Aristocrats

YUKIKO SODE
Japan, 2020
124 minutes, Color
Official website

This layered examination of Japan's class system focuses on two women from different backgrounds who must deal with the many expectations society demands of them. Hanako (Mugi Kadowaki) is the sheltered daughter of a well-to-do doctor. Her fiancé just broke up with her and, at 27, this is problematic. In contrast, country girl Miki (Kiko Mizuhara) worked hard to get into an exclusive college, but family problems forced her to leave and find her way in a tough business world. Told in alternating chapters, the women's stories come together around a single man, Aoki (Kengo Kora), scion of an elite and powerful political dynasty, who is destined to run for office himself one day. After being set up on a series of increasingly awkward dates, Hanako meets Aoki and he proposes. But Miki and Aoki also have a longstanding relationship from school days that could complicate everyone's lives.—Dave Nuttycombe

In Japanese with English subtitles

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