Anyone who knows me knows I am a sucker for Japanese and Asian Cinema and Unearthed had been teasing a trinity of three that I needed to see. Yesterday, I finally got my hands on Unearthed Film’s blu-ray release of Yukihiko Tsutsumi’s 2003 film 2LDK and might I say, for as short as the film is, it is one hell of a wild ride.
2LDK stars Eiko Koike and Maho Nonami as two roommates who are competing over the same role and, unknowingly, the same man. What starts as a petty squabble over personal belongings and house rules quickly turns into more than just hurt feelings as the two roommates battle in an all out war including eggs, power tools, feudal era Japanese weaponry, cleaning chemicals, and more.
What I will admit is with a runtime of 70 minutes, the characters are very well fleshed out. You learn history about both of them. They both are damaged characters with their own demons. The action scenes are well done and the violence is great all the way till it’s bloody end. Sometimes you’ll get a cat fight and sometimes you’ll get a borderline martial arts film. The camera work is well done. Plus, the twist at the end almost makes it a perfect little sick comedic moment.
The downside in my opinion is the runtime for sure. With a runtime of only 70 minutes, the film almost leaves you wanting a little more. However, I almost don’t want it too much longer. It didn’t need to be a huge film but an extra 10 or 15 minutes wouldn’t have hurt it either.
Overall, I highly recommend 2LDK if you are a fan of Asian cinema. It’s a perfect little hidden gem that I am glad Unearthed Films brought to light. You can get 2LDK from Amazon, Unearthed Films official webstore, or anywhere you can buy films.
