This is a story of a lonely woman who doesn’t have a boyfriend, but has a voice in her head that she calls “A”. This voice is a constant companion and helps her cope during stressful and sad times. As we watch her journey, we can’t help but wonder if she’s going crazy.
The protagonist is played by Rena Nōnen, and she portrays a lonely and nervous woman around men in a very relatable way. We see her struggle with the idea of finding someone to share her life with, and the voice of “A” offers her guidance in making that happen. We see her go through different emotions and phases, but she remains true to her character throughout the movie.
One day, she meets a young man who could be the one she’s been waiting for. However, the path to true love is never smooth. Will she be able to maintain her sanity and keep the relationship going, or will she have a breakdown and destroy it before it even starts? This is the central conflict of the movie.
Unfortunately, the long runtime of “Hold Me Back” is a major issue that affects the pacing of the story. At almost 135 minutes, the movie feels too long and dragged out, especially during the scenes in Italy, which do not add much to the overall plot. The movie could have benefited from a tighter script and a shorter runtime of around 90 minutes.
Despite its pacing issues, the movie has some redeeming qualities. Rena Nōnen delivers an outstanding performance, changing personalities quite often and being believable in every scene. However, her fashion sense is so bad that it’s almost criminal! Her character’s style is a reflection of her personality, but it’s still hard to watch at times.
Overall, “Hold Me Back” is a well-acted movie that offers something unique to viewers. It explores the idea of mental health in a creative way and presents a relatable protagonist that many viewers can identify with. However, the script could have been tighter, and some scenes don’t contribute much to the story. If you’re looking for a romantic drama-comedy that offers something different, give “Hold Me Back” a chance, but be prepared for a slow burn.