Moonlight Whispers

Akihiko Shiota's 1999 Japanese film follows the relationship between two high school students who meet at kendo practice. There is a masochistic side to Takuya's desire; when Satsuki discovers it the relationship turns into a game of power, and she begins setting the rules. What makes it interesting is presenting that dynamic as neither perversion nor liberation: neither of them fully knows what they are doing, and adolescence is a field of trial anyway. Shiota keeps the camera at a distance and never makes the scenes exploitative. Though adapted from a manga, the telling is calm. The subject will stay uncomfortable for some viewers. Who it's for: viewers interested in Japanese independent cinema and unconventional stories about relationships. Who it's not for: anyone avoiding sexual content and themes of power in relationships, or wanting a clear moral frame.