The real reason this was such a joy to watch was the spectacular performance by Kasumi Arimura- ever since I first saw her in the odd Keizoku SPEC I’ve liked her, and in Flying Colors she is a whirlwind of energy, ESPECIALLY when she’s playing the carefree and outspoken “biri” girl Sayaka Kudo, she of dark tan, garish makeup and bleach blonde hair!
Sayaka doesn’t care much for schoolwork, authority or her future, spending her schooldays playing around in class and nights partying it up as clubs or at karaoke. Her teachers and father have given up on her, calling her ‘stupid” and good for nothing, but her kind mother (Yo Yoshida) believes in her, and has her try out a small cram school to work towards her college entrance exams.
Sayaka Getting into trouble in school...
and being belittled by he tyrannical father at home...
It’s here that Sayaka meets Yoshitaka Tsubota (Atsushi Ito), a thoughtful teacher who will change Sayaka’s entire outlook on life. At first, she regards him like she does most authoritative figures, but he is quick to praise her, and even when she gets a complete ZERO on her evaluation test, he commends her for at least filling the test out completely.
Its such a change for the way that she’s been taught before that Sayaka finds herself getting motivated enough to actually WANT to try for a college, and so it is that with Sensei Tsubota’s encouragement, Sayaka arrived home that afternoon with the announcement (to her stunned mother) that she is going to aim for none other than Keio University!!!
Those who know enough about Japan (or at least about ARASHIs’ Sho Sakurai) know that this is a prestigious college to try for indeed, but Tsubota insists that there is nothing that is out of reach for any child with the proper motivation and work. And so begins the long, arduous task of schooling for Sayaka!
Things start off slowly, but with encouragement, the one-time all night party girl begins putting her studies ahead of her clubbing nights, and as her scores rise from zero to something worthwhile, she becomes even more excited!
Seems Tsubota’s methods of basing the studies on the type of person really work- one fun system he uses is where he quizzes Sayaka…and for every question she can’t answer, she has to remove one of the false eyelashes! And before you know it, she’s even decided to shear off her blond locks and go from something a bit more…studious!
Seeing how serious Sayaka is getting, her mother picks up a night job as well as borrowing money from relatives and friends…all to keep Sayaka in cram school for the additional amount of time she needs if she’s going to rise her scores enough to take the tests. And when Sayaka learns just how much they are giving the school so she can realize her dreams, she is properly touched. Things have become serious, and it’s going to take all she's got to make it through the coming challenges!
Though this movie was based on the true stories from a book written by the real sensei Tsubota, it’s a fairly basic and predictable story, but Kasumi Arimura’s enthusiasm really sends you through the scenes! A fine movie to while away a lazy afternoon…
Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com