It is the opposite of a prestige Hollywood blockbuster primed to manufacture astonishment on an industrial level. But if this is the Summer of Awe, the visionary “Jinsei” belongs right there alongside them.

I see so much potential in Suzuki’s skill as an image-creator, and his process with Jinsei where he created the scenes over an 18-month crunch makes for an exciting behind-the-scenes story.

Anyone lamenting that it’s getting harder to make truly personal films should jump at the chance to watch something that so clearly emerged from the mind of one passionate artist.

… presents a life lived through stoicism built entirely by a trauma response that’s never treated or addressed. The end result is a film that breaks your heart, even as you may feel distant from it.