Review | Ossan’s Love: Love or Dead film review – Japanese gay office comedy piggybacks on success of TV series
- The story of the homosexual awakening of a thirty-something estate agent, the film is rough going for anyone unfamiliar with TV series Ossan’s Love
- For audiences already bewitched by the hapless follies of office uncles, this big-screen bonus is a hoot
3/5 stars
Last summer, Japanese drama series Ossan’s Love proved a surprise hit, not just in Japan but also in Hong Kong, where it’s screened on ViuTV. Its overwhelmingly positive portrayal of male homosexuality is all too rare, and normally reserved for the pages of yaoi, or “boys love”, manga and anime series.
This big-screen spin-off, which hopes to capitalise on the show’s success, continues the escapades and homosexual awakening of thirty-something estate agent Haruta (Kei Tanaka). Not only does his burgeoning relationship with colleague Maki (Shuko Ito) hit the skids, but a freak accident sees Haruta’s boss, Kurosawa (Kotaro Yoshida), fall in love with our confused hero all over again.
The action picks up with Haruta returning from a year working abroad in Shanghai and Hong Kong. A misunderstanding sees Maki get cold feet about their relationship, and transfer to the company’s head office, just as they swoop in to take control of a huge redevelopment project.
Maki’s new boss, Mamiana (Ikki Sawamura), seems a little too hands-on with his new teammate for Haruta’s liking, but fresh-faced replacement “Justice” Yamada (Jun Shison) might be just the distraction Haruta needs.