New York Asian Film Festival (July 11-27, 2025 FLC) REVIEWS

[Chris Knipp]

HURI, YOUTA MIMOTO, TEITA SHIMADA IN HOW DARE YOU?

MIPO O: HOW DARE YOU? (2024)

Love and environmental radicalism at a Japanese elementary school

TRAILER

Could children this pure be found in this country? I don't know, but surely parents this neutral could not. Director Mipo O weaves her special spell to tell a tale of fourth graders becoming on small-scale eco-terrorists, and makes us love it. And when the strategies get out of hand and the culprets are identified, it's the fact that it was all for love of a girl that mollifies the school authorities. A very cute story.

One is won over at the outset by the protagonist, the slightly reedy-wonky boy Yuishi Ueda (Teita Shimada), who is funny in a very compelling way. He belongs to the living creaturesafterschool club, and joins some other boys gathering woodlice to feed small animals. But Yuishi is really fascinated by a girl in the class with long hair, Kokoa Miyake (Huri). And when Kokoa gives a class essay that is a passionaate impersonation of Greta Turnberg, reeling off emission data at high speed, Yuishi is in awe. He works his darndest to show knowledge and interest. He takes book recommendations from Kokoa. He digs out his library card and finds her there.

There is a bad boy in the class called Haruto (Youta Mimoto) who's rather goodlooking, and after a clash with Yuishi he in and they become a trio, each contributing to ideas for a pro-environment campaign in the town. They wear masks and costumes and stick individual posters using cut-out characters and drawings so their handwriting can't be traced. But the campaign is noticed and very much has its own style. Next they get aggressive, shooting small rockets into public areas with messages on them. Finally they manage to open the gate of a local farm with cattle, to publicize the danger to the planet of methane gas from farming. Actually it's Yuishi who stays behind to let out a cow. And the cow turns up near the school, then causes several accidents, including the injury of an older man.

The school is called to a assebly and the principal asks the ones involved to confess. Surprisingly, Haruto turns out to be a crybaby and a snitch.

The final scene with the three kids, the parents, and the principal and the class teacher (Shunsuke Kazama), with a speech by Kokoa's aggressive mom (Kumi Takeuchi) about how her daughter used to be such a nice girl, thinking about clothes and makeup, and she kept telling her to give up these stupid books about the planet, makes a very nice finale. But the charm and watchablity of HowDare You? comes from the minute-by minute way director Mipo O gently guides the kids from one amusing moment to another. One of those bright and happy films about young people that make Japan look idyllic.

The film was written by Mipo O in collaboration with Ryo Takada. It features a distinctive light staccato piano score.

How Dare You? ふつうの子ども ("Ordinary Child"), 96 mins., premiered at the Zin Festival of yough, Czech Republic, June 1, 2014. It releases theatrically throughtout Japan Sept 5. 2025. Screened for this review as part of the Jul. 11-17, 2025 New York Asian Film Festival.
SHOWTIME:
Sunday July 20, 6:15pm
Film at Lincoln Center
Intro and Q&A with director Mipo O