Hitsudan Hostess (2010)

Initially I was drawn to this movie because of the actress Kitagawa Keiko being in it. After finding out it was based on a real story, I had to watch it. It was a very touching story with a believable cast. I can see how it would be very difficult to enact a character without speaking at all and mainly relying on facial expressions.

The themes in this movie involve love, friendship, family, and cherishing the opportunities that come around. I highly recommend this to anyone who is considering watching it as it shows how people who are disabled want to fit in and find their place in the world, and how they should be understood and treated.

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Hitsudan Hostess is a short dorama which brings on the screen the life of Saito Rie, who managed to become Ginza's (and therefore, Japan's) number one hostess despite being deaf since age 2, wrote a bestselling autobiography and later (though this has happened after the dorama was made) became the first hearing-impaired person ever to be elected as a local assemblywoman in Tokyo. The story is really moving, the acting very good (particular praises to Kitagawa Keiko, the late Tanaka Yoshiko and Sasano Takashi - plus, it's always a pleasure to see Toda Naho) and the message conveyed so heartwarming.

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