No Touching At All (2014)

I'm human, aren't I? Even though I knew this was pointless, why did I fall in love? - DF, chapter 3.

BL movies aren't a thing these days; poor cast, poor setting, it takes so little to drown everything into a sea of painful awkwardness for the viewer. But there are few to be remembered; well, not exactly for the visual efforts, but for the pleasant acting and the understanding of the plot. Simplicity is always better. Doushitemo Furetakunai // No touching at all is one of them; and hopefully, more to come.

I'm a faithful fan of Yoneda Kou's work, her plots start from seemingly plain points and develop beautifully with characters mingled so well, it has to break a heart or two half-way through the story. The simplicity is the key here as well - motionless, quiet atmosphere. Beneath the mundane way of living, people are far more complicated than they seem. They always struggle with themselves and their wounds left from past experiences every time their encounter new ones. So wouldn't it be worse to fall in love in such wearing circumstances?

Sincerely, I didn't expect much, mainly because the two characters have an unique feel about them. I was afraid of dullness, yet I've been waiting to watch this movie ever since it came out. They did it, they found the actors who, in my opinion, fit fairly well. Not only separately, but together. Acting was pretty good, felt almost! natural, my awkward sensors didn't react - rather, I was kinda overwhelmed by the ball of cuteness named Yonehara Kousuke (who are you again and why don't you act more?), and his bold words to cover it up. Togawa-san is /so/ Togawa too. Wait what. It's tough pointing out what lacks when they have such a chemistry going on.
Also, I appreciate how they kept the important parts of the story, without altering it. True, there some scenes left out (/certain/ scenes), but for a (Japanese) movie it's a decent deal, it feels smooth, feels nice.
So far so good, yet my one complaint is that you can spot the characters from afar and wish to see them closer, especially when they interact with each other. The characters' expressions are so important. That was kinda disappointing at times, even though there were plenty scenes to make up for that, but still. Isn't this an eternal pain when it comes to BL movies anyway? They always leave us begging for more.
While the movie is lacking, as most BL movies do out there, it's a worthy live-action. Maybe even better in some aspects than the previous BL productions, just maybe. I should reconsider my faith with this one and wait for upcoming projects.

If any of you haven't read the manga, you should do it before watching the movie. This way you can value the acting much better and enjoy it. With this in mind, take a good breath, don't hesitate to watch. Chances are you're gonna melt inside anyway.

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I admit, I am probably a bit biased, because I simply love this manga to pieces. However, that may be the reason why I am able to evaluate this adaptation better than someone who doesn't know the original work.

So if you are a fan of the manga, but unsure whether to watch, this review is mainly for you. (And even if you're just looking for a good BL movie to pass the time, I hope I can write a worthy review as well)

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The plot isn't exactly anything new, especially for such a short movie. It's about two people meeting, hooking up, falling in love, and the hardships they must overcome.
What makes this movie stand out from others is the rawness of the emotions, the harsh yet beautiful reality. There is nothing romanticized about their meeting or their relationship. It could be me or you, falling in and out of love.

Shima and Togawa in the manga have prickly personalities. They are very different, yet there is an attraction and spark that even transcends their sexualities. I was worried whether there could be actors who would portray their characters well. Thankfully, Yonehara Kousuke and Taniguchi Kenji both did a great job. Shima lost a bit of his cheekiness and seems more timid, but it has to do with the generally darker tone of the movie, right from the beginning, due to time-constraints.

The music was matching but not really memorable. I was surprised at how sensual they even portrayed the erotic scenes. They could have granted a closer view on the kissing scenes, but in BL it's probably something we can only wish for.

What really drives this film is the atmosphere, that is very similar to the manga Doushitemo Furetakunai. This simplicity and 'realness' is visible in every part of the movie. Some people find the long still shots and the calmness boring. I find it beautiful. Not everything in life is restless and fast-paced. Some moments are agonizingly slow. The cinematography, while somewhat simple, plays a big role in this, and it does a superb job. The writing and directing are both also spot-on.

After finishing the movie, I went and re-read the manga, and I was surprised to see how much of the original dialogue was kept. While I was reading, the scenes from the movie kept appearing in my mind, and I found myself unable to separate the two. Usually when it comes to book or manga adaptations, once I return to the original, I cannot help but think: "Oh, but this is so much better after all. They should have done this differently"; However, I didn't have that feeling with Doushitemo Furetakunai. While there were parts that were left out or could have been fleshed out more, there were even moments where I thought the dialogue in the movie was more natural and poignant than in the manga.

I dislike dramas that take the easy way out by having too much narration or monologues to make sure the viewer gets exactly what the characters are feeling at that moment. There is no room for speculation, no room for the viewer to get a grasp on the emotion, just by observing. Eventually, this trait of the movie, the actors' ability to convey their pain and longing without using too many words, is what made me applaud to this successful adaption of Yoneda Kou's manga.

In summary: It's a bit slow-paced, but if you learn to appreciate the beauty within this calm atmosphere, you will be presented with a fairly satisfying movie that you won't easily forget. I recommend it whole-heartedly.

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A mature work about gay relationships

This movie has the big advantage that it's source material is splendid, and while I did read it many years ago and have forgotten most of it, I can say that they not only managed to preserve its quality but surpassed it.

“No Touching At All” is not your typical BL story nor movie, they went for a literary approach that matches the essence and tone of the source, so if you aren't a fan of the quiet, artistic style that doesn't rely on ups and downs but lives between its shallow waves, then you won't be happy with this movie.

The actors are perfect for their roles and shine the brightest during the silent encounters of the two leads, the only erotic scene is so sensual, emotional, that you can feel the heavy burden and hope this special moment represents.

While it is a film many people will surely enjoy, I think it's important to say that it's much more impactful, and meaningful, for those who know how painful it is to fall in love with a straight man; all the fears, the self-hate and guilt, that is clawing at your insides, the blame you put on yourself for stealing his future, and the blame some of them unjustly put on you.

It's one of the very few BL films that realistically show how it is to be a gay man and the many downfalls that come with it, there's no sugar coating, no false positivity or cute moments to appeal to certain watchers, it wants to portray the story of mature men trying to find happiness with, and in, each other.

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Doushitemo Furetakunai is a great manga by my favorite BL author, Yoneda Kou. This movie faithfully reproduces the most serious parts of the manga. The dialogue comes straight from the manga, and the framing of shots is a very close copy of the visuals in the manga. Unfortunately, by copying the original, the director turns a visually beautiful manga into a static and dull film. Perhaps someone who hasn't read the manga as many times as I have will enjoy the artistic framing and angles. But I couldn't help wishing that the cinematography would be more dynamic, to capture just how dynamic the original manga artwork is. Film is a different medium than manga, and it needs different techniques.

A second disappointment for me was that the humor of the original work is completely missing from this adaptation. The original balances its angst with a wry, subtle sense of humor (which runs throughout even Yoneda Kou's most brutal works). The humor was, however, omitted here.

This is an example of how an adaptation can lose the spirit of the original by being overly faithful to the details. Some fans will like this faithfulness, but I found myself wishing I'd spent these 90 minutes rereading the book.

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I'm a huge fan of Yoneda Kou. I liked the story though it's not my favorite from her. However, though the film wasn't bad, I minded the actors. When I was watching, I didn't feel any chemistry between the leads. It was dead flat. I don't want to compare but take a look at the Takumi-Kun series (with the exception of the first movie), even if the production wasn't all that, the two leads there did great. These two guys in this movie though lacked fluidity.

Overall - a 5 star for trying to bring the amazing Yoneda Kou's manga to live action. Next time , I'd like to see Nights or Soredemo, Yasashii Koi o Suru, the Onoda and Deguchi story. I think that's a more interesting one to make into live action.

Rewatch - No.

Recommend - Meh, yeah if you're a Yoneda Kou fan. Otherwise this is passable, just wait and hope they made Onoda and Deguchi's story and pick better actors.

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Really enjoyed this, the story is basically formulaic but given original development and neat twists (e.g. the comic smoking thread which actually reflected the characters nicely and so was part of the story, not just casual) and I found the acting and the interplay very effective and touching. The support roles at the workplace were good too. The workplace seemed casual beyond belief - is it really like that in Japanese offices? - but all part of the fantasy no doubt. The end part was a bit rushed but who cares, it was a happy ending - and convincing, not just contrived.

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Love the manga but this was a little lacking

I had no idea that this was an adaptation of the manga until the characters introduced themselves, it’s been years since I read the manga so I didn’t put it together during the opening elevator scene. Yoneda Kou is a ride-or-die mangaka for me, meaning I’ll read absolutely anything she writes, so once I realized it was her Shima and Togawa I was super excited to keep watching.

However, this movie I feel really did the character of Shima a disservice. Yes he had that intense poker face that Shima had at the beginning, but throughout the manga he is very sassy with Togawa as they get to know each other, and that is what I felt poorly translated to the film. Not to say that I feel the actor who played him did not do a good job, I loved the casting for this film. I just feel that the story suffered in the translation to a film because we could not see Shima’s internal monologue and his thoughts like in the manga. After finishing the movie I went back and reread the manga and there is just so much more emotion conveyed because we are able to see what Shima is thinking in certain situations.

That being said, I loved seeing one of my favorite mangas brought to life, and by total surprise! I’d definitely watch again. Also the actor that played Shima was super cute, I loved that he had a mole on his face like in the manga. Whether the actor actually has a mole there or if it was makeup, I thought it was a nice touch.

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Realistic And Quietly Touching.

Spoiler only at end of review. A beautiful, somber yet hopeful film. Thoughtful, touching, and deeply resonating. Addresses multiple thoughts and internal struggles in a realistic way. I really appreciated how the film explored the relationship between a gay man and a heteroflexible man. The story shows how insecurities from past experiences, societal expectations, and different gender identities can influence someone to hold themselves back from happiness out of fears that are often warrented in the real world.

I found on YouTube (in The USA Jan 2024). In the comments I learned that the word written on the cigarette box means "forbidden". This is really helpful to know because it has a symbolic tie-in with the characters.

The physical intimacy was a little stilted but part of that could have been the editing. It ultimately didn't detract from the film.

The thing that frustrated me was how many wide-angle shots there were. Even though it was beautiful cinematography, it was emotionally distancing. Watching scenes from half a room away meant that I often couldn't see the actor's faces clearly (and sometimes not at all). I think the film could have been even more emotionally powerful had I been able to tune into the character's emotions playing across their faces as they talked and looked at each other. This did impact my satisfaction and my rating.

Otherwise, the cinematography and lightning is gorgeous and had a beautiful lonely feel to it that underscored the long-standing psychological state of the characters. The composition of frames and the contrast of light/dark and colors was masterful, especially in the longer still shots. The instrumental music was understated and complimented all the scenes well.

Side note: I also like Yuan's review on MDL.

SPOILER ON THE ENDING:

While the technicalities of how the two will proceed when they work in different cities is left up in the air, the reunion and reconciliation is successful. The ending is mostly satisfying. The end shot felt like an add for Marlboro cigarettes though, which wasn't to my taste (and it wasn't like that in the manga). Update: However, after learning that the translation of the word on the cigarette box is "forbidden", the ending tableau makes a lot more sense.

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I liked the parallels between Shima's past and present

I didn’t read the manga that the movie is based on before watching it. Which might have affected my perception of the movie, making my opinion differ from the opinions of people who have read the original first.

The plot is quite simple, but there is nothing wrong with that. It’s an office romance between two very different men, who both suffer from past trauma and / or heartbreak. Their pasts do differ, but that doesn’t mean that the pain of either one is lesser.

Togawa & Shima: Togawa seems to have an addictive personality, in the sense that he tends to get hooked on things. Drinking, smoking, and later Shima. It is not necessarily portrayed that way, but it is a conclusion that it could lead to. Shima is quite introverted, he doesn’t do well in workplace social interactions because of his past, his previous job. He is also someone who tends to put everyone before himself and tries to do what he thinks is best for others, even if it means hurting himself. The two do start on the wrong foot, but Togawa quickly proves himself as a good person, even if Shima’s first impression of him was not the best.

My favorite part of the movie is how it draws parallels between Shima’s old relationship and his relationship with Togawa. There are plenty of similarities between the two and Shima even points out how he apparently tends to repeat his mistakes. It really showed how similar situations can be handled differently.

There are a few scenes that are a bit problematic, especially considering that Togawa is Shima’s boss. I know that what he said was meant as joke, but I don’t think Shima knew him well enough to know that. Which is why it did feel like he was using his position to pressure him. But it was not a reoccurring situation which I am grateful for.

The movie lacked chemistry, at least from my point of view. I am not sure if this is due to the personality of Shima, or due to the lack of chemistry between the actors. It’s also almost 10 years old, which probably also plays a role in this.

The cinematography was beautiful, but a lot of scenes were very dark, so it was hard to see. Or they were shot from far away. That is something that I didn’t really enjoy.

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fly away from the obvious

This review was written in english and portuguese

I'm so accustomed to poor Bl's movies that when I find a good one I just get confused. This movie is so good, I really can feel all the things that the actors want to pass, the story is good and unique, I fall for them in the first minutes. I really miss a good soundtrack a better plots but, something more better worked but this is unique, really something to just sit down and enjoy, i really have a big faith in japaneses Bl's, they are so unique and fly away from the obvious, i start the movie thinking ''oh here we go again'' but i literally woke up from this movie right now that's is over, they really caught my attention, i know it's a old movie but i want to see more and more.

Eu já tenho o costume de começar esses filmes com um pé atrás, eu não entendo como alguns filmes Bl's são tão ruins, mas eu deitei demais pra esse aqui, nossa muito bom mesmo, conseguiu capturar toda a minha atenção

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