Title: Best Wishes to All
Year: 2024
Rating: 6
Cast: Kotone Furukawa, Koya Matsudai, Masashi Arifuku, Yoshiko Inuyama, Kazuo Hashimoto
Description: The unsettling beauty of Yuta Shimotsu's "Best Wishes to All" lies not in jump scares, but in the slow, creeping unease that unravels alongside Kotone Furukawa's compelling protagonist. A seemingly simple visit to her grandparents' home transforms into a descent into fragmented memories and unsettling questions about the nature of happiness itself. Shimotsu masterfully crafts a narrative that delicately balances heartwarming family moments with a chilling exploration of fractured realities. The performances, particularly from Furukawa, Matsudai, and Inuyama, are nuanced and deeply affecting, imbuing each character with a captivating complexity. We witness the gradual erosion of certainty as the protagonist confronts the idyllic façade of her family history, questioning her own perceptions of reality. "Best Wishes to All" isn't just a film; it's a haunting meditation on memory, family, and the elusive pursuit of contentment. It's a film that stays with you long after the credits roll, prompting introspection and a lingering sense of unease.