i kept begging for it to end because gawddd. i was anxious watching mark interact with natsumi when she came back from her phone call with her mom and he was slightly (?) drunk. i was waiting for some god awful racist comment or violence but thank god natsumi just left the restuarant.
i understand how natsumi can feel defeated when talking with her mom and kind of giving up in telling her mom how she truly feels. i understand the same repetitive questions that i get asked from family members even though i give them the same answer each time. i understand the defeated "okay" or dạ (yes in vietnamese) i would give when there's nothing else to say except that to quell their pestering.
to me, there's two ways to interpret it when natsumi tells ika "i don't remember the last time i laughed like this". from dealing with her mom to her atrocious date, ika is a breath of fresh air and a reminder that you don't have to settle for something you dont want. laughing with ika proves that her life isnt as disastrious like her mom says and that natsumi doesnt have to date these shitty men.
there's some great shots in the film, especially the shots when the food were being presented and the bus stop scene (especially the bus stop scene). natsumi and ika's interactions were fantasticccc at the bus stop scene.
my ass started crying at this scene where:
Natsumi, after asking Ika how could she always recognize her at the restuarant: Because in this big city, you meet so many people...
Ika: And the only face i choose to remember is yours.
like bruh dont do this to meeee me and who. me and who!!!!! ika was so smooth and romantic with that line
like yeah at this point maybe im far from the true message and intention but!! the bus stop scene was so intimate and lovely and a great bond has been formed between the two during this. it warms my heart to see how the two interact :') like yeah!! leave the details up to me! i can only imagine what happened between them two right after this night. the growth of their relationship...endless possibilities.
other things i'd like to note. ika and natsumi's stiff and formal interactions at the beginning of the film to them at the bus stop scene where theyre so much closer emotionally and physically at the end.
natsumi looking at ika in the beginning of the film and another time before natsumi ditches mark at the restuarant. something something ika is the brighter side and how she's right there within natsumi's reach.
dont smoke kids but smoking is a GREAT aesthetic lmao. it just envokes a particular feeling within me when i see it in media like this.
i like how ika is taller and has sharper and more defined features paired with her (subjectively) younger, more trendy style clothing and hair compared to natsumi who is shorter, has softer and rounder features and wears more pristine, formal clothing (which goes well with her occupation as well). its great character distinction and im itching to paint a frame from the bus stop scene.
anyways ive spent like two hours trying to get my thoughts down and hopefully i got my point across <3
8:54 PM
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