'And Yet, You Are So Sweet' REVIEW: A failed attempt at shoujo stories
‘And Yet, You Are So Sweet’ REVIEW: A failed attempt at reviving shoujo stories
Hei Mata and Kyōhei Takahashi in And Yet, You Are So Sweet. Taken from MUBI
With the decline of shoujo manga, the adaptation of the 2018 original manga series into a film attempts to remind us of what we enjoyed the most about shoujo classics over the years. Takehiko Shinjō’s And Yet, You Are So Sweet gives us a cliché teenage romance that follows Maaya Kisaragi (Hei Mata), a high schooler who agrees to “fake date” campus heartthrob Chigira Shui (Kyōhei Takahashi) in order to rebuild her reputation after getting rejected by a classmate, only to find herself genuinely falling for him. All of us know it’s a terrible idea but we root for Maaya anyway in hopes of things working out for her. It’s everything we searched for in shoujo manga back then — validation for questionable decisions our younger selves would’ve made.
For the most part, the adaptation sticks to the original work or at least doesn’t make changes that would affect the plot significantly. While similarity doesn’t gauge the quality of film adaptations, this live-action remake fails to do anything beyond having humans act out what happens in the original text. Overall, the acting feels unnatural — giving us exaggerated reactions that resemble those of anime or theater. Watching this in the cinema means hearing the rest of the audience cringe and laugh at scenes that tried to be romantic.
The film ends with an attempt at showing an empowered female protagonist not caring about what her peers think of her, but its impact remains minimal as it’s shown through nothing more than a kiss with the boy she pretended to date just to save her reputation. Yes, we end with her being true to her feelings but never find her seeing the value in her individuality. Not to mention, a large chunk of the film is the female lead injuring herself repeatedly and being saved by the two men who fight for her from start to finish.
If shoujo stories are targeted at a young female audience, reviving these stories will require redefining what is considered relatable to young women — exploring themes beyond romance. The first edition to the original manga being released six decades ago, there is so much room for a more progressive adaptation in order to win over its target audience.
And Yet, You Are So Sweet was screened last February 3, 5, and 8 at the Shangri-La Plaza Red Carpet Cinemas as part of the Japanese Film Festival 2024. The film will also have additional screenings in select cinemas. For more information such as screening schedules and venues, check out the Japanese Film Festival website.
