is a 2001 Japanese drama film written, directed and edited by

Shinji Aoyama was a Japanese film director, screenwriter, composer, film critic, and novelist. He graduated from Rikkyo University. He won two awards at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival for his film '' Eureka''. Biography Shinji Aoyama was born in Kitakyushu, ...

, starring Hiroshi Mikami. It was in competition at the

2001 Cannes Film Festival The 54th Cannes Film Festival started on 14 May and ran until 20 May 2001. Norwegian actress and director Liv Ullmann was the Jury President. The Palme d'Or went to the Italian film ''The Son's Room'' by Nanni Moretti. The festival opened with '' ...

Plot

The film's main theme is the conflict between work and family commitments in modern Japan. It focuses on a successful internet entrepreneur Nagai ( Hiroshi Mikami), whose wife Akira (

Maho Toyota (born July 6, 1967) is a Japanese actress and model. She is frequently seen on television, where she has acted in over 100 serial dramas and television movies. She was the wife of the film director Shinji Aoyama. She co-starred in his film '' ...

) and young daughter Kaai ( Yukiko Ikari) left him because he neglected them for his business. A young

hustler Hustler or hustlers may also refer to: Professions * Hustler, an American slang word, e.g., for a: ** Con man, a practitioner of confidence tricks ** Drug dealer, seller of illegal drugs ** Male prostitute ** Pimp ** Business man, more gener ...

Keechie ( Shuji Kashiwabara), who has emotion problems concerning his own father, becomes involved in the family's drama.

Cast

* Hiroshi Mikami - Nagai *

- Akira * Shuji Kashiwabara - Keechie * Yukiko Ikari - Kaai *

Isao Natsuyagi was a Japanese film actor. He appeared in more than 100 films from 1963 to 2013. Career In 1960, Natsuyagi began attending the Bungakuza actors school while attending Keio University. He eventually left Keio before graduating and entered the Ha ...

- Tsuyoshi's father *

Kumiko Akiyoshi (born July 29, 1954), better known as , is a Japanese actress. She won the award for best actress at the 1st Hochi Film Award for ''Banka'', ''Saraba natsuno hikariyo'' and '' Brother and Sister''. Filmography Films * '' Tabi no omosa'' (19 ...

- Keechie's client * Itsuji Itao - Interviewer

Reception

Derek Malcolm of '' Screen International'' criticized the film, saying: "the problem with the film is that, instead of letting these sequences speak for themselves, it constantly underscores them with speeches that often seem pretentious and clichéd at the same time". David Rooney of ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' praised

Masaki Tamura was a Japanese cinematographer. He was also credited as Masaki Tamra. Career Born in Aomori Prefecture, Tamura early on worked at Iwanami Productions (Iwanami Eiga), where as an assistant he helped photograph documentary films. He became a ful ...

's cinematography, describing it as "graceful, leisurely camerawork and elegant framing".

References

External links

* * 2001 films 2000s Japanese-language films 2001 drama films Films directed by Shinji Aoyama Japanese drama films 2000s Japanese films {{2000s-Japan-film-stub