100 Yen Love (Japan)  

When the slovenly, 32-year-old Ichiko is pushed out of her family nest by her mother, she incrementally transforms from slacker to spitfire when she takes up boxing.

In this darkly comedic commentary on Japan’s sexism and achievement-oriented society, Ichiko (played wonderfully by Ando Sakura) ranks as one of the most unlikely film heroines.

Although replete with amusing characters who sometimes veer into silliness, the film doesn’t shy away from the hard knocks of life either.