Ping Pong (feature film)
Taiyo Matsumoto’s graphic novels have enjoyed a good track record in print-to-screen adaptations. Black and White became the innovative and vibrant animation Tekkonkinkreet; Ping Pong in contrast shares the live-action treatment with Blue Spring. Across all of his back catalogue, regardless of medium, Matsumoto’s work has an uncanny knack for highlighting inner conflict and the importance of friendship in the face of adversity. In the case of Ping Pong it follows the exploits of teenage eccentric Peco Hoshino and the ironically nicknamed ‘Smile’ Tsukimoto - two childhood buddies who, despite their polar opposite personalities and philosophies, are united by a mutual interest in playing table tennis.
At worst, sporting films are often limited to fans of the pursuit in question and at best limited to sports fans in general. Given that I know little about the technicalities of this particular game and that my general feeling towards all competitive activity is often apathy, it’s an understatement to say I was pleasantly surprised at my enjoyment of this movie. The game of table tennis is actually a background to the story that unfolds, and the finer points of the game are considerably less important than the consequences of events and the feelings that the characters harbour for the game and each other. Granted, the dramatic slow-motion camera work in the tournament scenes and the obvious - and often obsessive - enthusiasm the protagonists have for the game will draw in viewers who are fans of table tennis, but Ping Pong’s approach ensures that it has a wider appeal.
