Quirky and charming, Hold Me Back feels kind of like Japan’s equivalent of Amelie — perfectly blending the loneliness and hilarity of the human experience into an unforgettable energetic romantic comedy.

Mitsuko (played by Non) is 31, single, and leads a happy life with her own imaginary counselor. When a handsome salesman enters her world… love is throws a wrench in the peaceful and solitary life she’s crafted for herself.

Sleek and smart, director Takeshi Kitano’s film examines the extreme violence of Japanese mobs and contrasts it with the reserved nature of Japanese culture in a knock out film that redefines the yakuza genre.

While a group of gangsters wait for trouble to pass in a remote beach house, the violent habits of career criminals seep through in games and amusements — until their time is up and they can’t hide from the yakuza lifestyle any longer.

On-Gaku is the lo-fi, arthouse rocker comedy we didn’t know we needed. An unconventional animated film coming out of Japan in 2019, On-Gaku (translates to “our sound”) follows a group of bored delinquent teens who come together to play music and discover the joy of creating something of their own. It was based on a manga created by Hiroyuki Ôhashi.

Director Kenji Iwaisawa took seven years to make On-Gaku, his first feature film, and the scrappy passion for filmmaking and classic rock is contagious.