Noriko's Dinner Table

(2005) ***½

This is a prequel/sequel to the 2002 "Suicide Club". Noriko is a 17 year old who is bored with her small town life. She want to go to Tokyo for college but after 2 cousins that went before her come back pregnant, her father is reluctant to let her go. She finds a small community of teenage girls just like her online, they are all from the Tokyo area. She decides to run away from home. She meets up with a girl who's screen name is Ueno54. She meets Noriko at the train station with her parents and little brother. The go to visit her grandparents and Noriko is moved by how close and friendly the family is.

The next day Ueno and Noriko dress up and head out. They arrive at a middleaged man's house and they begin acting like his daughters.This is Ueno's business, she provides families for people for a limited time for a price. Noriko slowly loses her identity and becomes the character Mitsuko. Meanwhile, her sister Yuka begins posting o the site where Noriko met Ueno. Noriko finds her sister and soon she is following in her footsteps. Noriko is sent by Ueno to witness a mass suicide of 54 girls as they throw themselves into an oncoming train.

Tetsuzo, their distraught father who is an ex-reporter sets out to find his daughters. When he discovers that the wesite they have been posting on is also a suicide club he devises a complex plan to win back his daughters.

This was one long movie 2hrs and 39 minutes. I have to say that the story kept my attention the entire time. You discover just how far these girls will take their role playing with Ueno. Even to the point of willful suicide or becoming a murder victim. I really liked the film despite it's length and the continuous light guitar music throughout, the neverending song. The ending was unexpected but good. Not as bloody as suicide club but it makes up for it in plot.