River's Edge (2018) Review: A Dark Coming-of-Age Film About Loneliness

 

River's Edge (Original title: Ribâzu ejji) | 2018 | 1h 58m
Genre: Coming-of-Age/Teen Drama/Crime/Drama
Country: Japan
Director: Isao Yukisada
Writers: Kyôko Okazaki, Misaki Setoyama
Cast: Fumi Nikaidô, Ryô Yoshizawa, Aoi Morikawa
IMDb: 6.2
My Rating: 9/10

The emptiness each character carries brings Haruna and Yamada closer, but it also pulls them into a complicated secret and emotional connection.

 

Warning:

Contains scenes of violence, sex, nudity, strong language, drugs, alcohol, smoking, and LGBT themes.

 
Synopsis of River's Edge

Haruna Wakagusa (Fumi Nikaidô) is a high school student who struggles to express her emotions. She is dating Kannonzaki (Shuhei Uesugi), a troubled student who expresses himself through violence and sexual relationships due to the lack of attention and affection he receives from his family.

Haruna also becomes close to Ichiro Yamada (Ryô Yoshizawa), who is frequently bullied by Kannonzaki. This friendship makes Kannonzaki jealous and causes his bullying toward Yamada to become even more intense.

Yamada is a lonely student who keeps many things hidden, including his sexual orientation. To hide his identity, he dates Kanna Tajima (Aoi Morikawa), a girl who is deeply obsessed with him. The only person who knows Yamada's true feelings is Kozue Yoshikawa (Sumire), a younger student who works as a model and struggles with bulimia.

One day, Yamada takes Haruna to see his "treasure" hidden near the river: a human skull from a corpse buried in the tall grass. This discovery also becomes something that connects Yamada and Kozue. Both of them develop complicated emotions toward the existence of the corpse. Although Haruna is initially shocked, she eventually begins to understand why the skull has become meaningful to them.

Haruna grows closer to Yamada and Kozue, but this creates misunderstandings for Kanna and Kannonzaki. They believe that Haruna and Yamada have a romantic relationship. Kanna's jealousy pushes her to make an extreme decision, while Kannonzaki secretly cheats on Haruna's close friend, Rumi (Shiori Dori).

Will their complicated teenage lives find a way forward?

 

Review of River's Edge

River's Edge is adapted from the manga series of the same name by Kyoko Okazaki, originally published between 1993 and 1994. Unlike many coming-of-age stories that focus on romance, friendship, and the beauty of youth, this film explores the darker side of adolescence.

The story portrays teenagers who are still searching for their identities while struggling with loneliness, insecurity, and personal problems they do not know how to overcome. It presents a realistic perspective on how young people can feel lost while trying to find meaning in their lives.

Each character has their own darkness and secrets, and these elements are presented carefully without making one character overshadow another. Every character receives enough space to show their struggles, creating a complete and emotionally complex story. However, the slow pacing and quiet narrative style may feel less engaging for some viewers.

The performances from the cast are impressive. The actors deliver their characters naturally, and the chemistry between them feels genuine. The cinematography, camera movements, color composition, and music selection are also beautifully executed. One interesting aspect is how the opening and ending scenes mirror each other, creating a sense of connection between the beginning and conclusion of the story.

However, one aspect that feels slightly confusing is the interview scenes involving the characters. These scenes may be intended to help viewers understand the characters' thoughts and backgrounds more deeply, but the purpose and identity of the interviewer are never clearly explained. As a result, these scenes feel slightly disconnected from the main narrative.

Overall, River's Edge successfully presents a side of adolescence that is often overlooked. The film shows that teenagers can also carry heavy emotional burdens and experience moments that make them lose direction. It also highlights how adults often fail to notice or understand the struggles young people face, as adult figures are almost absent from the problems experienced by these characters.

 
Memorable Scene

Yamada, trusting Haruna, takes her to the riverbank where he keeps his unexpected "treasure": a skull from a decaying corpse. For Yamada, the skull represents something meaningful and reminds him that he is still alive.

This scene reveals the deep emptiness Yamada carries. Despite the bitterness and loneliness in his life, he finds a strange sense of connection and meaning through something most people would consider frightening or disturbing.

 
Memorable Dialogue

"It's serve you right."

 
Ending

Sad Ending

 
Recommendation

Must Watch

 

(Aluna Uwie)

Had been published in Alunauwie.com
"This article was originally written in Indonesian and has been adapted into English for international readers."