Linda Linda Linda

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Linda Linda Linda

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1h 54m

Comedy

Drama

Music

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83%

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12 Reviews

87%

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2,500+ Ratings

For Kei, Kyoko, and Nozomi, their dream of playing the final high school concert together is dashed when their lead vocalist quits the band. Desperate, they recruit the very first person they see: Korean exchange student Son, played by Doona Bae (THE HOST, BROKER), whose comprehension of Japanese is limited at best. It's a race against time as the group struggles to learn three songs in three days for the festival's rock concert. LINDA LINDA LINDA is an effervescent, tenderhearted snapshot of youth about the unparalleled joy of jamming out with your friends. The soundtrack fuses bangers from iconic Japanese bands The Blue Hearts and Base Ball Bear with original music composed by James Iha of the Smashing Pumpkins. The beloved classic from Nobuhiro Yamashita (GHOST CAT ANZU) is acknowledged by many as one of the greatest Japanese films of the 21st century. In celebration of its 20th anniversary, the utterly charming and timeless classic returns with an all-new 4K restoration.

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G. Allen Johnson

San Francisco Chronicle

An extremely well-written, emotionally complex coming-of-age tale that has a John Hughesian respect for teenage angst.

Rated: 4/4

Apr 7, 2007

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Adam Nayman

eye WEEKLY

Director Nobuhiro Yamashita seems to be aiming for a laconic deadpan tone, yet the static camera work and even-keel pacing elicit more yawns than chuckles.

Rated: 2.5/5

Jan 12, 2007

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Ty Burr

Boston Globe

If The Beatles were teen girls starring in a John Hughes picture made with a distinctly Japanese attention to the comedy of everyday life, the movie showcasing it all would go something like this.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jan 12, 2007

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Chase Burns

The Stranger (Seattle, WA)

I'm hoping these punk kids will bring a renewed interest to this indie gem...

Apr 9, 2022

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Laura Clifford

Reeling Reviews

Doona Bae shines as the adorably awkward teenager who's never met a stage she's afraid of.

Rated: B+

Aug 6, 2011

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Burl Burlingame

Honolulu Star-Advertiser

The movie provides a fine, shiny reminiscence of school days, when learning three guitar chords in the right order was the most important thing in the world.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jul 5, 2011

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Stephen C

Funny in 1 hour and 54 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/07/25

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Audience Member

Strong performances by Yu Kashii, Doona Bae, Aki Maeda, Shiore Sekine, and the others. Funny, entertaining, heartwarming. One of the best movies I've ever seen. For non-native Japanese speakers, an added bonus is that the Japanese dialogue - unlike in Samurai or Gangster movies - is easy to follow.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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Audience Member

The movie's speed is unreasonably slow and it doesn't necessarily surpass Aki Maeda's music videos or AKB48 in terms of artistic quality or originality, yet it makes reasonably clever social commentary made in the drama of being a band and the affections that arise from playing music, this is an amazingly entertaining and inspiring work of Japanese art and drama dialogue.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

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Audience Member

Bello, Bello...Bello, bello, bello. Impossibile non finire questo film canticchiando e avendo creato uno spazio nel cuore per le 4 protagoniste. Se non vi spaventa una storia delicata, guardatelo. (4,5/5)

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A sweet Japanese high school movie with sincere storyline.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

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Audience Member

A slice-of-life film from the female high schooler perspective. Fascinating film with amazing score.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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Nobuhiro Yamashita

Director

Bae Doo-na

Son (Singer)

Aki Maeda

Kyoko Yamada (Drummer)

Yû Kashii

Kei Tachibana (Guitarist)

Shiori Sekine

Nozomi Shiroko (Bassist)

Kôsuke Mukai

Writer

Linda Linda Linda: 4K Restoration Trailer

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Synopsis

For Kei, Kyoko, and Nozomi, their dream of playing the final high school concert together is dashed when their lead vocalist quits the band. Desperate, they recruit the very first person they see: Korean exchange student Son, played by Doona Bae (THE HOST, BROKER), whose comprehension of Japanese is limited at best. It's a race against time as the group struggles to learn three songs in three days for the festival's rock concert. LINDA LINDA LINDA is an effervescent, tenderhearted snapshot of youth about the unparalleled joy of jamming out with your friends. The soundtrack fuses bangers from iconic Japanese bands The Blue Hearts and Base Ball Bear with original music composed by James Iha of the Smashing Pumpkins. The beloved classic from Nobuhiro Yamashita (GHOST CAT ANZU) is acknowledged by many as one of the greatest Japanese films of the 21st century. In celebration of its 20th anniversary, the utterly charming and timeless classic returns with an all-new 4K restoration.

Director: Nobuhiro Yamashita
Producer: Hiroyuki Negishi, Yuji Sadai
Screenwriter: Kôsuke Mukai, Wakako Miyashita, Nobuhiro Yamashita
Distributor: Viz Pictures
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 10, 2006, Limited
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Sep 5, 2025
Release Date (DVD): Apr 24, 2007
Runtime: 1h 54m