Ghost Soup (TV Movie 1992)

Ghost Soup: Directed by Shunji Iwai. With Ranran Suzuki, Hiroyuki Watari, Dave Spector, Ken Mitsuishi. Agreeing to move out of his old apartment early to help out others, Ichiro shows up unexpectedly to move into his new place on Christmas Eve, a couple of weeks ahead of schedule. As he starts to unpack, he is beset upon by a series of salesmen at his door and as a result he is already not in the mood to make concessions when two strangely dressed and mannered visitors, Nana and Mel, arrive and insist that he and his possessions are in the way of their plans to hold a Christmas party they cannot re-schedule. In the ensuing see-saw battle over possession of the premises, the pair seems to have some unfair advantages. For instance, Ichiro finds it frustrating that only he seems to be able to see the odd pair. Whether or not Ghost Soup can be made and served hangs in the balance.

“A college student moves into his new apartment at Christmastime, but heu0026#39;s a month ahead of his previous schedule because he had to leave his previous residence ahead of plan. Suddenly, two people appear at the door — a teenage girl and her childlike older male friend — claiming that theyu0026#39;ve previously scheduled a Christmas party to be held in the apartment. He throws them out, along with their three silent companions.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThey donu0026#39;t take u0026quot;Get Out!u0026quot; as an answer and conspire to get the student out of his apartment long enough to have their party. Their plotting produces comedic results, but — as the filmu0026#39;s title implies — thereu0026#39;s a lot more to the situation and a deeper purpose for the party.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAn utterly charming, fragile story, saved from being cloying by the (sometimes broad) performances and a precise directorial hand. Targeting kids, I suppose, but so endearing that it touches adults, too.”