It's a good movie to watch when you're bored or just want to play something in the background. There's not really a good slowburn aspect, but that is to be expected of a movie. Story was meh, but it did have a somewhat creative plotline with the Matryoshka doll and it's significance. In my opinion, the main character Hirofumi is FAR too awkward. There's a line between being awkward but the acting is bearable and then there's being awkward and the acting being awkward too. Although I will say that I liked the love interest, Shinji. His acting was actually not that bad and felt genuine. On the other hand, these two as a couple did not feel genuine or authentic and the final kiss scene was honestly repulsive because of how unnatural it felt. Dude was kissing with his eyes wide open and they even added an intimate scene that looked even worse because they were just flailing around and mouth breathing on one another. The movie is old so I can't be too harsh on it but it definitely has it's shortcomings. I'd watch only if you just need something to watch. It wasn't horrendous, just awkward.