Japanese Story

Japanese Story
Directed by	Sue Brooks
Produced by	Sue Maslin
Written by	Alison Tilson
Starring	Toni Collette Gotaro Tsunashima
Music by	Elizabeth Drake
Cinematography	Ian Baker
Edited by	Jill Bilcock
Distributed by	Samuel Goldwyn Films
Release dates	25 September 2003 (Australia)
Running time	110 minutes
Country	Australia
Language	English, 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]

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) 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,^[4] 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 maneuver 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

• Toni Collette – Sandy Edwards
• Gotaro Tsunashima – Hiromitsu Tachibana
• Matthew Dyktynski – Bill Baird
• Lynette Curran – Mum
• Yumiko Tanaka – Yukiko Tachibana
• Kate Atkinson – Jackie
• Bill Young – Jimmy Smithers
• Reg Evans – Bloke in Row Boat
• George Shevtsov – James
• Justine Clarke – Jane
• Igor Sas – Fraser
• Mike Frencham – Blake
• John Howard – Richards
• Phil Bennett – Barman
• Heath Bergersen – Petrol Bloke

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.

See also

• Cinema of Australia

References

External links

• Japanese Story at the Internet Movie Database
• Official website - Palace Films
• Japanese Story at the National Film and Sound Archive