Four orphaned Japanese teenagers who meet at the crematorium on the day of their parents’ incineration go on to form a rock band. Stop me if you’ve heard this one. Why must a tale of at-times-unrelenting despair be cast in shades of an overcast winter’s day? Prepare for a chromatic overdose: this tale of four seemingly unemotional characters is told with a range of cinematic expressions the likes of which we haven’t seen in...too long. First time writer-director Makoto Nagahisa has a way of transforming the everyday — the side of a building, the tip of a smokestack, etc. — into a unique worldview. And it’s not all frivolous angles and style without substance: at its core are four kids looking to replace a parent’s love with online “likes.” But don’t allow downer me to detract from the fun. Experience it firsthand. (2019) — Scott Marks
This movie is not currently in theaters.