Image provided by Fantasia Film Festival
It isn’t often these days that a film will try and engage you with nothing but pure unadulterated love, kindness, and affection. Thankfully, Almost a Miracle is exactly that. It’s the journey of a completely selfless character making a positive impact on the lives of the disillusioned around him. If that sounds a little saccharine for some, then it very well may be, but the episodic structure and bright vivid colours, make this a film a similar story to that of Amelie. Based on the manga The World of Machida by Yuki Ando, the film focuses on love and supporting one another no matter what.
Kanata Hosoda stars as Machida, the eldest sibling of four, with another sibling on the way. Machida is a curiosity to his classmates, who can’t believe how he just seems to love people. If he sees anyone needing a hand, then Machida is there. From raising school friends up to pin posters, helping the sports team collect balls, or just bringing a milk tea to someone crying after a breakup. Machida is almost too perfect, which can aggravate classmates. In contrast to this is Inohara (Nagoya Sekimizu), a girl who can’t stand people and prefers to remain silent and alone. After a Chance meeting in the nurse’s office at school, Machida sees Inohara as a bit of a project and becomes confused when emotions start to develop.
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The chemistry between these two characters is at the core of Almost a Miracle. Machida believes Inohara needs to experience more love and kindness, whereas Inohara believes Machida needs to demonstrate a bit more selfishness to be a balanced and productive person. Hosoda is a delight to watch, interacting awkwardly and sweetly with those around him, and always showing acceptance. Sekimizu channels a more pessimistic outlook and gradually evolves to encompass a new world view. Outside of this there is a large supporting cast. Obviously being based on a manga, there is a much larger story to tell here, and yet somehow all the characters are complementary and handled with significant focus. One character that becomes interested in Machida is Yohei Yoshitaka (Sosuke Ikematsu), a photographer having his own moral crisis as his editor demands misery and suffering as that is what sells. Tasked with catching a starlet having an affair, Yohei sees Machida as a rare chance at redemption.
Outside of a fun plot that constantly moves forward – the episodic nature of the manga isn’t completely lost – the film also crafts a sense of wonderment through the use of colour, music, and editing. The colours are mostly bright, with blues and yellows given a chance to stand out, while the editing tries to set a pace for Machida’s attempts to aid others. Night scenes take on a darker tone, putting Inohara in vulnerable situations as rumours spread about her family life. As fantasy elements seemingly creep into real life, it can be hard to distinguish what flights of fancy have actually transpired.
A kind and upbeat coming-of-age comedy, Almost a Miracle is the gentlest of films. It dances with darker elements, but leaves them behind to focus on the good. Questions are raised regarding some important wider issues, while using a much smaller tale to successfully address them while not overwhelming the audience or distracting from the sheer entertainment that is on display. It never quite hits the highs of feel good classics, but Yuya Ishii’s direction makes for a film that insulates such warmth that fans will be excited to return for repeat viewings.
Almost A Miracle was reviewed at the 2019 Fantasia Festival.
