FILMS 2017

A gentle view on the lives of the elderly, in “A Sparkle of Life”

Tae, a 77-year-old widow, attempts to inject a ‘spark’ into her life and signs up with a matchmaking service in pursuit of a last chance at love. Despite the impending bad dates and the unrelenting opposition from those aroundher, Tae stays in search of her silver-haired knight in shining armour.

A Sparkle of Life is a wonderful romantic comedy by rookie filmmaker Bunji Sotoyama that will make you laugh and cry. Exploring the hopes and dreams of Japan’s aging population, the film was a huge hit in its native Japan and even received praise from Japan’s late theatre director Yukio Ninagawa, who described it as ‘a movie that makes getting old OK.’