The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese – Movie Review & Ending Explained

Story Review

Riveting story

This movie is a tortured love story about a dysfunctional couple. Kyouichi is a serial adulterer incapable of honesty, while Imagase is an obsessive stalker with a jealous streak. They develop feelings in spite of triggering each other's worst qualities. For Kyouichi, he is insecure about commitment, and unable to come to terms with his same-sex attraction. For Imagase, he is vulnerable over his intense passion, with a crippling fear that his partner doesn't feel the same way.

These flawed yet complex characters drive the story in The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese. No, they aren't always likable. And no, their romance isn't exactly healthy either. Nevertheless, the two of them are compelling together with a volatile relationship dynamic that goes through many emotional ups and downs. It's a turbulent journey with lots of melodrama, betrayal, and mistrust, but also just as much joy, tenderness, and passion.

Romance Review

Exciting romance

The romance between Kyouichi and Imagase is exciting to watch because it can get quite naughty. Not many BL stories begin with a love interest blackmailing another man into kissing him. This isn't the healthiest start to a relationship, to put it mildly. Although it doesn't justify Imagase's actions, Kyouichi is pretty scummy himself, repeatedly cheating even after getting caught. The severity of Imagase's blackmail would've seemed a lot worse if Kyouichi wasn't just as morally questionable.

We don't know Kyouichi's thought process when he agreed to Imagase's outrageous offer at first. However, if you did it once and felt comfortable enough to kiss him again, this activity may not be something you're completely averse to. Even when Imagase went beyond the boundaries of their agreement (you didn't specify WHERE I can kiss, hehe~ 😛), Kyouichi put up surprisingly little resistance.

There's a big difference between letting him kiss you on the lips and letting him kiss you on your balls, so Kyouichi had every reason to push back. But he didn't.

Gay fantasy

Please don't be offended by what I'm going to say next, but the excitement also comes from the inappropriate fantasy of converting a straight guy. Let's be clear that I'm NOT endorsing this toxic concept. However, there's an undeniable appeal from winning over someone whom you never thought would reciprocate your feelings.

Imagine a handsome guy who's straight, married, and your university crush. And now, there's a possibility that he will get together with you. This is like an unreal once-in-a-lifetime scenario coming true.

It's almost inconceivable to think that Kyouichi could be coaxed into a kiss, sharing the same bed, or even sexual intercourse, but these events happened anyway. Each level of intimacy is like an adventure into unchartered territory, pushing the boundaries of how far Imagase can go before Kyouichi resists.

Kyouichi and Imagase

The fluidity in Kyouichi's sexuality was a pleasant surprise, as was his comfort in letting Imagase settle into his life routine. It just kinda happened naturally, and Imagase started hanging around the apartment until Kyouichi got used to his presence. Once the two of them became unofficial roommates, Kyouichi can be so surprisingly sweet sometimes. He'd initiate romantic gestures, offer spontaneous gifts, and drop intimate remarks that make Imagase's heart skip a beat.

Unfortunately, the problem with Kyouichi is that he won't commit to a relationship, unwilling to take that necessary step from 'friends with benefits' to 'out and proud lovers'. By this point, Imagase is already so fully invested in this romance that every rejection from Kyouichi feels triggering. Just when they finally made progress as a couple, Imagase senses that he's losing grasp of Kyouichi again. It worries him, it frightens him, and it drives him mad with anguish.

That is the heartbreaking tragedy of their romance. One of them is too guarded, while the other is too vulnerable. It results in a volatile relationship where neither is satisfied.

Acting Review

Ryo Narita

Is this the section where I get to gush over Ryo Narita as much as possible? Good, because I can do this all day. I thought his acting performance in The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese was remarkable on so many levels. Don't just take my word for it though. He actually won an award for his brilliant performance in this movie, so talent always wins. 🏆

First, let's talk about the extent of his physical transformation into the Imagase character. In real life, Ryo Narita is a pretty boy, like the prototype of a handsome, boyish, and clean-cut Japanese star. However, in the movie, he pulls off that unkempt, grungy, and moody look so distinctive of Imagase's character. He looks really different from his past roles.

I'm not just talking about the clothes or the side-swept bangs, but also his mannerisms, expressions, and entire demeanour. Here's an actor who really embodied the character, as if he adopted a whole new physical persona.

Imagase's portrayal

Ryo Narita had such a firm grasp over Imagase's personality, fully immersing himself into the mindset of this character. Imagase is not an easy role to pull off. This character is jealous, obsessive, and manipulative, driven by feelings of longing, anguish, and a desperate desire to be loved.

With a less capable actor, this portrayal could've veered off into a senseless, unlikable caricature. Yet, he captured the vulnerability perfectly well, with an underlying hint of belligerence that is true to his personality. He made this complicated character feel authentic, sympathetic, and ultimately poignant.

Best acting moment

And finally, the emotional complexity in his performance is so intricate and nuanced. I loved the emotions he portrayed when Kyouichi broke up with him, but I think his best performance was during a more minor moment earlier in the film. It was the scene right after Kyouichi gave him a bottle of wine for his birthday, which was a surprisingly romantic gesture that Imagase never anticipated.

At that moment, the actor's expression depicted a fascinating mosaic of emotions. He was surprised, confused, grateful, and overjoyed. However, there's also a hint of uncertainty about this fleeting moment of happiness and how long it will last. His reaction was so subtle yet nuanced, and I'm just amazed that he could convey so many intricacies in such a refined way.

In conclusion, Ryo Narita gave such an excellent all-around performance in The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese. I can rewatch this movie, again and again, knowing that I can look forward to his wonderfully nuanced portrayal each time.

Sex scenes

I want to highlight the steamy gay sex scenes in The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese, because this is not something that many actors would be comfortable doing on-screen. The sex scenes in the movie amazed me, because I never expected them to go that far in nudity and explicitness, with mushy sound effects no less. 😳 Yet, Tadayoshi Okura and Ryo Narita really put themselves out there, powering through these sexual encounters with astonishing ferocity.

Sex is a normal part of these characters' lives and the movie gladly shows it in explicit detail. There's no denying the raw sexual chemistry between the couple, with actors who are very, very, very comfortable at showing affection towards each other. You wouldn't see this capacity of passion typically in BL, and only rarely in some Western LGBT movies, as well as 18+ pornography.

In terms of physical intimacy, the boundaries are pushed to a new extreme and they've outdone themselves beyond what I could ever imagine.

Ending Review

Different from the manga

The film version of The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese has a sad ending, quite different from the original manga. This movie does not end with Kyouichi and Imagase getting back together after they broke up. Instead, Kyouichi has called off his relationship with Tamaki, and now he's committed to staying single until Imagase wants to take him back.

My first instinct after watching the movie was that I hated this ending. WTF!? No, make the two of them reunite again like in the manga! After some thought, I came to terms with the movie's ending, which seemed more fitting with the narrative. While I would've loved for Kyouichi and Imagase to just end up together happily ever after, this ending has a more thought-provoking message.

Poignant ending

And the more I thought about it, the more I appreciated the way this movie concluded. This ending is symbolically beautiful because it underlines Kyouichi's massive growth as a person since his relationship with Imagase. Before, he was a bed-hopping lothario who would cheat on his romantic partners without a second thought. Now, Kyouichi actually chooses to be single, after calling off the perfect heterosexual marriage to his ideal woman. He's sincere about waiting for Imagase no matter how long it takes.

The old Kyouichi would've just married Tamaki, dragging her along as he cheated behind her back. The new and improved Kyouichi ends this relationship with her, because he knows he only wants to commit to Imagase. He's sincere, he's decisive, and he's willing to wait for his ex-lover no matter how long it takes. Imagase waited for eight years until Kyouichi loved him back. Now, it's Kyouichi's turn to wait.

Ending explained

Sad ending

At first glance, The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese movie has a sad ending, because Kyouichi and Imagase don't end up together. By the end of the film, Kyouichi is alone. Imagase is miserable, and neither feels fulfilled without each other. Compared to the manga, where they reunite in a grand spectacle of love, this movie ending doesn't offer that blissful closure you'd want from a happy love story.

However, this ending isn't as bleak as it may seem. In fact, the movie carries a potentially hopeful message about the relationship. As Kyouichi makes significantly positive changes in his life, the ending hints that he'll have a healthier romance with Imagase if they ever get back together. As long as you believe Kyouichi and Imagase will find their way back to each other, there's a hopeful ending even if we don't see it happening on-screen.

Why Kyouichi & Imagase broke up

To understand the movie's ending, you have to look back at why Imagase left Kyouichi after their last sexual encounter. During their final conversation together, Kyouichi tells Imagase that he wants them to settle down together. He'll break off his engagement with Tamaki, ask Imagase to move in with him, and take their relationship seriously this time. In theory, this commitment was everything that Imagase ever wanted and it should've made him overjoyed.

The problem is that Imagase doesn't believe Kyouichi will actually stay committed to him. Given Kyouichi's previous romantic history and his track record with adultery, it's no surprise Imagase feels this way. In fact, their entire relationship was based on how Kyouichi lost interest in his wife and cheated on her. Imagase has witnessed his partner's unfaithfulness so many times in the past, and he doubts this time would be any different no matter how earnest Kyouichi might seem. As the old saying goes: once a cheater, always a cheater.

Imagase left because he doesn't want to be heartbroken when Kyouichi inevitably betrays him. This is the guy who already broke up with him once, the guy who won't be affectionate with him in public, and the guy who never had a successful relationship before. All the signs indicate that Kyouichi won't change from his old habits. It means Imagase will get sucked back into a vicious cycle of jealousy and obsession if Kyouichi starts dating again.

Ultimately, Imagase doesn't trust Kyouichi enough to think their relationship will succeed this time. And so, he bails out before going through another devastating heartbreak again.

Imagase vs. Tamaki

From the moment he met Tamaki, Imagase pegged this woman as a threat to Kyouichi's affections. He can't measure up against someone like her, whose personality is sweet, docile, and relentlessly chipper, almost everything that Imagase is not. He doesn't think Kyouichi would ever choose him over a heterosexual marriage with this perfectly tailored wife.

However, Imagase underestimated how much he means to Kyouichi. Although Tamaki tries so hard to please her fiancée, she cannot fill the void that Imagase left behind in his heart. Being with her only made Kyouichi realize how unhappy he was without Imagase in his life. It's clear to Kyouichi now that Imagase cannot be replaced simply with another woman (or another man, as his foray into a gay bar showed us).

Much like his marriage, Kyouichi's relationship with Tamaki is devoid of passion, a fact that was highlighted after the incredibly mind-blowing sex he had with Imagase. That sexual rendezvous with Imagase was the last nail in the coffin, confirming to Kyouichi that he can never love Tamaki with the same intensity.

Kyouichi and Tamaki

The moment where Kyouichi breaks up with Tamaki contrasts with an earlier scene where his wife asked for a divorce. With Chikako, she was the one who initiated the exchange. One of her complaints is Kyouichi's passiveness, letting their marriage deteriorate to the point that she can't endure the dreariness anymore. But with Tamaki, it was Kyouichi who ended the relationship quickly and decisively.

Learning from his past mistakes, he didn't want to drag along Tamaki in a passionless romance to the point where she'd resent him. Kyouichi could've married this woman, easily cheated on her, and strung her along until his ex came back. The old Kyouichi may have done just that. However, it shows a lot of character growth that he decides to end this relationship now. Kyouichi already knows he doesn't love Tamaki, so he won't give her false hope anymore.

In the past, his character was notorious for jumping from one relationship to the next. It's momentous for Kyouichi to decide that he would rather be single than settle with someone he doesn't love. He has changed from the start of the movie, becoming more responsible with his relationship management.

Ending symbolism

This brings us to the final shot of the movie. In this beautifully composed scene, Kyouichi sits alone in his apartment. There's no dialogue, no voiceover narration, and no explicit message about deciphering the ending. However, you will notice three important symbolic details in the movie ending:

• 1. Tamaki's curtains are gone. Those ugly blue drapes that she chose have disappeared from his apartment, replaced by the billowy white curtains that he used to have. It's a clear symbolic sign that Tamaki no longer has any influence over his life. Instead, Kyouichi wants to revert back to the old comfortable lifestyle that he shared with Imagase.
• 2. Imagase's ashtray is back. Previously, the movie has already established that the yellow ceramic ashtray is an emblem of Imagase. In the ending, we see Kyouichi washing this ashtray before placing it on the living room table. No longer is he hiding this ashtray in a cupboard, but he's proudly displaying it out in the open. The prominent placement shows that Kyouichi doesn't want to hide Imagase from his life anymore. Also, cleaning the ashtray indicates that Kyouichi wants to take better care of Imagase's memento, preserving the memory of his ex.
• 3. Kyouichi sits on Imagase's stool. The stool is Imagase's favourite spot in the apartment, where he used to sit with his knees up and observe the room. Sitting in this exact spot represents that Kyouichi wants to see things from Imagase's perspective. During the beach flashback, Imagase criticized him for not understanding how to fully love someone. As he sits on the stool in deep pensive thought, I'd like to believe Kyouichi is a little closer to understanding that feeling Imagase described.

Ending review

Hopeful ending

Let's be honest, Kyouichi and Imagase had a toxic relationship from the start. Even if they reunited in the end, there's no telling whether Kyouichi would cheat again. Maybe Imagase would get jealous for yet another time. Or perhaps the two of them would split up once more. Something in their relationship dynamic needed to change, or else they were probably gonna end up in the same self-destructive place as their first breakup.

Fortunately, Kyouichi changed a lot as a person by the end of the movie. He doesn't want to cheat anymore, he doesn't want to find a new romantic partner, and he doesn't want to waste time flip-flopping between relationships. Kyouichi has decided that he only wants to commit to Imagase, even if there's no guarantee that his ex will want him back. And if he can't be with Imagase, then Kyouichi would rather be alone than shack up with anyone else.

Kyouichi is making drastic changes in his life to prove to Imagase that he wants a relationship with him. The movie's ending feels hopeful as long as you are convinced by Kyouichi's conviction. Let's assume he won't fall back to old habits while waiting for Imagase to come back.

Kyouichi's personal growth

The ending in The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese demonstrates Kyouichi's immense personal growth, which will make a big difference if he's ever in a relationship with Imagase again. His mindset is more mature and much healthier than before. Most importantly, Kyouichi's abstinence will reassure Imagase that he's serious about committing to their relationship. If Imagase ever returns, he won't have to worry about feeling jealous or obsessive anymore, because his boyfriend has proven himself to be a changed man.

That is why I think the movie ending carries an optimistic message, because Kyouichi is actually making an effort to become a better person for Imagase. Don't think of this as the end of their romantic relationship, but rather as the start of Kyouichi's personal growth journey. When Imagase is ready, he'll come back one day and be touched by Kyouichi's sincerity. Only this time, they will have a more stable relationship in their second chance at love.

Kyouichi and Imagase reunion

The lingering question is whether Imagase will actually come back to this relationship again. Imagine if Kyouichi goes through all that trouble to improve himself as a person, but then Imagase never shows up in his life again. Technically, I'm not ruling out this possibility. The open-ended nature of the movie allows for some really tragic outcomes if you assume the worst-case scenario. 😢

But honestly, given everything that we know about his character, I believe Imagase will go back to Kyouichi at some point. We've already seen him struggling without Kyouichi, unable to move on emotionally. I think someone as inquisitive as Imagase can't help himself but keep tabs on his ex. Eventually, he'll see the changes Kyouichi made in his life (no more engagement, no more Tamaki, no more ugly curtains). He might be able to trust him again.

Imagase is a softie and he loves Kyouichi too much to stay away from him forever. It might take weeks, months, or even years, but I'm optimistic that the two of them will be reunited in the future.