"35th Year Love Letter" - The Straight Ball is the Strongest [Enokido Ichiro's Movies Akasatana Vol.73]

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2025.03.07Enoki Doichirou

A film based on a true story. A true story. A love story of a couple who have been together for a long time. The reason they decided to make this film is actually related to the story of another couple, that of director Renpei Tsukamoto and his wife. Apparently, his wife was watching a documentary program on TV and learned about the life of the film's protagonist, Nishihata Tamotsu. She was so moved by the program that she told director Tsukamoto about it. Director Tsukamoto began researching Nishihata Tamotsu's "true story" via the internet. He then read the love letters he had written. They were filled with love and sincerity that touched people's hearts. Director Tsukamoto began running to make this into a film.

I won't go into the details of the story behind "35 Years of Love Letter" (25), which is also in the title. It's a hot topic, so I think readers have probably seen it on TV or something. That "story" is the only clue and mechanism, so to speak, and it's a "straightforward" movie with no other plot twists or plot twists. This movie really makes you cry. As expected, the "straightforward" story that doesn't shy away hits you hard.

I think it's all about the casting. Nishihata Tamotsu and Kyoko are played by Shofutei Tsurube and Harada Tomoyo, and the two young actors are played by Shigeoka Daiki and Kamishiraishi Mone. Actually, "good performance" is not enough. They are already living as themselves in front of the camera. With such a "straightforward" work, whether it succeeds or not depends on the actors. Everything depends on whether the actors draw the audience into the story. Because it is a direction that does not reveal any secrets (does not throw out any surprises) from the top scene. It does not even use a tickle of laughter as a hook. There is an ordinary life, isn't there, and it is irreplaceable, and it leads the audience to the "true story".

When I left the screening room, I kept thinking about Shofutei Tsurube's acting. He is a well-known popular star. He has always been at the top as a TV personality, comedian, and Kamigata Rakugo performer. Movie fans will remember the overwhelming persuasiveness he showed in " Dear Doctor " (2009) and " Ototo " (2010). Tsurube is a great actor. There are not many actors who can bring out such a flavor.

What's amazing is that Tsurube doesn't act. Once, when I was talking with Takenaka Naoto, we got into a discussion about Akira Emoto's acting theory. At that time, Takenaka repeatedly talked about the importance of "not acting". He repeated the gesture of "eh?" many times at the bar, looking up and saying "eh?", turning around and saying "eh?". He and Emoto came up with an acting theory (?) about "how not to act". He even did an Emoto Akira-style "eh?". He just stood on the stage and said "eh?" without any artificiality. He said that trying to do well or show off something good is just a hindrance. Just be yourself. Just be yourself and say "eh?". That's the best thing. That was the kind of conversation it was.

Of course, Tsurube-san says the lines in the script properly and acts according to the story. He plays the necessary scenes according to the cut request. So it's not like he really "doesn't act." But he doesn't do anything strange. He just does what he is. Of course, he's not a professional actor, so he's not good at it. That "definitely not good" really touches my heart.

You could say he played the role of a "person", like Takakura Ken did. Shimura Takashi just appeared on screen and didn't do anything extra. You can't fake it on a big movie theater screen. The actor's "person" is shown as it is. If you put your heart into it, good acting will only get in the way. That's what Tsurube did in the movie "35th Year Love Letter".

When I was young, I once hosted an NHK program. It wasn't a competitive production, but it was split into two parts, one produced by NHK Tokyo and one produced by Osaka, which took turns every week. I hosted the week produced in Tokyo, and Tsurube hosted the week produced in Osaka. I don't think Tsurube had done much work in Tokyo at that time. I didn't get the impression that he was very into it, even on "Waratte Iitomo!" It's not a style of comedy that requires instantaneous force. It also seemed like he was confused about how to take a stance in the Tokyo variety scene.

I didn't really understand Tsurube-san at the time. It didn't click with me. I asked the NHK staff about the atmosphere in Tsurube-san's studio. Basically, I didn't understand what was funny about him. Then, I was talking to a fellow writer from Kansai, and he said, "I think Tsurube-san is funnier than Sanma. Tsurube-san's humor doesn't come out even 10% on Tokyo TV." I was shocked. So he told me about "Tsurube-nii no Muddy World" (Radio Osaka), and I was blown away by how amazing it was. It's a gradual process that gets the listener to imagine. It was a world that didn't exist on Tokyo TV.

But Tsurube-san survived in the Tokyo TV space. He adapted to Tamori-san's world, and Sanma-san's wavelength, and while being teased by young talents, he became a person who was comfortable no matter where he was. When he was young in Kansai, he was probably "radical" and edgy. Instead, he tried to blend in. I think that's how I developed my "personality."

"35th Year Love Letter" is a movie that lets you see the "person" of Tsurube. And Harada Tomoyo also shows us the "person" more than her acting. Harada Tomoyo puts on a big performance. A performance that connects with the heart. All of that is on display, so there's nothing to complain about. Just watch it as it is and your heart will be filled with emotion.

Text: Ichiro Enoki

Born in 1959. Born in Akita Prefecture. Debuted in a commercial magazine with ``Takarajima'' in 1980 while studying at Chuo University. Since then, he has serialized columns and essays in various magazines, and continues to this day. Also active on radio and television. Twitter @ichiroenokido

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"35 Years of Love Letter"

Nationwide release on Friday, March 7th

Distribution: Toei

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