As Japan moves to the 21st century and beyond, traditional gender roles expressed in the statement Good Wife, Wise Mother are beginning to shift. More and more women in Japan are choosing careers over marriage, in part due to the shaky economy.
Girls for Keeps (the Japanese title is simply "Girl") is told through four interconnected stories about women in their thirties dealing with their role in society and what it means to be a girl. Kosaka (Michiko Kichise) is a single woman working at a stationery factory who is attracted to a guy 12 years her junior. Yukiko (Karina) works in a department store and faces a "thirtysomething" crisis as she mulls giving up her 'girly' tendencies and settle down with her boyfriend. Seiko (Kumiko Aso) is married but childless. At work, she deals with the difficulties of doing work in a male-dominated workplace. Takako (Yuka Itaya) is a single mom who tries to raise her young son by herself, taking the role of both mother and father.
Of course, a lot of this is told through gloss and pop songs and a few sappy dramatic moments. But the message of the movie is clear: be who you want to be, don't let anyone dictate who you should be, have a little fun sometimes. GIRL POWER!
It's a nice film that's worth a watch. Personally my little surprise came in the form of Rosa Kato, who plays a supporting character.
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