REVIEW: ‘A Girl Missing’ by director Koji Fukada, now available on DVD
Photo: A Girl Missing stars Mariko Tsutsui as a woman who may be connected to a kidnapping plot. Photo courtesy of Film Movement / Provided by press kit with permission.
Koji Fukada’s A Girl Missing is a gripping psychological drama about a woman trying to fight back against an allegation that has surfaced involving her personal family and place of employment. She watches, devastated and almost at a loss for words, as her entire life crumbles before her eyes.
At the center of the narrative is a kidnapping, and here’s how Ichiko (a superb Mariko Tsutsui) is involved. She has been a visiting nurse for quite some time, and one of her longtime patients is the older matriarch of a respected family. Ichiko has been taking care of this woman for so long that she’s almost a member of the family herself. When one of the family’s daughters is kidnapped, Ichiko is shocked and dismayed — especially when she finds out that her nephew is the likely culprit.
If any of this storyline seems straightforward, linear or easily digestible — it’s not. Fukada ensures that this character study has many unsettling moments that confound the audience and make them question their loyalties and understanding of what’s going on. There’s a fascination with how intricate this spider’s web can be, but it also produces simultaneous confusion and frustration. Buyer beware.
Tsutsui also collaborated with the director on his Cannes Jury Prize-winning film Harmonium, and their obvious trust with each other is evident throughout this exquisite performance. She holds a lot of hurt and pain when the revelations and accusations start to emerge, and the audience truly believes she is stuck in a conundrum that seemingly has no solution.
Less effective is a side story involving Ichiko’s budding relationship with a local hairdresser. The reason for this detour eventually becomes obvious, but it doesn’t feel earned — like a jigsaw puzzle piece that doesn’t quite fit.
Fukada is at his thrilling best when he’s focused on the main storyline and how Ichiko may overcome what is a tremendous amount of pressure. A finer edit and focus on that narrative would have made A Girl Missing even more stirring than it already is.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
A Girl Missing (2020). In Japanese with English subtitles. Written, edited and directed by Koji Fukada. Starring Mariko Tsutsui. Running time: 111 minutes. Not Rated. Currently available on DVD from Film Movement. Click here for more information. Rating: 
