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Japanese director Kiyoshi Kurosawa is an intriguing filmmaker. His films can be difficult in terms of plot, yet the visual style and energy created is mind-blowing. His 2003 film, Bright Future is no exception. Through long extended takes, split-screens, multiple narratives, Kurosawa creates a fascinating, surreal, dreamlike atmosphere of isolation. This visual atmosphere represents the main characters disconnection with the world. Kurosawa adds poetic symbolism's, unpredictability, and unique cinematic touches throughout. Bright Future can be most compared to Kurosawa's Charisma, which (as this film does with Jellyfish) features a "deadly creature" outside it's environment. The Jellyfish, much like the films characters, are searching their unknown environment, deeply navigating towards a brighter future. Ultimately, Bright Future is a film of survival and hope. The final shot displays the films theme as we see a group of young boys, walking with assurance, towards the future that lies ahead.
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