Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko: Review
Child-Like Maturity
Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko is a 2021 anime film directed by Ayumu Watanabe (Children of the Sea, Komi Can’t Communicate), animated by Studio 4C (Children of the Sea, Mind Game), and based on the novel of the same name by Kanako Nishi. Creative producer Sanma Akashiya spearheaded this project in what can be considered a culmination of factors the gods were pushing him towards; whether it be the author lauding his work ethic to that of ukiyo-e artist, Katsushika Hokusai on Mr. Akashiya’s on talk show, Sanma no Manma, to an eventual MRI scan for good measure.
The story proper involves two characters and a question - Nikuko, a vibrant pun-loving mother, and her reserved yet observant daughter, Kikuko; binding them is this central question: how are they related when they both look and act so different? All-in-all a simple, laidback character narrative all set in a small ocean town.
Most of the film is told similarly to J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye - our Holden Caulfield is Kikuko and we come to experience the world through her interactions with the various people of this town, save for a flashback. Kikuko sees her mother as a ball of energy, resiliently bouncing her light to others in the town while also from her past betrayals from greedy boyfriends. Beyond those details Kikuko - along with myself and the audience - are left wondering what Nikuko’s intentions, motivations, and thoughts are. Any sudden shift and decision from her mother may result in both of them moving away for the fifth time. Kikuko’s quiet angst makes for an interesting foil to Nikuko’s energetic spirit - how could Nikuko ever be an adult when she acts so much like a kid and vice versa. This duo specifically examines how different people with complementary dynamics - mother/daughter; expressive/reserved; adult/teenager - embraces change. Nikuko puts a smile and moves on, while Kikuko bottles her worries until the time comes to reluctantly deal with it. Encapsulating this difference is in the school sports festival, Kikuko keeps a straight face in every activity, doing her best to not embarrass herself. Nikuko, on the other hand, makes frequent false starts, wheezes through the track, and gracefully finishes the race…in last place. The day after, Kikuko notes her mom’s notoriety around the town and Nikuko triumphantly declares “They can call me ‘the happy fat lady at the grill.’ They can call you ‘The pretty kid, so unlike her mom.’ But I am Lady Nikuko, and I love it!” If it is not obvious, I love this duo.
Along with this is Kikuko’s own myriad of problems from her rift with her best friend Mary to the mystery of the quiet, yet secretly expressive boy, Ninomiya. These moments further her own self-awareness of her own relational insecurities, quirks, and frustrations. For instance, Kikuko goes with Ninomiya to the Kotobuki Center to see his model. Through an exchange of dopey faces she expresses her anger towards Mary only to realize that Kikuko is the one harboring the most annoyance over anybody in the class. Then another silly-faced exchange only this time, Kikuko wells up, crying knowing she is the immature one.
For all of its charm, it is rather hard to pinpoint where the emphasis may be. Spending time with various characters can leave one wondering where and what the point is. Does it lie in Nikuko’s youthful spirit, Ninomiya’s silly faces, Mary’s yearning for belonging? There are many plot lines and motifs, yet little time for development. As each of the aforementioned interactions, I am left with not knowing much about these side characters as opposed to how each of them shape Kikuko into a more developed person. They operate functionally as opposed to relationally. Of course there are moments of genuine humanity: Ninomiya and Kikuko exchanging weird faces is a cheeky - no pun intended - term of endearment; Nikuko smiling with her pupils visible speaks volumes to the level care she has for those closest to her; Mary running and cursing through the rain is funny. Though I am left with nothing more than just glimpses that define Kikuko as opposed to the people. There seems to be a lot going on beyond the surface that unfortunately gets underdeveloped, thereby dampening the experience and weight of the message. The conflict at hand, more or less, does not get much development until the last leg of the film. Without giving much away, it is a truly impactful theme yet lacks the emotional gut punch due to shaky narrative buildup and execution; it just happens. It feels like a lot has been crammed into 96 minutes.
Perhaps this is myself wanting more connection with the people in this town - Nikuko, Kikuko, the students, the chef, and much more. A more realized world - and maybe a longer run time - would have reinforced the aforementioned motifs that this story explores. I would love to see more of this small town - how in spite of being there for a short amount of time, she is able to find home in herself, family, and community. While Kikuko may have had the most change, it is disappointing to not be able to immerse in its world nor come out of it feeling the journey just as she has. Then again, I cannot deny the small charming moments spread in the movie. They are as ordinary as they are familiar, if not magical. Nikuko, arguably, carries this movie through with a warm beaming smile anyone could ever want. Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko may have its clumsy and undercooked moments - leaving us in its mundane mystery - yet its charm is what stays with you; endearing, weird, and simple just like the mother daughter duo.
Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko is in theaters. Tickets and information here
Many thanks to Sophia Kandah of 42WestLLC and GKids for the screener.