FORTUNE FAVORS LADY NIKUKO
Cert PG ★★★
In cinemas now
The larger-than-life Lady Nikuko is a woman driven by boundless enthusiasm.
She delights in the possibility of romance, the prospect of a delicious meal (and second helpings), and the hope in a new day dawning. Her sunny personality grates on her daughter Kikuko who has reached the age when all parents are a source of embarrassment.
Adapted from a Japanese novel, this meandering, overlong anime finds its heart in the strength of the mother and daughter story. Making a fresh start in a small, rundown fishing port, Kikuko is faced with the prospect of attending another school and having to make new friends. Resentment of her mother only intensifies but, over the course of the film, a glimmer of understanding starts to blossom.
Lizards, seagulls, a penguin and various sea creatures add a fun element in an animated tale with a sincere, sensitively handled message about being true to yourself and finding joy in the world.