Theatrical Release Date: Date: Japan, 2008
Director: Yosuke Fujita
Writer: Yosuke Fujita
Cast: YosiYosi Arakawa, Yoshino Kimura, Yoshinori Okada, Noriko Eguchi, Shima Ise, Keizo Kanie

DVD released: May 11th, 2009
Approximate running time: 111 Minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Rating: 12
Sound: Dolby Digital Stereo Japanese
Subtitles: English
DVD Release: Third Window Films
Region Coding: Region 2 PAL (UK)
Retail Price: £14.99

---

Synopsis: Two childhood friends one impulsive and the other sensible fall in love with the same girl.

Fine, Totally Fine is the directorial debut of Yosuke Fujita, who also wrote the film’s screenplay. The plot for Fine, Totally Fine focuses on three characters, Teuro Tohyama whose thirtieth birthday is quickly approaching. Teuro’s lack of ambition has him still living with his father whose own uneventful existence makes mirrors that of his son’s. Hisanobu has an upper management job has slowly been drifting away from his best friend Teuro. Hisanobu is a likely person who is envied by those he supervises. Despite the respect he receives from his co-workers he still lacks the confidence when it comes to the ladies. Rounding out this trio of misfits is a young woman named Akari who clumsiness often leads to another injury. In one scene she breaks her finger pushing a button for en elevator.

Besides the three main characters there are several other minor characters that are just as eccentric and flawed that populate this film. The most endearing aspect of this film is how they characters hold your attention even during the most mundane moments. Besides the three main characters there are several other minor characters that are just as eccentric and flawed that populate this film. The most endearing aspect of this film is how they characters hold your attention even during the most mundane moments. The most memorable moment in the film is a scene after Akari who now works at Teuro’s dad’s used book helps her first customer who is buying a pornographic book. Teuro in an earlier scene told her that the best way to handle such a sell is not to make eye contact. When the patron brings up the book to Akari her clumsiness keeps in as she spills her drink all over the book.

Performance wise everyone in the cast are exceptional, especially Yoshino Kimura in the role Akari the girl who almost drives a wedge between two friends. Yoshino Kimura perfectly captures the vulnerability of awkwardness of her character.The plot is equal parts black comedy and romantic drama. Ultimately Fine, Totally Fine is a poignant story about the relationships and moments that define who we are.

The DVD:

Third Window Films presents Fine, Totally Fine in an anamorphic widescreen that preserves the film’s original aspect ratio. Colors, flesh tones and black levels fare well throughout. Details look crisp and there are no problems with compression or artifacts. This release is interlaced and has not been flagged for progressive playback. This film is not action heavy and the image remains stable throughout.

This release comes with one audio option a Dolby Digital stereo mix in Japanese and removable English subtitles have been included. The audio sound clean and clear and it is more than adequate presentation for a more dialog driven film.

Extras for this release include the film’s original theatrical trailer (1 minute 51 seconds – in Japanese with English subtitles), two interviews, YosiYosi Arakawa (10 minutes 44 seconds – in Japanese with English subtitles) and Yoshinori Okada (9 minutes 2 seconds – in Japanese with English subtitles). Both interviews are discussions about the characters each actor plays in the film, what they think about the film and what was it like working with the film’s director Yosuke Fujita. The remaining extras are trailers for titles currently or soon to be released on DVD from Third Window Films. Overall Fine, Totally Fine gets a strong DVD release from Third Window Films.