We Couldn't Become Adults (2021) Review: A Japanese Romance About Memory, Loss, and Growing Up

 

We Couldn't Become Adults (Original Title: Bokutachi wa minna otona ni narenakatta) | 2021 | 2h 4m
Genre: Drama / Romance | Country: Japan
Director: Yoshihiro Mori | Writers: Moegara, Ryô Takada
Cast: Mirai Moriyama, Sairi Ito, Masahiro Higashide
IMDb: 6.5
My Rate: 10/10

A chance reunion sends Makoto Sato back through the memories of his life, career, friendships, and lost love, forcing him to confront the parts of his past he has never truly left behind.

Warning

Contains sexual content, sensuality, nudity, violence, alcohol, and smoking.

 

Synopsis of We Couldn't Become Adults

Makoto Sato (Mirai Moriyama) unexpectedly reunites with his old friend, Nanase (Atsushi Shinohara). Nanase feels that his life has reached a low point and that he has fallen far behind the people around him.

Seeing his friend's situation causes Sato to look back at his own life and the choices he has made.

Sato works at an advertising company. At a work party, he meets a woman who turns out to be a pornographic actress. She admits that the life she is living is not the life she once imagined for herself.

Their conversation makes Sato think about his own situation and how the people around him have gradually pursued the lives they dreamed about.

His memories become more complicated when he has to face a girlfriend who is waiting for certainty about their relationship. Sato, however, is unable to make a decision about his future and eventually ends the relationship.

The woman from his past, whom he has actually known for some time, has also changed. She has grown older and more mature compared with the person he first knew.

The story then returns to Sato's memories of Kaori, his great love. We see how they first met, how their relationship developed, and the life they shared together.

Until one day, Kaori leaves Sato behind.

Will all these memories finally make Sato realize that he needs to grow up?

 

Review of We Couldn't Become Adults

We Couldn't Become Adults is adapted from Moegara's 2016 novel Bokutachi wa Minna Otona ni Narenakatta.

At its core, the story is quite simple. It is about loss and the wounds from the past that never completely heal. Yet the simplicity of the premise does not make the emotions any less powerful. The film allows viewers to feel the weight of Sato's memories and the regrets that continue to follow him.

The storytelling is one of its strongest elements. The film uses flashbacks in a systematic way, allowing viewers to move through Sato's past without becoming completely lost.

One particularly interesting choice is that the final scene is actually the same scene shown at the beginning. Once viewers reach the end, the opening scene takes on a different meaning.

This structure makes the storytelling more engaging because the pieces gradually fall into place while remaining consistent with the logic of the story.

Almost every character who appears has a connection to Sato's past. Viewers are invited to enter the memories that have shaped him and understand how each relationship has influenced the person he becomes.

Even Kaori's unexplained departure contributes to the emotional weight of the story. Because Sato never receives a clear answer, viewers can understand the unresolved feelings and wounds that remain with him.

The performances are another major strength. The chemistry between the actors feels natural, but Mirai Moriyama's performance as Sato is particularly impressive.

He portrays Sato across several different periods of his life, and the character does not feel exactly the same in every timeline. His appearance, behavior, and emotional state gradually change, allowing viewers to feel the development of the character.

The wardrobe and makeup also contribute significantly to this effect. Although the same actor plays Sato throughout the different periods, the changes in styling make each timeline feel distinct.

The color composition and camera movement are also beautifully handled. Small but expressive details are captured effectively, while the music and sound effects fit the emotions of each scene.

What makes the film particularly moving is the way it portrays adulthood not simply as growing older, but as becoming someone capable of accepting the consequences of choices made in the past.

Sato continues carrying pieces of his younger self with him, even as time keeps moving forward.

Overall, We Couldn't Become Adults is a deeply emotional film that explores love, loss, regret, memory, and the difficult process of growing up. It is especially suitable for viewers who enjoy touching dramas with a reflective emotional core.

 

Memorable Scene

Sato and Kaori drive around without a clear destination or even a specific plan.

There is something simple and intimate about the moment. Sato does not really need to know where they are going. As long as he is with Kaori, the destination does not seem important.

This scene quietly shows the depth of Sato's love for her. Sometimes, being with the person we love can be enough, even when we do not know where the journey will take us.

 

Memorable Dialogue

"Everyone else keeps growing older, but we stay the same."

 

Ending

Cliffhanger

 

Recommendation

Must Watch

 

(Aluna Uwie)