Slowly

Kotaro and Yoko are headed back from a high school reunion, when on the way a tennis umpire’s chair blocks their path, and the person who has come to pick it up is someone that Kotaro used to teach at a cram school, and he asks for their help to take it to the local tennis club.

Directed by Momoko Fukuda, Slowly leans on a strong ensemble — Jeonmyeon Pe, Ai Bito, Takeshi Donguri — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2019.