A grieving photographer on assignment in Japan finds unexpected comfort with an old friend and his precious daughter in I'll Be Your Mirror, which washes over the viewer like a gentle breeze of loss, solace, and rediscovery. Writer/director Bradley Rust Gray meanders at times with an overly artistic intent and sluggish pacing, but achieves his goal of addressing life's most sorrowful tragedy. Death leaves a gaping hole in the hearts of loved ones left behind. Choosing to move forward can feel like an insurmountable obstacle. But the helping hand that lifts you out of darkness may lead to a surprising new embrace.
A Bond Grows After a Love Dies
Toshi (Takashi Ueno) drives Chloe (Carla Juri) towards the Japanese countryside. They arrive at his elderly grandmother's flower garden. Futaba (Futaba Okazaki), Toshi's young daughter, plays with petals before they blow away in the wind. Chloe is taken aback when Grandmother asks about her life back home. Toshi quietly explains that Chloe's husband Peter (Gustaf Skarsgård) has recently passed away.
Chloe dreams about Peter in the car on the way back to the city. She wakes up teary and unnerved. Chloe can never remember her dreams, but always takes her subconscious feelings back to reality. She meets Yatsuro (Issey Ogata) the following day for work. He takes her to photograph different Japanese artisans doing their jobs. Chloe's deeply affected by a broken bowl that was glued back together with a piece missing.
Toshi and Chloe spend a great deal of time together. She doesn't speak Japanese and has trouble interacting with strangers because of the language barrier. Another friend, Cassandra (Elika Portnoy), takes her to a dance class. Kyoko (Kyoko Kudo) teaches mirrored movement, where partners face and try to mimic each other. Chloe invites Toshi to join her in the classes. Their bond begins to grow as her listless dreams still echo Peter's haunting memory.
A Patient Character Study of a Woman Rebuilding Her Life
Gray (Salt, Jack & Diane) takes a measured approach with his slice of life narrative. Chloe and Toshi are observed living naturally. They eat together, go shopping, and play with his daughter without any extraordinary interruptions. Japan is a foreign environment for Chloe. Toshi becomes her invaluable partner and guide as she acclimates. Chloe's grief is always evident, but she begins to drop her guard. Toshi, who's been dating another woman, develops a crush on the warm, sweet, and effortlessly beautiful Chloe.
Gray avoids a complete cinéma vérité immersion with periodic flashbacks of Peter. Chloe sees Peter in her sleep, but can also be triggered while awake. These scenes are subtle and introduced at random intervals. Chloe will be walking with Toshi, and then she's suddenly interacting with Peter. Her hair is always shorter in the flashbacks to prevent narrative confusion. These lingering images and emotions block her from reciprocating Toshi's growing interest. Chloe's raw heartache prevents her from being happy. She's not blind to his attraction but cannot allow herself to again experience romance.
I'll Be Your Mirror deftly uses the supporting cast to change Chloe's perceptions. The older Yatsuro and Kyoko teach Chloe to manage her sadness, but it is the endearing Futaba and her sweet innocence that becomes the most impactful. Chloe finds a healing joy in Toshi and watching his selfless parenting of a wonderful little girl. It draws her further to him and cements a desperately needed bond. Chloe lost her most treasured connection. Her journey to establishing new relationships is the crux of the film and honestly felt.
Sluggish & Overly Ethereal but Ultimately Rewarding and Moving
Gray does go overboard with poetic license. The dream sequences cloud the plot by being too ethereal. I'll Be Your Mirror isn't a fantasy but often treads visually into a domain that saps gravitas. Thankfully, Juri's soft and wounded performance keeps the film's dramatic elements intact. Chloe's a woman in distress who's struggling to find her footing. You can't help but swoon when she finally breaks down in Toshi's arms. Their tactile contact, that simple pressure between two objects, bridges a gap for Chloe that previously seemed impossible.
I'll Be Your Mirror drags considerably during its one hour and fifty-one minute runtime. There will be points where your brain wants to check out from boredom. Hang in for the entire ride. The experience compounds as Gray's vision is fully realized. How we handle death is an integral part of life. The characters are truthful and realistically depicted.
I'll Be Your Mirror, originally titled Blood, has English, Japanese, and Icelandic dialogue with English subtitles. It is a production of Mutressa Movies, Soandbrad, Evenstar Films, and the Komack Company. I'll Be Your Mirror is currently in limited theatrical release from Strand Releasing.
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