Japanese Story (2003)
Every once in a while a film comes
along that you want everyone you know to see but you
don't want to tell them a thing about it. "Japanese
Story" is one of those films. Walking in I only knew
that it starred Toni Collette and that it was an Australian
film where Collette takes a Japanese man into the
outback. I didn't know why. I didn't know what happened
once they were there. And, really, that's all you
should know too. Letting me or any other person or
entity destroy the wondrous plot of this film would
be a horrendous mistake. When you see this film, you
want to walk into the theater knowing as little as
possible.
So - I beg you. If you haven't seen
the film, stop reading right now. I'm gonna talk about
things you do not want too know!
Collette is wonderful in this movie.
The character is so full and so interestingly written
that it would take nothing less than a marvelous actress
to make us begin to care about her. Collette retains
her verve and spunk but also allows us to fall deeply
under her spell. We care about her and we care what
happens to her. It is rare that a character this abrasive
captures our hearts. Of course, the second and third
acts of the film find her becoming much more human
and humane. And it grows easier to like her.
Her co-star, Gotaro Tsunashima,
does an equally admirable job with a character that
actually shares many of her traits. I like that they
made Tsunashima's character Hiromitsu almost as abrasive
as Collette's Sandy in his own way. This is not the
stereotypical gentle and mannered Japanese business
man who acts subservient and demure that we've come
to expect from Western films. And while Collette is
abrasive but not a bitch, Tsunashima is demanding
without being an asshole. There is nothing phony or
contrived about these characters and watching them
on screen is quite enjoyable.
Of course, Tsunashima is also a
quite attractive man and spends a bit of time half-naked
(as does Collette) so the visuals here are rarely
uninteresting. But the true visual star of the film
is the amazing Australian countryside which looks
expansive, arid and gorgeous in this film. Cinematographer
Ian Baker (a native from Melbourne who has worked
on many a U.S. film) captures one gorgeous image after
another with his camera. This is a film that will
keep your eyes wide open easily for a hundred minutes.
It looks simply beautiful.
It also reminded me of "Y tu mama
tambien" in the way that it took the reality of a
landscape of a foreign country and made it travelogue
while still, somehow, making it art. When you see
this film, you'll want to go to Australia on your
next vacation.
"Japanese Story" is a film that
is definitely in three acts. The surprises in store
here are amazing and mind-boggling. I didn't want
to believe the last third of the film. I didn't want
what happens here to happen. I couldn't believe the
film goes where it goes. But once it did, I knew I
was deep into a story that I had never seen before
and one that captures something beautiful and genuine
and important and poignant.
Once you see "Japanese Story," you
will cherish it forever. This is a film you will want
to tell your friends about. But not too much. Too
spoil it would be a shame. And I've already said too
much.
Note:
Directed by Sue Brooks. Script by
Alison Tilson. The two have worked together on several
Australian TV shows. Score by Elizabeth Drake, which
sounds a bit like Thomas Newman but is mixed with
enough Asian-influenced music to make the soundtrack
quite lovely.
The film has won a plethora of awards
in its native Australia.
Released in several countries in
2003, it debuted for its arthouse run in the US on
the very last day of 2003.
