It's high time I got stuck into more of the movies from Whose Film Is It Anyway?, The Japan Foundation's Touring Film Programme.
Thus, over the next few days I'll take advantage of my hols to give you the full rundown.
First up today is The Dark Harbour which is one of those movies which makes me realise why I adore Japanese cinema and why I am desperate to visit the country.
Essentially, Takatsugu Naito's movie surrounds a simple concept of a desperately lonely fisherman who longs for a relationship with a woman.
When the opportunity arises, out of the blue, however, thinks don't run nearly as smoothly as he would have hoped.
If that sounds a little hum drum, what is doesn't reflect is that this is a film of comedy, pathos as well as the plain weird (this is Japan!).
Shinya Kote plays the central character who, for the first 15 minutes of the movie, appears either backward or mute.
He speaks only to ask for a drink at a bar and then misses out on two obvious opportunities to hook up with women.
To say the fisherman is awkward would be putting it mildly. He can't even have a decent conversation with his friends so when a local match-making service comes to his village, along with available women, he doesn't exactly knock them off their feet.
Then something happens which rather changes things and suddenly his personality comes to life.
To say any more would be spoiler-city but I can say that it becomes a heart-warming and at the same time heart-breaking event.
Kote is splendidly dead pan in his role, supported by a cast who play up to the quirkiness of Naito's direction.
It is a quiet film and won't be for everyone but I, in my holiday good mood, got a decent amount out of it.
Laughs: four - a really good tally for a low-key film watched on a lap-top.
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 6/10
Thanks to Douglas at the Japan Foundation for the screener. The touring festival is currently playing in Sheffield and is moving on to Belfast, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Nottingham.
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