“Kids these days…” People grow up, leaving that phase behind.

Josh, a 44-year-old struggling documentary director living in Brooklyn, and his wife Cornelia, a 42-year-old film producer. They have no children and their life motto is, "We just need to be free." It has been eight years since Josh's well-received previous film, and he is still editing his new work. He also worked as an instructor at an art school.

One day, after class, a couple approaches him. They are Jamie, an aspiring director who says he's a fan of Josh's work, and his wife Darby, an ice cream maker, both in their twenties. By chance, Cornelia joins them, and the four hit it off over dinner. The couple in their forties, invited to their home to see Jamie's work, are astonished by their lifestyle.

They listen to retro music on vinyl records and watch old movies on videotape. Their furniture is handmade, and when they can't remember something, they don't look it up on their smartphones, saying, "It's interesting, let's wait until we remember." They don't seem to use social media much either. The couple in their forties finds themselves resonating with and influenced by the younger couple, whose fresh ideas inject excitement into their monotonous lives. Although they drift apart from their settled friends of the same age, their interactions with the stimulating new generation make them feel as if they've become young again.



However, the fun only lasts for a while. Soon, they are confronted with the differences in values and morals between generations, and are forced to realize that they have indeed become adults. The film subtly and wittily depicts the last-ditch efforts of youth before reaching that point, which is quite intriguing. Readers in their forties might find it full of relatable moments, so beware: you might find yourself smiling wryly, seeing yourself reflected.

It is painful to admit that one is no longer young. But adults will surely recognize what has been lost through this film. The privilege of youth is the ability to charge forward without fear. It is the belief that their own values are superior to those of adults, without fully understanding the world. And it is the ability to feel genuine frustration at adults who, bound by their circumstances, cannot do what seems obvious.

Even if one learns upon entering the workforce that society doesn't function on logic alone, the sense of omnipotence that young people possess before fully becoming adults is, in a way, precious. It is the heart that fears no failure and is not bound by convention that can defy current norms and create new values for a new era.

Therefore, perhaps the magnanimity of an adult lies in the grace to pass on what must be passed on to the next generation once one realizes they no longer possess it. No matter how old we get, we should aspire to be people with the breadth of spirit to embrace the fearlessness we once had. We should be seniors who can genuinely admire and feel the brilliance of the youthful spirit.

In the film, when a discussion arises about the extent to which creation and artifice are permissible in documentary filmmaking, a gap in morals and values becomes apparent between the director in his forties and the one in his twenties. Without fear of misunderstanding, it is true that taking a bold approach, even on the verge of taboo, can sometimes produce something great. This is especially true for matters of creation.

It is frightening when common sense is rewritten before our eyes. But that time will come. What Josh and Cornelia's growth taught me is that becoming an adult likely means having an unshakeable core, a set of values, no matter how異質な things appear. If you can believe in yourself, you can accept the differences of others.

This film is a stylish comedy that, set to 80s music, satirically depicts cutting-edge culture, yet it captures the present day and hides hints on how to live through it. The strong emotion that lingers after the laughter is likely because it makes us consider how we should be in a society where new worlds and new things are constantly emerging. This film may also be an anthem for "adults who have realized they are no longer young."



★★★☆☆
The portrayal of forty-somethings who "think they're still young" is sometimes so painfully accurate it's impossible not to laugh. It's real, but its mercilessness is so brilliant it's infuriating, hence three stars.


While You Were Sleeping
Directed by Noah Baumbach ( "Frances Ha," "The Squid and the Whale" )
Starring Ben Stiller ( "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" ), Naomi Watts ( "21 Grams" ), Adam Driver ( "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" ), Amanda Seyfried ( "Les Misérables" )
Opening July 22 (Friday) at TOHO Cinemas Miyuki-za and other theaters nationwide.
©2014 InterActiveCorp Films, LLC.


JUN MAKIGUCHI
After working for Kyodo News, a film festival secretariat, and magazine editing, she became an independent writer. She currently writes film columns and interviews for women's and men's magazines, focusing on lifestyle topics such as fashion, food, and music seen on screen.

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