Following "Touch," this is a youth film based on Mitsuru Adachi's original work, starring Masami Nagasawa. Two young people, a man and a woman, born into families that have been rivals since their grandfathers' generation, gradually become attracted to each other through their passion for swimming, despite their animosity... In the opening scene, the dorm mother, played by Eriko Watanabe, tells the dorm residents, "Rough. It's your unfinished state that is your weapon. Even the most magnificent painting starts with a rough sketch," and this phrase perfectly symbolizes the film "Rough." Although the original work gained popularity in the 80s, the setting, reminiscent of "Romeo and Juliet," with two feuding families, and its impact on Ami, the main character's, mental development, feels completely devoid of realism. Furthermore, Ami's engagement to her childhood friend Hiroki is due to him saving her family from financial ruin, a situation that feels anachronistic. Despite the dominance of such unrealistic elements in the film's world, the sincere and vibrant performances of young actors like Masami Nagasawa, Mokomichi Hayami, Yui Ichikawa, and Mai Takahashi give a refreshing impression. In particular, Nagasawa, with her role as a high diving athlete, showcases her swimsuit figure, and her sexy, healthy beauty is breathtaking. However, perhaps due to director Kentaro Otani's personal fondness, the frequent inclusion of Yuzo Kayama's youth songs feels out of place with the film's content. (Morihiko Saito)