Wool 100%


Wool 100% is a 2006 Japanese comedy-fantasy film directed by Mai Tominaga. It was released on October 28, 2006 in Japan and had a United States release on September 12, 2007. The film stars Kyōko Kishida and Kazuko Yoshiyuki as two elderly sisters who discover a mysterious young girl in their house who continually knits a red sweater, leading them to name her "Knit-again".

Synopsis

Elderly sisters Ume and Kame spend their days dumpster diving in order to find various "treasures" that they haul back to their house, which is full of the various objects that they have collected over the years. One day they discover a skein of red yarn, which prompts the appearance of Aminaoshi, a strange young girl that uses the yarn to repeatedly knit and then unravel a red sweater. They try to get her to leave, only for her to refuse and try to damage things in the house.
The two sisters let her stay, but her presence brings back memories of a door-to-door junk dealer that they had both become infatuated with, before he left to fight in World War II. He never returned, but Ume and Kame kept hope that he would return and collected various bits of trash in preparation for when he comes back. Through Aminaoshi, the two sisters eventually come to terms with the fact that the junk dealer will not return.

Cast

Critical reception for Wool 100% has been mostly positive and the film holds a rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes based upon 5 reviews. Film Threat gave a mostly positive review, citing the acting of Kishida and Yoshiyuki as a highlight and expressing hope that "Tominaga will bring these characters for further adventures." Variety gave an overall positive review but commented that "Thesping is stiff, as is helming, which suggests Tominaga, who is predominantly an animator, is unaccustomed to actors and has not yet established a comfortable directorial rhythm." A reviewer for DVD Talk noted that not all viewers would like the film but that "while we're tuned into its wavelength, Wool 100% is wonderful."

Awards