Synopsis
Three believers affiliated to a new religion, Smiley Life Cult, voluntarily practice it on an uninhabited island. One woman and two men are self-sufficient and immersed in the training, which purifies their souls through sharing their dreams every day while following the instructions from the superior authority. They wait for the day of going to heaven and escaping the corrupt world, but as things gradually disturb their training, their innocent relationship starts to fail. Famous for his prolificacy and acknowledged for his talent with critical success, not to mention the numerous invitations from overseas film festivals, director Jojo Hideo has reinterpreted acclaimed original comics in his own style. His clever and economical directing is fascinating, showing the basic instincts and diverse nature of human beings through the three people using a pseudo-religion as subject matter. Serious messages behind comic situations and erotic scenes reminiscent of Pink Movies proves his other forte. (Martin LEE)