Blue Spring

At a boys' school on its way to closing, the students play a dangerous game on the roof: climb outside the railing, let go, and see how many times you can clap. Whoever claps most becomes the leader of the school. Kujo wins and wants nothing to do with the position, and his friend Aoki cannot understand that. Toshiaki Toyoda adapted Taiyo Matsumoto's manga and presents youth not as energy but as anger with nowhere to go. Ryuhei Matsuda leads. Writing on the walls, empty corridors and punk music are the language. The ending saves nothing and nobody grows up. Who it is for: viewers who like the harder end of Japanese youth cinema and manga adaptations. Who it is not for: anyone looking for hope, since this is a closed loop throughout.