The Miracles Of The Namiya General Store is a unique drama that takes a different approach on time travel. It may be slow-flowing but it is definitely not a waste of time.
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Based on the novel of the same name by Keigo Higashino — known for his mystery novels, The Miracles Of The Namiya General Store is a slow-flowing, time-warping drama. The movie starred Ryosuke Yamada as Atsuya, one of the three delinquents who broke into the general good store, and Toshiyuki Kishida as Yuji Namiya, the owner of the store.
The Good
The plot is amazingly crafted with every scene, from the beginning to the ending, all having a certain connection. The storyline may seem awkward at first, as it felt like the movie will be a compilation of little stories and worries of the people who wrote in to Namiya for advice. But as it turned out, these stories are actually related and do not exist independently. Even the three delinquents, who live in a period decades after the store was closed down, are in some way related to these stories — you will only find out exactly what and why as the movie progresses.
The Miracles Of The Namiya General Store throws light on a dilemma faced when it comes to giving advice: people who seek advice may end up following exactly what was advised. Would this then make the advisor fully responsible for what happened as a result? If everything turns out well, it is fine. But what if things go awry? This is highly debatable but the movie does not delve into this issue. In contrast, the subtle illustration in the movie makes people cannot help but wonder more.
On a side note, the name of the store owner Namiya is quite possibly a play on the word “nayami” which means troubles or worries in Japanese. It is a small but amusing touch to the movie, as Namiya will give advice on your nayami.
The (Not That) Bad
The flow of the movie may feel awfully slow as it uncovers the background story for each character who sent letters to the Namiya General Store. But if you follow through each story, you will see how they are interlinked.
The ending served to encourage people who are at a lost, not knowing what to do with their lives. The impact was not strong although there are some words of wisdom embedded.
And The Summary
The Miracles Of The Namiya General Store is a unique drama that takes a different approach on time travel. It may be slow-flowing but it is definitely not a waste of time.
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