Chime Review: Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Brief Thriller May Not Linger, But It Makes an Impact.

      Note: This review was initially published as part of our coverage of the 2024 Berlinale. The film will be released in theaters on March 27.

      How does one even begin to discuss Chime, a film that keeps its mysteries hidden and thrives on its shocking twists? It’s fair to state that the director is Kiyoshi Kurosawa, and it’s also important to note that Chime runs for 45 minutes, giving it the feel of a pilot for a television series that may never air, further adding to its allure. Like much of the director's oeuvre, it evokes the kind of late-night viewing you might have experienced when you were too young, leaving a lasting impression.

      The plot centers on Matsuoka (Mutsuo Yoshioka), a somewhat strict instructor at a culinary school, where the narrative begins. The classroom appears ordinary at first, filled with routine tasks like washing and chopping. Then, Kurosawa's focus shifts to a student at the back, Tashiro, who is chopping onions in a manner that could be amusing if it weren’t so disconcerting. Tashiro subsequently reveals that half of his brain has been replaced with machinery and asserts that he hears a “chime.” Very little is elaborated upon regarding this. Later, another student, Akemi, recoils at the sight of raw chicken, which visibly disturbs Matsuoka. Kurosawa likely prefers we refrain from sharing more.

      The director has consistently conveyed a belief that an unsettling tension lurks just beneath the facade of everyday life, which it indeed does: a mere button press away or perhaps the simple flick of a knife. The startling moments in Chime's early scenes lack a clear aftermath, amplifying their discomforting nature. Instead, we follow Matsuoka through a world that has become surreal. He returns home and interacts with friends, and you’re left waiting, almost yearning for some form of resolution. Visually, Chime starts in a sterile, metallic environment (highlighted by Matsuoka’s immaculate classroom) but transitions to a disorienting handheld video style, as if we have shifted from one film to an entirely different one. For a moment, it evokes thoughts of the stalkers in Caché. Then it concludes.

      Chime is the first of three Kurosawa films slated for release this year. The second is a remake of his own film, Serpent’s Path, featuring Damien Bonnard and Mathieu Amalric. The third, titled Cloud, is set to premiere in Japan this September. The director has characterized it as exploring violent events that “occur for seemingly no reason.” The same could be said of Chime, which revels in the horrific psychological aftermath of violence while hinting at a vivid dream—the kind of fragmented nightmare you’re thankful to wake from, yet just as frightened to leave unresolved.

      Chime debuted at the 2024 Berlinale.

      Grade: B