Hamaguchi Ryusuke once mentioned Eric Rohmer as his inspiration for Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy. He said thematically he wanted to focus on coincidences that Eric Rohmer often featured in his films, and he finds short films appealing as they help prepare for feature films and simultaneously provide opportunities to shape experimental ideas. Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy is a triptych of shorts about coincidences. Each vignette stands on its own, but the three films are thematically linked. Coincidences lead to horribly tragic events at times or events that make you smile at other times. In his unique style, Hamaguchi depicts the world that is revealed through coincidences. This film is the first three of the seven stories on coincidences he conceived. Although it was made lightly, this powerful film has turned Hamaguchi into a household name in contemporary Japanese cinema. (NAM Dong-chul)