Radiance: Kawase Naomi’s interesting, poetic drama goes beyond the simple romance of two unlikely matched people; it’s a rich reflection on loss, empathy and how hard the communication between those that lose and those that try to empathise can be. More narrowly, the film deals with images and vision, and its aesthetics match those themes: director of photography Dodo Arata relies heavily on extreme close-ups, soft-focus and flares, and those images are exquisite. Ibrahim Maalouf’s musical score is beautiful and matches the mood nicely. The performances are subtle and effective: Misaki Ayame projects the sensibility, intelligence and vivacity called by her character, as well as her vulnerability; Nagase Masatoshi is good as the wounded man who lost what mattered the most, displaying his constant edginess.