Film Review The Master Plan (2021) - Past Mysteries, Friendship, and Destructive Ambition

 

The Master Plan (Original Title: Na mo Naki Sekai no End Roll) | 2021 | 1h 41m
Genre: Drama/Mystery/Thriller | Country: Japan
Director: Yūichi Satō | Writers: Mitsutoshi Saijô, Kaoru Yukinari
Cast: Takanori Iwata, Mackenyu, Anna Yamada
IMDB: 6.8
My Rate: 7/10

Kida helps Makoto get closer to a woman who once became a client at their workshop and turns out to be the daughter of a famous politician. At first, everything looks like an effort to find love, but behind it lies a dark secret they have kept buried for a long time.

Warning:

Alcohol scenes, violence, profanity, suicide

 

Synopsis of The Master Plan:

Makoto and Kida are childhood friends who grew up together. The arrival of Yocchi, a transfer student with a similar background because he is also without parents, makes the three of them grow even closer. They stay together until a painful truth slowly separates their bond.

As adults, Makoto and Kida work at a car workshop. Their lives begin to change when Lisa, the daughter of a famous politician, comes to repair her car. Makoto slowly tries to get close to Lisa, even attempting to collect a large amount of money just to enter her world.

On the other hand, Kida receives a connection from his former boss about Makoto’s whereabouts. However, the path he has to take drags Kida into a dangerous dark world. Their reunion instead makes the plan to approach Lisa move even more smoothly.

But is all of this really done in the name of love?

 

Review of The Master Plan:

In life, a person’s status is often measured by how much wealth they have, how high their position is, and how strong their influence and power are. That is what The Master Plan tries to portray—a film that combines love, friendship, and the corruption of the political world. The film is adapted from the novel of the same name by Kaoru Yukinari, published in 2013.

The combination of these themes feels like a social critique that highlights something already considered normal in society. Even though it is told with a non-linear timeline, the core story remains clear and easy to follow thanks to its structured presentation.

The story begins by introducing each character’s past. Their meeting gradually builds emotional connections between them. Lisa’s presence also feels both natural and mysterious, while the journey toward conflict keeps the audience full of assumptions and questions.

The unclear motivations of the characters become the main core of the conflict. There are no big fights or excessive emotional explosions. Everything is presented subtly, yet it slowly leaves a deeper impression. The internal conflicts also feel strong, supported by simple dialogues filled with reflections about the meaning of life.

The ending feels quite satisfying with a soft twist that is not overdone. Happiness and sadness appear at the same time, leaving a bitter yet warm impression. However, there is still a sense of emptiness left behind—not because the ending is bad, but because it feels too calm for the weight of the wounds built throughout the story.

Another interesting element is how the theme of “forgetting and being forgotten” becomes an important part of the film. A theme that feels close to human life, yet is often overlooked. In the end, humans want to be remembered, even though time slowly turns everyone into someone else’s memory.

From a presentation standpoint, the transitions between past and present are done smoothly and are easy to understand. The color differences in each timeline also help the audience clearly follow the shifts in time. Interestingly, the younger and older versions of the main characters have naturally similar appearances, making them feel cohesive.

The acting feels natural, with strong chemistry between the cast. The personality changes of the characters from youth to adulthood are also clearly shown even with the same actors. The dialogue does not feel heavy, yet still carries meaningful reflections about life. Music, cinematography, and small details also support the atmosphere well.

However, the film still has its weaknesses. With such a strong foundation, the emotional exploration of the characters still feels not fully developed. The story, which mostly focuses on Kida’s perspective, makes Makoto’s emotions feel slightly restrained on the surface. If the audience were also invited to see the world through Makoto’s perspective, the emotional impact might have been deeper.

In the end, The Master Plan is not only about secrets, politics, or relationships, but also about humans who are afraid of being forgotten and keep searching for meaning in their existence. The film delivers its conflict in a calm way without many emotional explosions, yet it still leaves a lingering emptiness after it ends. A bitter story about ambition, loss, and how someone is sometimes willing to sacrifice many things just to remain meaningful in someone else’s life.

 
Memorable Scene:

A scene that slowly cuts deep. A feeling that can no longer be expressed because the person expected is already gone. Makoto tells Kida how much he wanted to see Yaochi’s reaction when receiving the ring he gave. However, that wish never came true because Yaochi died before the ring could be given.

Loss, especially when it comes suddenly, often leaves an indescribable emptiness. Many plans and dreams collapse in an instant, while the world continues as if nothing happened. Time feels like it stops only for the ones left behind. That is why this scene feels so touching, even without many words.

 

Memorable Dialogue:

“Because 99% of the people who make this world go round are liars.”

 
Ending:

Bittersweet

 

Recommendation:

Worth to Watch

 

(Aluna Uwie)