Name: Pension Metsa
Genre: Drama
Released: 2021-01-15
Rating: 7.5
Cast: Satomi Kobayashi, Masako Motai, Takashi Yamanaka

Am entranced with the ambience and feeling of the series. Although nothing much (action-wise) seems to happen during the main portion of each episode, there is a subtle (or maybe not so subtle) twist at the end of each. Many philosophical questions raised, usually in the form of quiet dialogue. The episodes are short. The cinematography and audio are crisp and pleasing. There is a quietness and an ephemeral quality that permeates the scenes. The first episode is very much in sync with many Japanese ghost stories, relating to transformation/hidden nature of living beings. The other episodes also deal with rather deep issues. I haven't fully figured out what all of them mean ... but have an inkling about some: the juxtaposition of nature vs man-made things, the pros and cons of solitude, the beauty of quiet, sparseness, nature; the transitory aspect of our lives. There is a profound aloofness (even while she exudes charm and warmth) about the protagonist. The protagonist is a very good actor ... conveys a great deal of meaning with just an instantaneous expression or glance - and has a fascinating face (imho). This is an intellectual challenge; but as I say, it is very soothing. I'll probably think of more things in my dreams. It's interesting that the name of the pension (guesthouse) is 'Metsa' and in the 3rd episode a visitor has just returned from Estonia where 'metsa', in Estonian means 'forest' ... and the forest in which the pension is located is very central to these stories. That is, there is a connectedness between episodes ... although technically each is a separate little story. Well worth watching.

Japanese cinema is celebrated for its refined minimalist dramas and avant-garde experimentation; it also introduced popular genres like jidaigeki (samurai epics), kaiju, and anime. Across both high art and mass entertainment, it often explores morality, impermanence, and the pressures of modern life.

Hidetoshi Nishijima and Tôko Miura in Drive My Car (2021)

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

revolves around Tenko, a lady who runs a pension located in a forest in Nagano. Each episode features a new guest at the pension. The interactions between Tenko and her guests unravel throughout each episode

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Pension Metsa

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