Ping Pong

As a child Smile was quiet and withdrawn and was constantly bullied. One day Peco stepped in and got him out of it, then taught him table tennis. Years later they are on the same high-school team. Peco is confident, loud and gifted, and believes he deserves to win. Smile is better than him and does not want to win. As the tournament nears, both have to face their own problem. Fumihiko Sori's film adapts Taiyo Matsumoto's manga. The narrative uses the shapes of the sports film but focuses not on victory but on what talent is for. The match sequences combine computer effects with speed changes. Yosuke Kubozuka plays Peco and Arata Iura plays Smile. The film reached cult status in Japan. Who it's for: Viewers who like Japanese sports films, manga adaptations, and stories of friendship. Who it's not for: The visual effects are rough even for their period. The supporting characters' stories are also left unfinished.