Beneath the Shadow – Movie Review

Introspective story

I'm generalizing here, but the story in Beneath the Shadow is about a lonely gay man who falls in love with a con artist. As the movie progresses, Konno faces mounting evidence that his friendship with Hiasa isn't genuine.

What kind of friend quits his job without letting you know or saying goodbye? Hiasa knew where Konno lived, but didn't make an effort to reach out to him. He only showed up again after getting a new job as an insurance salesman. However, Hiasa rekindled their friendship with an ulterior motive in mind.

Deep down, Konno suspects that he was being used and exploited, but keeps looking for proof that indicates otherwise. He'd like to believe that his relationship with Hiasa was based on a real emotional connection, not just because his friend wanted to leech off him.

Konno

Konno is what some people might describe as an "easy mark". As a lonely gay man without friends or close family members, Konno is completely isolated in his life. He spends each day with a mundane routine. Besides work, his most exciting activities include reading, taking care of his plants, and walking around in his tight underwear.

Konno's solitude is not by choice. He previously had a relationship, but his boyfriend transitioned to a woman and their romance failed to sustain. Since then, Konno couldn't meet anyone new, especially not in a dead-end warehouse job, made worse by his bashful personality. Without any ambition to seek social connections, Konno seems resigned to a life of solitude. Or at least that was until Hiasa entered his life.

Hiasa is what some people might describe as a "user". A manipulative man driven by self-interest, he preys on the weak and the vulnerable, hoping to take advantage of them. When they no longer have any use, Hiasa would cut them out of his life. Konno's loneliness, desperation, and naivete make him the perfect target for Hiasa. Thus began an unhealthy relationship between the movie's two main characters.

Hiasa's friendship

Hiasa started hanging out around Konno, probably because nobody else was around his age in the warehouse. Due to his lack of options, Konno became his buddy as a last resort. However, Hiasa didn't value this friendship, as demonstrated when he quit work without even informing him. Hiasa only used Konno to feel less lonely in a tedious job, not because he cared about making friends.

Later, Hiasa moved on to a bigger and better job, leaving Konno in the dust. If Hiasa was in any other line of work, the two might have never reacquainted again. However, his new insurance career means that he needs lots of connections. As Hiasa goes through his old contacts list, he must have identified Konno as an easy target. Hiasa could make a profit off his sad and lonely acquaintance.

However, Hiasa wasn't aggressive and didn't approach him with the insurance package right away. He took the time to befriend Konno again, hardly bringing up the insurance sales. Konno was so grateful to have a friend again that he didn't even question why Hiasa left him in the first place. They restored their friendship as normal, until Hiasa deemed their bond is strong enough and it was the right time to strike.

Grooming Konno

The turning point in the story is when Hiasa asks Konno to purchase an insurance package from him. Up until that point, Konno gave him the benefit of the doubt, believing they formed a trustworthy friendship. However, he couldn't shake off the suspicion that Hiasa was taking advantage of him, mainly to get a new customer.

When Hiasa made that allegory about ~grooming~ a fire, it made Konno realize that's how his so-called friend perceived him. In the same way that he'd build up a flame, Hiasa has slowly nurtured his friendship with Konno until it was time to profit off him. Once Konno saw the parallels between the fire and himself, he recognized Hiasa's self-serving mentality. He got angry, refusing to engage in this friendship anymore. After a frosty exchange, Hiasa warns Konno about not knowing the real him that lay beneath the shadows.

This tense conversation was the last time Konno and Hiasa interacted. Months pass by and Konno returns to his lonely life of solitude again. After learning of Hiasa's disappearance, Konno becomes curious about his ex-friend. He goes on a deep investigation, trying to learn more about this mysterious man's life. He wants to clarify whether their friendship had been genuine or not. Did Konno make the wrong assumptions? Was there actually more to Hiasa beneath the shadows?

Almost no romance

On the romantic front, there's almost nothing to report between Konno and Hisai. If you're watching Beneath the Shadow in anticipation of an angsty romance, you won't be satisfied. Their only moment of intimacy was an unexpected kiss, which got promptly rejected by Hiasa. Otherwise, their relationship is strictly platonic, even though Konno spends most of the movie pining after his friend in a one-sided unreciprocated crush.

However, there is an interesting moment between Konno and his ex, a trans woman who recently transitioned. A lot about their past relationship is left unspoken, only implied through wistful glances and meaningful silences between them. Was Konno still hung up on his ex? How long were they dating? Is she the reason why Konno lacks the drive to meet people and find a new relationship?

I have many questions about the ex character, who only appeared in a short part of the movie, yet she offered so much insight into Konno's past. You can come to your own conclusion about the history they shared and why their romance came to an end. The final hug between them is poignant, one that is full of feeling and melancholy.

Konno's ex

Although Konno and his ex maintained an amicable relationship after their breakup, they aren't close enough to open up to each other. During their scenes together, you can feel some apprehension and distance between them.

Notice how Konno hasn't brought up any mentions of Hiasa to his ex. From that reference point, we can surmise Konno didn't trust her enough to confide in his deepest secrets with his ex. Ironically, the two characters met because they wanted to catch up. However, the ex didn't actually find out what had been happening with Konno's life.

I can understand why Konno wouldn't want to bring up Hiasa to his ex, out of awkwardness and embarrassment. However, she was one of the few people in his life who seemed to genuinely care about him. It's a shame they didn't have a closer relationship. Konno really needed a loyal friend during this period of heartbreak and confusion.

Good acting

Both actors do a splendid job in this movie. Their performances are low-key with subdued emotions. I really liked Konno's actor (Go Ayano) and thought he portrayed his introverted character sensitively. He's cast well in this role, capturing the essence of Konno perfectly. I can feel the melancholy emanating from him in every scene.

The other lead (Ryuhei Matsuda) is terrific as well. He exudes the right mix of charm and sleaziness that makes his character feel morally ambiguous. He makes Hiasa seem appropriately slick and slippery, but hides it well enough beneath a charismatic facade.

Bittersweet ending

Although Beneath the Shadow is an overwhelmingly sad movie, there's a happier conclusion. Years later, Konno has found a new boyfriend, a young and energetic guy who accompanies him on fishing trips. With his new boyfriend, Konno seems happier than we last saw him. He's smiling and looking relaxed.

I thought Konno would end up growing old and alone, like that old lady who lived above him in the apartment. It was a pleasant surprise to see him with a partner who enjoyed his company. We don't know the specifics of their relationship, but at least it seems like Konno isn't completely lonely anymore.

Konno's letter

In the scenes leading up to the ending, Konno visited Hiasa's brother and father. Both confirm that Hiasa has a long history of sketchy behaviour. Their testimonies validated Konno's worst fears that his friend was simply a con artist. Still, he dug deeper into Hiasa's life, hoping to find any contrary sign that indicated otherwise. Konno wanted so badly to believe there was light beneath the shadow, a genuine side to Hiasa that only he saw during their time together.

The most condemning evidence came when Konno reviewed the insurance package that he purchased. Without informing him, Hiasa upgraded Konno's insurance to include wedding services. Hiasa knew his friend was gay, single, and would never get married. Yet, he still signed up for the wedding package to extract extra money from Konno.

Finally, Konno breaks down in hysterical tears. All this time, he has refused to accept that Hiasa wasn't authentic with his friendship. He still clung to a false belief, even after talking with Hiasa's family. Reviewing the insurance package was the last straw that made him lose any remaining hope. Faced with undeniable proof, Konno accepts that Hiasa was never his friend and only used him for selfish gain. What laid beneath the shadow was only more darkness, revealing their friendship was a fraud.

Ending explained

Years later, Konno is seemingly happier with a new relationship. In the final scene, Konno goes fishing by the lake with his boyfriend. Suddenly, he sees Hiasa staring back at him on the other side. A distracted Konno looks away for a second, and the image of Hiasa is gone again. As Konno spends the rest of the afternoon fishing, he continues to glance at that exact location, deep in pensive thought.

Obviously, that's not the real Hiasa, who disappeared and died during the earthquake years ago. However, the fact that Konno sees an illusion of him is troubling. It's a bittersweet ending that indicates Konno might still have lingering thoughts about Hiasa, even after all this time.

Although his new relationship seems idyllic, Konno hasn't fully moved on from Hiasa yet. No matter how much time has passed, he can't find closure to this chapter of his life. Hiasa haunts him to this day, appearing in his thoughts without notice, like a shadow that can never go away.