Aoi haru (2001)

Aoi haru: Directed by Toshiaki Toyoda. With Ryûhei Matsuda, Hirofumi Arai, Sôsuke Takaoka, Yûsuke Ohshiba. A group of a run-down Tokyo high school students face the struggles of growing up, growing apart from their friends and worrying about their future, while living in a highly violent environment.

“Iu0026#39;m going to keep it short: I do hope this movie doesnu0026#39;t die out along with the jap trend as it is really worth seeing, especially if you are around (or just past the age of the protagonists) or planning to be involved in education. Itu0026#39;s got great yet simple symbolism and a teenage-angst ridden realism that isnu0026#39;t try-hard. If you have experienced anything close to that kind of school envimeronment, it hits home. If you have been as privileged as not to, then it might prove to be quite eye-opening. In other words, it is food for thought, paired with a killer soundtrack, that embraces and escalates the feelings of each scene: be it angst, sadness, pressure or the very abscense of any of them.”