A young woman who has been abused her whole life at home is sent off to marry an army commander in a world where people have different supernatural powers.
Based on the novel series “Watashi no Shiawasena Kekkon” written by Akumi Agitogi which has also been adapted into anime, this live action adaptation is written by Akumi Agitogi, Tomoe Kanno, and Tsukiho Tsukioka and directed by Ayuko Tsukahara, this film brings to the screen a beloved story and bunch of characters that, according to a quick search online, has a lot of fanfiction. The series the film is based on is popular to say the least. Having not read any of the novels or seen anything about it until getting the film to review, the film itself is all that can be looked at here. The story is definitely aimed at those who love romance with extra drama on the side and a lot of supernatural powers on top. It’s a bit cheesy, it’s a bit younger in interest, but it’s not bad. The story is cute, the romance is pretty typical (opposites attract, Romeo and Juliet types, etc), but it works. It has a good flow in the film, the characters are properly introduced and developed, we get a few twists, and it concludes in a way that is satisfying while leaving room for a sequel. The direction is pretty much as expected here, but it also works quite well.
The cast here was clearly selected to sell tickets, but they are definitely good. The lead of Miyo is played by Mio Imada who is sweet, vulnerable, and ready to take on character growth, she makes for a good Miyo, getting the viewers to care and get attached to her early on. Playing her fiancé, army commander Kiyoka Kudo, is Ren Meguro (a member of Snow Man and Twenty Twenty). Having no knowledge of his musical work or his fame, it’s potentially easier to have a less biased opinion of his work. His acting here works great for the character, a man that is mostly cold and career-minded, but also has some vulnerability. His work goes well with the of Mio Imada. Their work together helps sell the story, giving them the right connection and chemistry. The rest of the cast is also quite good, everyone taking their parts seriously and giving performances that are fitting for the type of film this is, but also performances that work for random, casual viewers.
Something that is great here is the cinematography by Shoji Ehara. The film is stunning, it has great settings, décor, set dressing, etc. The film looks beautiful and that greatly helps its long run time pass by more easily for those who aren’t into the original material or stars. The film is one of those that is carefully shot and given the time to make the most out of each scene visually. Add to this the costumes which are just so pretty and well done, the special effects that are mostly cgi yet work, the look of the film overall is exactly what the story needs.
As Long as We Both Shall Live is a visually stunning adaptation of material aimed at teenagers that works for adults watching it as well. Of course, the story has some clichés, but it works well with and around them, giving the viewer a beautiful and enjoyable film to watch.
This year the Fantasia International Film Festival runs in Montreal from July 20th to August 9th.