Wordiezett So much average

Moustroll Good movie but grossly overrated

Fleur Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Phillipa Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Jay Harris BOYS CHOIR, yes this is a movie about a boys choir in a rural Japanese orphanage. This is the truest item.This film was listed a comedy & also having a gay theme.IT IS NOT A COMEDY, also there is nothing gay about this film in ANY meaning of word gay. Yes 2 of the lads become friends, NOTHING is even inferred that they are more than friends.There is also a needless leftist subplot involving a female friend of the choirmaster, who causes a tragedy.The film is also way over long.Running time of 130 minutes is at least 40 minutes too long.The opening scene was very confusing, I did not know what was happening, the final scene was needlessly tragic.How this film won awards is beyond me.It is DULL & BORING. I have seen more than a few movies about Boys Choirs & Choirs in general, most were at least uplifting & you left with feeling good.At the conclusion of this one, I felt no emotion only utter boredom.The settings are interesting & the cinematography is good. The performances by all are just passable,Ratings *1/2* -- out of 4--43 points out of 100---IMDB 3 out of 10

kmaloney7659 This film is excellent for both people who adore foreign films and even those who don't! The story is a tale of Michio and Yasuo, two poor orphans lost amidst a sea of loneliness and hormones. I won't ruin it for anyone but let's just say that their story is indeed a tragic and beautiful one! I was not only enthralled by the superb imagery but the songs sung by the young cast of the film made my heart feel as though it was going to burst with joy! I'm already on the hunt for the soundtrack! The directing is excellent and I was amazed by how stupendously the film moved from scene to scene. The transitions? Amazing! The acting? A+++! Boy's Choir is a must see for everyone, young and old alike!

p-gonzo This is a very interesting and well-made film, well worth watching. It has been carefully constructed and bears repeat viewings. The film is set in the 1970's and revolves around a newly orphaned teenage boy who also happens to stutter. Sent to an orphanage, he is teased and almost runs away, until a beautiful, androgynous boy convinces him to join the choir. The dynamic between these boys forms the overall arc of the rest of the film, with the choir itself serving as the vehicle. There is also a subplot involving the choir-master and a female from his political-activist past (this explains the 70's setting), which is more diversionary than effective. One might expect a lot of homo-erotic subtext in such a setting, but it is almost completely played down. Yet then when there is a sudden intrusion of a female choir -- the movie suddenly is all erotic symbolism for one scene, whose only purpose is to trigger the third act (which is a little uneven).The camera sometimes moves too much for its own good and the hand-held is not really necessary, but overall the movie is nicely filmed in rural Japan. The music score is quite beautiful.

quarrion I hope that an expert in Japanese literature can inform us here, but isn't this the classic Yukio Mishima formula? I expected to find that it was based on one of his novels, but it does not say this in the IMDB.(Male) Plodder meets (male) Shining Star. Shining Star is physically beautiful male with Dream. Plodder befriends Shining Star and helps him with his Dream. Shining Star becomes more fanatical with Dream. Shining Star frustrated in Dream but won't compromise. Shining Star self-destructs. Plodder left with painful but inspiring memories of Shining Star. If you like this kind of thing, then do see it. Ultimately not very human, but fanaticism never is.On a musical note: If Japanese choirs really rehearse like this, with such discipline and dediction, then we need to take some lessons from them!