Das Glücksrad (Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy, Gûzen to sôzô)
Japan 2021

Opening 1 Sep 2022

Directed by: Ryûsuke Hamaguchi
Writing credits: Ryûsuke Hamaguchi
Principal actors: Kotone Furukawa, Ayumu Nakajima, Hyunri , Kiyohiko Shibukawa, Katsuki Mori

Japanese director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s film made a strong impression at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2021 by winning the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize. It is a very interesting and complex romantic drama and an anthology film consisting of three episodes of an unexpected love triangle. The first part entitled “Magic (or Something Less Assuring)” which reveals a failed seductive love trap. The second part is “Door Wide Open" and the final is “Once Again” with the last two resulting in a misunderstanding and wondering where all this will lead due to the choices and regrets that were made along the way.

Each episode takes us to strange surrealistic moments that make the audience wonder if it is factious or reality. The film has subtle nuances and at times feels like a romantic poem is coming to life but then something chances and the storyline flows into a completely different direction. Hamaguchi uses his poetic craft to capture moments in which the wheel of fortune may give or take much like the wind blowing causing air currents to flow by. (Shelly Schoeneshoefer)