I cant remember exactly when it was when i watched this film, nonetheless, the plot of the story still vividly emerges from the depths of my memory and unknowingly, touches me deeply whenever i think about it. I wonder what took me so long to stumble upon this beautiful story that i wish i had earlier on before. Yet, fate has me surprised once again.
To start with, i know that some people, especially guys, frowns and openly expresses their dislike/disgust at the idea of a japanese drama film, but here here! May i exclaim that NOT ALL japanese films are cheesy, nor are they based on only romance or that they focus on nothing but crying girls, and fighting boys. So mock not the plucked eyebrows of the male actors, cause at the end of this story, the perfectly shapened eyebrows are the least of your worries, as the story itself may bring more inspiration to you than initially thought. So here~
Night Time Picnic circles around the lives of a few teenagers in this movie. It starts with the annual school 80km walk, where all the students of the school are required to participate in yearly, which lasts throughout a day and night. Takako Koda(female main character), Miwako and Anna are the closest of friends. Anna left for America the year before, and so the story evolves around Koda and how she pulls through walking her FINAL 80km walk as a senior, and the memories and flashbacks of the walk of her previous year with her best friends.
As cliche as it sounds, the story takes off with Nishiwaki, a good looking guy who have years been somewhat "attracted" to Koda, yet have not made any attempts to approach her. At the same time, Koda too has been aware of his presence, but have not made the first move. So painstakingly, you'll see Nishiwaki closely eyeing Koda the whole time of the walk, and wondering what it would have been like if he got to know her better. Koda too, made herself a bet to at least talk to Nishiwaki before the walk was over, as it would be her FINAL CHANCE before graduating.
Koda starts the walk with two of her classmates, Rika and Chiaki where they played and fooled around with each other to pass time. They too teased Koda about Nishiwaki knowing that there was chemistry between two of them. Slowly, halfway through the walk, Koda moves away from them both to hang out with Miwako, one of two of her best friends. Meanwhile,Nishiwaki constantly in company with his own best friend Toda, have been struggling as well to complete the grueling walk. Toda, in many obvious attempts, tried to pair Koda and Nishiwaki together, but Nishiwaki edged away uncomfortably.
Then, flashbacks of Koda played. It showed herself bumping into Nishiwaki at the school lockers unintentionally, and that Nishiwaki rudely asking her to move away from him and give him a break. Later, it showed Koda checking the school's noticeboard for which class she was in, and yet again, she was in the same class as Nishiwaki, and he did not like it. End of flashback.
During the walk, Junya-Anna's younger brother hustled his way to Koda. In great curiosity, he pestered Koda to tell him who his sister Anna's crush was, and also to pass Koda a postcard from his sister. The only thing his sister told him was that her crush was her best friend's brother, and that he was on the tennis team. Koda had no idea who it was, neither did Miwako. So Junya continued on his mission.
The postcard wrote something like this: I have cast a spell from last year, and it would most likely be joining you in this years walk. Your problem will be resolved by the end of the finish line.
At the remaining of the 20kms, Koda and Miwako started to talk about Anna's crush.
Koda : Did Junya ask you if you had a brother?
Miwako : Yeah, he did, but i answered no. Did he ask you too?
Koda : Yeahh...
Miwako : And you said no?
+PAUSED+
Miwako : But you do, Nishiwaki...
Koda was shocked and could not believe what she heard. It was a secret she kept so long to herself, a secret she had not shared with even her best friends. Yet, she could not bring herself to ask Miwako how she knew Nishiwaki was Koda's half brother. At the same time, Nishiwaki and Toda agreed to sprint all the way for the remaining 20kms. Halfway through that, Miwako explained to Koda that her mother told herself and Anna about Nishiwaki the year before when they were hanging out at her house. Her mother knew Koda was feeling extremely guilty towards Nishiwaki, but that it wasnt Koda's fault as it was her own. She was the affair of Nishiwaki's father who bore Koda. Anna and Miwako decided to pretend to be oblivious to this secret as they did not want Koda to feel uncomfortable.
At the same time, Nishiwaki sprained his ankle and could not continue to run with Toda. So they sat at the side road and rested. Miwako saw the opportunity for Koda and Nishiwaki to interact, so she approached them and offered to carry Nishiwaki's backpack while he limbed his way to the finish line. Toda, realising the situation reacted swiftly to this. Suddenly, Junya pulled up in a car beside them, and asked Toda and Nishiwaki if they were from the tennis team. Nishiwaki answered he did. And then he asked Nishiwaki if he had any siblings. There was a pause. Finally, Junya understood everything. He blurted out loud in astonishment of his discovery that Nishiwaki was related to Koda. And Toda too stoned. Junya left hastily afterwards.
Toda was pissed at Nishiwaki for not telling him. And the whole time, Toda was trying to hook Nishiwaki up with Koda, so he felt like a fool. Nishiwaki admits that he didnt tell Toda because he felt embarrassed that his father was unable to sustain his love for his mother, which led to the affair, in which Koda was born. After forgiving him, Toda merely stated that in fact, Nishiwaki has always been curious about Koda and wondered what it would be like to know her. This woke Nishiwaki up.
Gradually, Toda and Miwako moved in front, leaving Nishiwaki behind to converse with Koda. They managed to overcome some sensitive questions about each other's families and got to know each other better. They were both so glad to have been able to interact with each other, that Nishiwaki even admitted that he regretted not getting to know Koda earlier. Towards the end of the walk, Nishiwaki and Koda happily agreed that there would be a next time, or rather, a next walk together even after their graduation and that made them both ecstatic. Finally, the reached the finish line where Junya was waiting for them. Koda and Miwako could not understand what Anna meant in her postcard, but then i another spur of surprise, Miwako figured it out! When she said, "I cast a a spell last year and would most likely be joining you in this years walk." The spell was Junya. "Your problem will be solved by the end of the finish line." Meant that Koda's relationship with Nishiwaki has been knitted and that Koda's "problem" has been resolved.
All in all, Anna's letter was like a piece of puzzle, magically sewing each piece of this story together. And the most touching part was that after many years of long hesitation and held back curiosity, two people finally embraced each others identities and accepted each others existence with welcoming arms. So at the count of three, all FIVE of them- Toda, Nishiwaki, Koda, Miwako and ANNA hopped past the finish line, and it was then did they succeed in concluding their arduous 80km walk with not only muscle cramps and sore backs, but with a beautiful beginning of a new strewn relationship. What a way to gradute....
* I must say, if you ever had the chance, go watch this movie!! I think it is still screening on channel 322 astro celestial station. It is a bit slow, but at every scene, embeds a meaningful moment waiting to be experienced. Truly heartwarming, and utterly humourous!! Words can only say so much, i've excluded many scenes. If your curious, just go check it out yourself. Im glad i have. : ] *
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