Kokoro – Movie Review & Film Summary

The protagonist, referred to only as I, is an aspiring writer. His wife, known simply as She, met him ten years ago. Back then, both were in their final year of university. They became close during a round of job interviews. Now, they're happily married and expecting their first child. The couple is excited about the baby's arrival.

The protagonist isn't a famous author, but he has picked up a few literary awards along the way. He still loves to write anyway, even without the fame. Lately, he has felt the urge to start a new story. It's loosely inspired by his past. His wife is curious and wants to know more, but he keeps his answers vague. All he says is that she's part of the story. According to him, she already knows it.

Ten years earlier, the protagonist was living with his best friend, simply known as He. They met at university, but his friend eventually dropped out and started working as a bartender. Even so, they continued to share a home. Back then, the protagonist was a broke writer. He often wondered how his friend could afford such a nice place on a bartender's salary. There was never any answer. Every now and then, the protagonist would hear his friend crying in the shower. It was obvious He struggled with something, yet I chose not to ask.

The protagonist eventually introduces She to He. At the time, she was only a friend, not his future wife. The three of them get along easily, and begin spending time together as a group. Although they have fun together, She has made an observation. She notices how close He and I are. She wonders out loud if she'll ever have a bond like theirs. The protagonist quickly changes the subject, unable to give her an honest answer.

Back then, He and I seemed inseparable. That illusion shatters one evening. It starts off harmless enough, with the two of them hanging out at home. He jokes that he wants to be a character in I's next novel. I fires back with a teasing comment, saying his friend isn't interesting enough. The joke hits harder than expected. In response, He reveals a shocking truth about his real job, but the confession changes their relationship forever.

Kokoro opens in a way that almost tricks you. Married man. Pregnant wife. Domestic bliss. You may wonder if you're watching the wrong genre. Hey, where's the BL? But oh, it's there. Most of the movie actually focuses on the university roommate from ten years ago. They were "roommates". They were "best friends". They were very, very "platonic". The kind of platonic that makes you tilt your head and go… sure. In another universe, they might have been lovers. In this timeline, he'll be remembered as The One Who Got Away.

Kokoro is for those who live for angsty indie movies. If you enjoy quiet suffering and unresolved yearning, welcome home. The sadness kicks in almost immediately. Married man. Baby on the way. And yet, his brain is stuck in the past, thinking about a maybe-lover… A what-if relationship… In every scene, the mood gets heavier. You can practically feel your shoulders slumping. The filmmaker leans into the melancholic atmosphere. Soft visuals. Dim lighting. An artsy blur that makes everything look like a memory. Watching it, I felt strangely contemplative. A little more fragile. That's the kind of spell this movie casts.

Here's the issue with Kokoro. The movie keeps telling us these two guys were best friends. Supposedly, they had a special bond. Yet, I never saw their so-called connection. Are they friendly roommates? Sure. But close enough to be soulmates? I'm not convinced. The leads lack meaningful interactions with each other. They don't have deep chats. They don't flirt or show any affection. They don't seem close at all. This film wants me to sob over a lost romance, but it skips the part where the couple falls in love. There's just no intimacy between them, physically or emotionally.

The movie is mostly told from the protagonist's perspective. Yet, his love interest remains too mysterious. We pick up a few details about him here and there… But never enough to make him feel like a complex character. Who is he!? I still don't know his personality or backstory. Later, there's a big reveal about his scandalous job. The film treats it like OMG! Plot twist! I wanted more than just shock value. What led him to this career? Why is he doing this line of work? Was it desperation? Circumstance? Instead of exploring anything deeply, the story drops the bomb and moves on.

The movie's climax is an intense confrontation. Secrets get exposed! Emotions are about to explode! This is the most dramatic scene. The moment that decides whether the film shines or not. With a strong performance, it can win major points. Unfortunately, Kouhei Higuchi tries too hard. His acting seems incredibly forced, pulling me out of immersion. He had the emotional core of the story in his hands. And for me, he didn't deliver. On the flip side, his co-stars (Takuya Kusakawa & Natsuko) feel natural in their roles. I liked how both of them carried their characters.

Kokoro has a sad ending, at least from a BL perspective. I do think the last few scenes are beautifully shot. They have such an artsy vibe, giving the conclusion a perfectly bittersweet tone. We also get confirmation that there are romantic feelings between the leads… But why did it take the entire movie to reveal this? I wanted to see their connection throughout the film, not just in the final moments. The lack of romance has significantly lowered my opinion of Kokoro. It tries to tell a sad love story, but it doesn't actually show the characters falling in love.