In brief: Wood Job! (2014) New York Asian Film Festival 2014 Japan Cuts 2014

Having failed his college entrance exams Yuki, a high school kid, finds a brochure with a beautiful girl on it and decides to go for forestry and finds his life changed as a result.

Yea you know where this is going.

Yea you can probably write portions of this....

But you know what by about the half hour mark you won't care, you'll be so so invested in the characters you'll follow it anywhere it goes. I know that's what happened to me.

This is my front runner for the biggest unexpected pleasure of both Japan Cuts and the New York Asian Film Festival. I say that because I really didn't want to see it, I made no plans to see it and yet somehow I ended up seeing it, simply because I could. I loved it so much I can't imagine living without it now.

If you want to know why it works its because of all the little details. Its all the little details (snakes) and diversions and things away from the main narrative thrust that suck you in. On top of that even the sequences that you are know are going to be of a certain type are twisted to be something neat.

This is a big warm favorite blanket of a movie and really must be seen when it plays tomorrow at the Japan Society. (and there is a small bit post end credits)

For more details and tickets go here.