I was recommended this film a few times over the years, and it was a decent coming of age story with some good artistry. With that said, though, it might be cold to say but it also made me reflect on how suicide attempts as a major plot point is super overdone in Japanese media. The movie’s focus on the subject of bullying is interesting, though I would have liked to see more of the protagonist’s development in the years between his early and later years that led to his change in character. Due to the abrupt transition, it feels like he was simply possessed by another person, and that feels like a lost opportunity to show growth. The subject also reminded me of the recent news story which spoke of students with past bullying incidents being less likely to be admitted to post-secondary institutions in Korea. I do personally think most students with a genuine history of bullying are more likely to go on to cause trouble if unchecked and awarded positions of power down the line.