Bitter Honey

A dreamy, unsettling fable that blurs fantasy and desire, asking for patience as it slowly turns its male-gaze premise inside out.

Directed by

Gakuryu Ishii

Genres

Drama, Fantasy

Starring

Fumi Nikaido, Ren Osugi, Yoko Maki

Overview

Akako, a shape-shifting goldfish in the form of a coquettish nymphet clad in diaphanous red dresses, naively plays the role of erotic muse and adoring pet for an aging writer seeking greatness. Things quickly get complicated for the odd couple, however, when the writer's deceased former student/lover enters the picture as a ghost and helps Akako realize her own desires, activating her agency and frustrating the one-sided male fantasy the writer is so keen to continue.

How it feels

Whimsical, eerie, melancholic and satirical. Slow-burning and needs your attention.

About

Identity, obsession, sexuality, freedom

Content

Strong sexual content. Mild violence and language. No gore.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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Watch the trailer on YouTube (opens in a new tab)