This Is I (2026)

There I Am centers its narrative on Kenji, a boy tormented by his desire to be a star, who finds refuge in a cabaret and, with the help of a doctor, reveals his 'true self' as Ai Haruna. This plot presents gender transition as an act of authenticity and liberation, normalizing the idea that sexual identity is fluid and subjective, disconnected from biological reality. The cabaret stands as a space of genuine belonging, while the protagonist's previous life is depicted as oppressive for not aligning with his 'inner self'. Such an approach uses the emotion of rejection and compassion for the bullied to make the viewer accept without question this personal redefinition as heroic. Although it addresses themes of self-acceptance and professional support, the underlying message invites us to see the denial of given nature as a path to fulfillment, which can be especially confusing for young viewers. The +16 certification alludes to required maturity, but the risk lies in how it instrumentalizes suffering to validate a confused vision of the human being. Parents should consider whether this story strengthens real dignity or dilutes it in illusions. In a world that celebrates the subjective above the given, the film demands discernment so as not to equate empathy with endorsement of disorders.