The film is smart, warm and oh, so relatable. Terrifying too, but hopeful.

This dry, semi-dystopian drama looks terrific: director Neo Sora’s elegant framing captures playful visual details. And there’s a satisfying depth and contemporary relevance to the themes that the picture touches upon.

What keeps things engaging are the committed performances by the younger actors, especially Inori, who steals the movie from her goofier co-stars by sheer, quiet force of will, inhabiting a sense of ideological resolve that feels positively aspirational.

This is a deft and confident debut from Sora.