Its directors called this an experimental combination of documentary and fiction. Its story and characters are charming, but based on real people who are often playing themselves on-screen. Our heroine, Kyouko, lives in a laundry that's run by her parents... who are played by the real owners of the laundry where this film was shot and who even have a daughter the same age as Kyouko. It's that kind of film. There are also lots of documentary-style talking heads, in which people talk about their lives and experiences. This doesn't feel fictional and presumably isn't.

It's also a love letter to the city of Kyoto. They discuss its history as a filmmaking hub (once called Japan's Hollywood), in large part thanks to Daiei Studios (which went bankrupt in 1971). This isn't a cineaste's point of view, but instead heard from local shopkeepers. Filmmaking supported the local economy, e.g. selling packed lunches to the film crews.

I loved all that documentary stuff. They're the best thing about this film, although I also enjoyed it as a conventional narrative. That has three main characters:

1. Kyouko (Hana Ebise) is a lively, likeable young woman who works in the university library and reacts badly to attempted romance.

2. Kouta (Yoshihiro Usami) is a stand-up comedian who keeps failing auditions. He's a nice guy, but not too bright. He has the perfect face for a comedian, but to my surprise the actor who plays him is mostly a dancer. But in this role he's very good.

3. Enoki (Soutarou Tanaka) is a slightly pompous university lecturer who's bad at: (a) romance, and (b) staying upright. It never stops being funny to see slip-ups from this dignified, buttoned-up chap in a suit and tie. He's nice too and has interesting kanji discussions. Also, the actor's charming and I'm not surprised that of these three leads, he's the only one who's still working as an actor today. I laughed at his facial expressions when he's reading that love letter, for instance.

Kouta and Enoki both fancy Kyouko, but all three of them are clueless about love. Also, this isn't the kind of film where everything's predictable and the happy ending is preordained. Here, there are no perfect fits. Will they bumble through? Maybe. You wish them well, anyway.

This is a warm, close-knit film. It's interested in the history and people of Kyoto, including a festival that looks fun. It's about community, family and people who don't know what's in their futures. It's low-key, but it's pleasant spending time with these people.