Here we go with more from the in-progress New York Asian Film Festival ... this time around it's John Fisk with his thoughts on Late Bloomer.
A hidden treasure or Asian cinema poo? This one is a must-see to personally decide. The Late Bloomer is about a physically handicapped man named Sumida. Sumida loves the taste of a good beer, the sight of cute college ladies, and collecting his favorite toys. Other than that his "normality" stops. Sumida is handicapped, overlooked, but should always be taken seriously.
With Sumida's inability to clearly express himself, his personal rage, regret, and loneliness simply piggyback upon his twisted form and slowly break his spirit. He has three caregivers who help assist his living independently. One is a heavy metal playing man who impresses his friendship upon Sumida. The second, a young college woman, is unaware of her allure. And the last is a middle-aged woman who treats Sumida like a checklist at a grocery store.
Trapped in a bent and crumpled body Sumida cruises around by wheelchair. His only expression of thought is through a speaking device much like Steven Hawking's, an advanced looking speak and spell. After expressing his desires to Nobuko (his college aged female caregiver) and being rejected, a self-actualization happens to Sumida. Seeing a form bond at a poetry reading between Nobuko and the other caregiver (his heavy metal playing "pal") he takes a cue from a poet at the poetry reading, which they are attending: violence is expression. Violence can get you what you want and get you heard.
At this poetry reading, Sumida realizes no one is paying attention to the Poet. He is reciting his art but the audience is talking among themselves. The poet finishes, turns to leave, but instead steps among the crowd and begins to scream and smack the members of the audience. The scene ends with the ever-present smile of Sumida. He has realized what he must do.
Now being a handicapped murderer, you can lure and find your prey fairly easy. We all have our own impressions of the handicapped. Those personal perceptions are what can trap us. After viewing this black and white film I found that you should never, never, never underestimate the handicapped. When you least expect it, if they wish, they can mercilessly stab you until blood sprays from your severed artery like a hose spewing water.
The Late Bloomer is built like its lead actor. Twisted, rough, and jerky. It's momentary brilliance shines itself through bit by bit. Not a movie for everyone, but a film everyone should see.