First graders in a Tokyo public elementary school are presented with a challenge for the final semester: performing "Ode to Joy" at the ceremony for the new incoming first graders. Ayame, who often struggles to keep up with the group, is determined to play a major part — the big drum.
Yikes but the amount of clutter kids take to school these days! We join a group of first year primary school, mask-wearing, children who are tasked with performing their own version of Beethoven's instantly recognisable "Ode to Joy". There's going to be a series of auditions and they are going to test these youngsters as they not only have to have some competence to play the big drum, cymbal. tambourine etc, but to have the confidence to engage in this whole selection process - one where they cannot all win. It's Ayame who is desperate for one such honour, but can she overcome her own nerves and her fellow students to make the grade? The kids seem perfectly oblivious to the presence of the camera as they playfully and naturally compete. There are teary moments, fretful ones and there's the odd strop but essentially this is quite a powerful endorsement of the patience and skill of the teachers who manage to instil in their pupils a sense of participation, commitment and competitiveness without ever becoming aggressive or angry. This is clearly a well resourced school and the youngsters are actively encouraged to take part in a great many activities designed to introduce and develop their senses of inter-reliance and friendship, and there are more than enough characters here for us to engage. It also offers us a rather depressing reminder of the travails of "social distancing" and somehow those plastic screens seem even more alienating in this emotionally-charged environment, but they don't detract from the overall aim of working together positively, creatively and enjoyably. Thankfully, there is no recorder in their repertoire but even so, I might do without ever hearing this tune again!