2LDK (2002)

3 Stars (out of 4)

Boiler Roommate

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

In this Japanese movie, two actresses -- opposites in every way -- discover that they are finalists for a movie part. Unfortunately, they also share a gorgeous Tokyo apartment and their normal roommate squabbles have now become elevated to deadly proportions. Writer/director Yukihiko Tsutsumi builds his conflict gradually, starting with venomous, private voiceover thoughts, moving up to door-slamming and finally, out-and-out combat. The two girls, Eiko Koike as Nozomi, a small-town, educated, virginal, withdrawn soul and Maho Nonami as Lana, an outgoing, flame-haired, big city vixen, are terrific. At first, audience sympathy slides toward Nozomi simply because we meet her first, but the movie eventually evens the score. With its cast of two (plus a couple of male voices on the telephone) and its single set, this is low-budget filmmaking at its finest.

DVD Details: TLA Releasing has distributed this movie on a DVD by itself, and also in the much more affordable "Danger After Dark" box set, including Suicide Club (2002) and Moon Child (2003). All three discs come with trailers and various other extras.