Japanese Story

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Japanese Story
Japanese Story movie.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Sue Brooks
Written byAlison Tilson
Produced by Sue Maslin
Starring Toni Collette
Gotaro Tsunashima
Cinematography Ian Baker
Edited by Jill Bilcock
Music by Elizabeth Drake
Distributed by Samuel Goldwyn Films
Release date
25 September 2003 (Australia)
Running time
110 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguagesEnglish
Japanese
Budget$5,740,000 [1]
Box office$4,050,497 [2]

Japanese Story is a 2003 Australian romantic drama film directed by Sue Brooks. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival. [3]

Contents

Plot

Sandy Edwards (played by Toni Collette) is a director in a company that designs geological software in Perth, Western Australia. Her business partner manipulates her into agreeing to act as a guide for a Japanese businessman visiting mines in the Pilbara desert, in hopes that he will purchase the software. When Hiromitsu Tachibana (Gotaro Tsunashima  [ ja ]) arrives, he treats Sandy like a chauffeur, and he seems more intent on self-discovery in the wilderness than on buying computer software. At first, Sandy is angered by his reserved, demanding demeanor. On their first journey into the desert, Hiromitsu, feeling insecure, talks more on his phone with friends in Japan than he does to Sandy. He also insists that she drive farther than planned. The terrain proves too much for the pair's vehicle, which becomes bogged down in the sand. After a series of desperate attempts to release the vehicle, including digging a dead man anchor, their winch burns out. Sandy wants to use Hiromitsu's phone to call people who can rescue them, but Hiromitsu refuses. This forces them to spend the night stranded together. The next day, Hiromitsu, conscious that his refusal had placed them in danger, wakes up much earlier than Sandy and builds a track of sticks over which they can drive out of the sand. The manoeuvre is successful. Now that they are on the road again, the ice breaks and a friendship starts between them that, in isolated surroundings uninterrupted by their work, grows quickly and honestly. Later, at a motel, they have sex. Only after does Sandy learn that Hiromitsu has a wife and children in Japan.

On another journey to scenic spots, Hiromitsu and Sandy share a quiet moment and kiss each other, eventually having sex again. Afterwards, Sandy runs into a swimming hole nearby. Hiromitsu follows her, diving into the shallow water before she can warn him, and disappears. Sandy frantically calls for him and, after a moment, his lifeless body resurfaces. In shock at his sudden death, Sandy struggles to deal with the situation, dragging his body into their vehicle and carefully washing it before driving for hours to the nearest town. Back in Perth, Sandy cannot comprehend the violent end to her journey. Reality intrudes in the form of Hiromitsu's grieving widow, Yukiko, and Sandy tries to understand how Hiromitsu's life had ended before she had understood his place in hers.

Cast

Box office

Japanese Story grossed $4,520,000 at the box office in Australia. [5]

Reception and accolades

Japanese Story received mixed to positive reviews, currently holding an approval rating of 68% on Rotten Tomatoes.

AwardCategorySubjectResult
AACTA Award
(2003 AFI Awards)
Best Film Sue Maslin Won
Best Direction Sue Brooks Won
Best Original Screenplay Alison TilsonWon
Best Actor Gotaro TsunashimaNominated
Best Actress Toni Collette Won
Best Cinematography Ian Baker Won
Best Editing Jill Bilcock Won
Best Original Music Score Elizabeth DrakeWon
Best Sound Livia RuzicWon
Peter GraceWon
Peter SmithWon
Best Production Design Paddy ReardonNominated
AWGIE Award Best Writing in a Feature Film - OriginalAlison TilsonWon
Bangkok International Film Festival Golden Kinnaree Award for Best FilmSue BrooksNominated
Chicago International Film Festival Gold Hugo - New Directors CompetitionNominated
FCCA Awards Best FilmSue MaslinWon
Best DirectorSue BrooksWon
Best Original ScreenplayAlison TilsonNominated
Best Female ActorToni ColletteWon
Best Music ScoreElizabeth DrakeWon
Best EditingJill BilcockNominated
Best CinematographyIan BakerWon
Inside Film Awards Best Feature FilmSue MaslinWon
Best DirectionSue BrooksWon
Best ScriptAlison TilsonNominated
Best ActorGotaro TsunashimaNominated
Best ActressToni ColletteWon
Best CinematographyIan BakerWon
Best EditingJill BilcockNominated
Best MusicElizabeth DrakeNominated
Miami International Film Festival FIPRESCI PrizeSue BrooksWon
Satellite Award Best Actress Toni ColletteNominated
Screen Music Awards, AustraliaBest Feature Film ScoreElizabeth DrakeWon

See also

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References

  1. "Japanese Story". IMDb.com. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  2. "Japanese Story (2003) - Box Office Mojo". Boxofficemojo.com. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  3. "Festival de Cannes: Japanese Story". Festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  4. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1902646
  5. Section=Australian_Films_Domestic_Box_Office_of_All_Time Archived 8 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine