''Karakara'' is a Canadian drama film, directed by

Claude Gagnon Claude Gagnon (born 1949 in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec) is a Canadian film director, screenwriter, and producer, who frequently works in both Canada and Japan. His most noted films include '' Keiko'' (1979), ''Kenny'' (1988), '' The Pianist'' (199 ...

and released in 2012. The film stars

Gabriel Arcand Gabriel Arcand (born June 4, 1949) is a Canadian actor. He is the brother of film director Denys Arcand. After studying philosophy at McGill University, Arcand spent his formative professional years at La Criée in Marseilles, France, and later ...

as Pierre, a professor from Quebec who is on sabbatical in

Okinawa is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi). Naha is the capital and largest city ...

to reevaluate his life after the death of his friend, and is drawn into a love affair with Junko (

Youki Kudoh is a Japanese actress and singer. She won the award for best newcomer at the 6th Yokohama Film Festival for '' The Crazy Family''. She also won the awards for best actress at the 16th Hochi Film Award and at the 1992 Blue Ribbon Award for ''Wa ...

), a local woman fleeing an abusive husband who offers to be his tour guide.Brendan Kelly, "An unusual love story, by an unusual director". ''

Montreal Gazette The ''Montreal Gazette'', formerly titled ''The Gazette'', is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Three other daily English-language newspapers shuttered at various times during the second half of th ...

'', August 31, 2012. The film's screenplay was partially inspired by Gagnon's own trip to Japan following the death of one of his closest friends. The film was shot in 2011, and premiered at the 2012

Montreal World Film Festival The Montreal World Film Festival (WFF; french: le Festival des Films du Monde) was one of Canada's oldest international film festivals and the only competitive film festival in North America accredited by the FIAPF (although the Toronto Internat ...

Critical response

Writing for ''

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), ...

'', Ronnie Scheib noted that the film reversed "the usual Westerner-in-the-Orient stereotype, where the ambitious hero learns to slow down and smell the roses. Here he’s dragged, kicking and screaming, out of the rose garden and into the world at large." For the ''

'', Brendan Kelly praised both Arcand's and Kudoh's performances, but wrote that he had difficulty believing in the core relationship between the characters. He ultimately concluded that "maybe it's uneven but it still remains a film that stays with you long after the final credits roll."

Awards

At the MWFF, the film won the festival's Most Popular Canadian Film and Openness to the World awards. The film received two

Prix Jutra The Prix Iris is a Canadian film award, presented annually by Québec Cinéma, which recognizes talent and achievement in the mainly francophone feature film industry in Quebec.15th Jutra Awards The 15th Prix Jutra ceremony was held on March 17, 2013 at the Salle Pierre-Mercure theatre in Montreal, Quebec, to honour achievements in the Cinema of Quebec in 2012.Best Actor Best Actor is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organizations, festivals, and people's awards to leading actors in a film, television series, television film or play. The term most often refers to th ...

(Arcand) and

Best Screenplay Best or The Best may refer to: People * Best (surname), people with the surname Best * Best (footballer, born 1968), retired Portuguese footballer Companies and organizations * Best & Co., an 1879–1971 clothing chain * Best Lock Corporatio ...

(Gagnon).Jean-Philippe Angers, "«Laurence Anyways» et «Rebelle» dominent la course en vue des Jutra".

Canadian Press The Canadian Press (CP; french: La Presse canadienne, ) is a Canadian national news agency headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. Established in 1917 as a vehicle for the time's Canadian newspapers to exchange news and information, The Canadian Pre ...

, January 31, 2013.

References

External links

*{{IMDb title, 2104051 2012 films Canadian drama films Films set in Japan Films directed by Claude Gagnon 2010s Canadian films Asian-Canadian cinema