RIVER

This is a Japanese comedy, set in a ryokan or inn, where the staff and guests get trapped in an endlessly repeating time loop that is precisely two minutes long.

The main character is a young woman, Mikoto, who works at the inn.  She and the other staff adjust to the idea that they are in a time loop remarkably quickly, their top priority being to reassure the guests.

These too adjust surprisingly well to their new situation.  A writer is pleased he no longer has to worry about his deadline for the novel he is writing.  A couple of young guys are happy to hear that the beer they drink will replenish itself every two minutes, and they won't get drunk.

So there's plenty of fun in the early iterations of the loop.  Fortunately memories are not erased when the loop resets, so that the characters can progress.  

Mikoto is in love with Taku who works in the kitchen.  She confesses to him that she is responsible for the loop because she prayed to one of the gods to stop the river outside the inn from flowing.  Why?  Because she doesn't want him to carry out his plan to leave for France so as to study French cuisine. 

When others at the hotel hear that Mikoto is to blame for the loop I thought the film might be taking a darker turn, as she and Taku try to find different ways of evading the staff and guests.  But the light tone is maintained, even when the writer commits suicide just to see what the experience is like.

Needless to say Mikoto is not responsible for the loop appearing.  The explanation, and how the loop is ended, is a science fiction one but it has a whimsical flavour to it in keeping with the rest of the film.

There's some sadness at the end because Mikoto has to accept that Taku will be leaving.  Given that Mikoto is such a sweet and charming presence in the film, whilst Taku didn't strike me as anything special, I am hopeful she will meet someone better.