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Jul 25, 2014 Issue #50 - June/July 2014 - Future Islands By John Oursler

Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami has built a storied career on complicated, ambiguously drawn character studies that rely upon the inherently fractured dynamics of interpersonal relationships. He reached a career peak with his previous effort, the Juliette Binoche-led Certified Copy, and explores similar territory with Like Someone in Love, to slightly lesser effect. Akiko (Rin Takanashi) is a Tokyo call girl, student, and girlfriend. She manages everything, but barely, and things, particularly her secret profession, begin to take an emotional toll after she meets Takashi (Tadashi Okuno), a sweet older gentleman who has solicited her services. Their relationship deepens and complicates at the sacrifice of their agreed-upon terms, and what results is something profound and touching. As in his other films, here Kiarostami gives the audience just enough to get invested, but keeps many of the details close to the chest. (www.criterion.com/films/28616-like-someone-in-love)

Author rating: 7/10