Back in 2012, Thermae Romae was at the top of my “must-watch” list. Like many things, it slipped into limbo—until today. Fourteen years later, and thanks to the Japanese Foundation, I finally stumbled upon it, feeling much like the protagonist: suddenly transported through time and water into a different era.
At the time, I was deep into an Aya Ueto phase. Having seen her in the cult classic Azumi, I was following everything she did. In Thermae Romae, she plays an aspiring mangaka and Kenshiro superfan who becomes the guide for Lucius (Hiroshi Abe), an ancient Roman bath architect who accidentally time-travels to 21st-century Japan.
Based on Mari Yamazaki’s manga and directed by Hideki Takeuchi, the premise is wonderfully absurd: Lucius visits modern Japan to find the “lost inspiration” needed to design baths back in Rome and, inadvertently, save the Empire.
The highlights are undoubtedly the transitions between eras. The culture shock provides some truly legendary moments—watching a Roman discover the “revolutionary” technology of a modern Japanese bidet is comedy gold. Hiroshi Abe is perfectly cast; his stoic, statue-like features make him a convincing Roman, even if the immersion is occasionally broken by the sight of an all-Japanese cast playing Romans while speaking Japanese. But cinema is the most beautiful fraud in the world, and we loveto fall into it.
However, despite the solid production design and strong lead performances, the film doesn’t quite fulfill its “crazy” potential. While the first half is packed with original humor, the second half gets bogged down in political subplots and a romantic arc that feels diluted.
Thermae Romae is a polished, entertaining diversion. It’s a “light watch” with some great visual gags, but it loses steam before reaching the finish line. It’s a charming curiosity, but one that stays in the shallow end of its high-concept premise.
The film is available for free with multiple subtitles in Japanese Foundation streaming website, JFF Theater
https://es.jff.jpf.go.jp/movie/thermae-romae/