Beautiful Japanese film - that is both funny and intensely moving. Ostensibly about three school friends with a close bond. It is impossible to say any more about the plot without spoiling it for potential viewers. The direction is unobtrusive, the performances are perfectly pitched - these characters may annoy you at times, but you will love them because of their flaws. It is a film that quietly creeps up on you - and you realise that there is much more to it than meets the eye. It is a meditation on longing, loss and loneliness - and if you approach it with an open mind - will haunt you long after the end credits.