Moonlight Serenade

This movie works well on many levels. The story is gently paced but, after about a fifteen minute warm-up, absorbing and fascinating.

The use of music is first class. From the theme and title source, Glen Miller's Moonlight serenade (emblematic of the US occupation), to the use of Japanese folk songs and popular tunes, the music beautifully counterpoints and complements the story all along.

The lead actors give competent performances. But the support actors are a blast ! Comedian Junji Takada is a delight as the black marketeer. The illegal movie projectionist and his scenes are sheer magic, and the teacher who went mad when his students died as soldiers in the war gives a short but very moving performance.

Also, the film features clips from a wartime Japanese samurai flick "The Rickshaw Man", and "Casablanca".

The film starts off on a serious note, and sustains it, mainly by the device of members of the family carrying their dead kin in a box in a sling, carried at the front of the body. But the mood gently turns to comedy, and manages to be very funny and often charming.

This film is a gem, and is likely to stand up well to repeat viewing.