カロリーメイト | Mate | 2016
Running is beautiful. Memories are beautiful. Friendship is beautiful. / CALORIEMATE "Mate"
There are friends, all born in 1991, who shave their heads, run, show each other their backs as they go, and laugh — and just that is already a complete piece of film. There's a series like that.
The insight
I found myself wondering why they'd gone and done something that felt like a chalkboard-art PR stunt, but then this piece came right back to basics. Just the conversation between a senior and junior as they run together is, all on its own, a solid portrait of youth.
The idea
"Is putting in your dues even worth it?" "It is. ...Just kidding. Honestly, even I don't know." Whether it's a school sports club or studying for entrance exams isn't made clear, but the film quietly shows a senior and junior talking as they run side by side. "Do you want to go back? To high school?" "No way, I had a shaved head back then. ...Actually, kind of want to go back." The rhythm of these lines is the best.
Afterthought
Being able to make something this good in the same series without much time passing makes me think all over again that Fukube-san is a genius. I want this series to go on forever, I want to keep watching it forever. Running is beautiful. Memories are beautiful. Friendship is beautiful.
