Moonlight Whispers

Many an ardent teenage lover has promised their partner they'd be willing to do anything for him or her, but rarely have the offerings of romance been taken as literally as in Akihiko Shiota's first film, Moonlight Whispers. After Takuya (Kenji Mizuhashi) learns that Satsuki (Tsugumi), the beautiful fencing partner he obsesses over, loves him as well, the pair embark on an innocent relationship, which is spoiled when she discovers his collection of stolen personal items and photos of her. Dubbing him a pervert, Satsuki begins to date Takuya's best friend as punishment, only to reveal the disturbing depths of Takuya's devotion. In fact, the more she tortures him, the more he's willing to prove his love. Were Moonlight Whispers merely a chronicle of high school sexual deviance, it might stand as a semi-satire of more conventional soap operas, or perhaps as a parody of the extremes of conformity in Japanese culture, but even amidst the film's bondage and voyeurism, there runs a romantic strain of unexpected purity. Rather than relying on absurdist humor or graphic prurience, Shiota and his cast opt for sincerity over perversity, lending a heartbreaking openness to both lead performances, complimented by Shigeru Komatsubara's naturalistic cinematography. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras include an illuminating interview with the director. Bottom line: a very small extras package for a small but interesting film.] (D. Fienberg)