‘Rip Van Winkle’s Bride’ is a novel by the cool director of ‘Love Letter,’ Shunji Iwai. After meeting actress Haru Kuroki at a commercial audition, he kept her image in mind while writing, and later adapted it into a film with her in the lead role. Even without watching the movie, the entire time I’m reading, the girl on the cover and the story’s heroine, Nanami, merge so seamlessly in my mind.
For Nanami, a contract teacher living life passively day by day, an online service called Planet is her only solace. Through this service, she meets a boyfriend and even gets married. With not many people to invite to her wedding, her SNS friend Rambaral introduces her to Amuro, who runs an errand service. Thanks to the fake family hired through him, the wedding is a success. But soon after, a series of events leads her to a quick divorce, leaving her wandering the streets until she’s employed again by Amuro. In this role, she meets AV actress Mashiro, and they start living together… 🌸
Director Shunji Iwai’s cynical gaze remains steady throughout the book till the end. A challenging society that seems too harsh for our tender protagonist to navigate, filled with countless scars and moments of despair. In today’s world, even with the prevalence of SNS, people might say it can’t replace real face-to-face friendships, but finding friends who can comfort your heart is already tough in reality. Despite the cute cover suggesting a light and charming tale, the author throws Nanami into situations that are almost unimaginable. Even her first real friend, Mashiro, attempts to use her as a sacrifice, weighing heavily on the reader’s heart. However, she doesn’t give up on her life and continues to move forward, step by step, as she always has. The author seems to want to say that as long as we don’t give up, life goes on, and as long as life continues, hope – though it may be as thin as a thread – never fades away.
Life is unpredictable. Living doesn’t need to be a grand challenge titled ‘Life,’ sometimes just living is admirable and deserves praise. Achievements are important, but standing firmly on the ground holds equal significance. 🌟
A novel like a radio show starting with FreeTEMPO’s ‘Imagery’ and ending with David Bowie’s ‘Where are we now’. 🎶
‘Rip Van Winkle’s Bride’.
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