is a 2013 Japanese film directed by

Hiroshi Ishikawa Hiroshi Ishikawa (石川寛, born May 18, 1963) is a Japanese film director and writer from Ōdate. He is best known for his 2005 film, ''Su-ki-da'' (2005). He won the Silver Iris for Best Director at the New Montreal Film Festival.The Hollywood ...

Synopsis

The film concerns a trip taken by two women, Jinko (

Aoi Miyazaki is a Japanese actress. She is known for her roles in ''Nana'' and '' Virgin Snow''. Career Miyazaki started working in the entertainment industry at the age of four. Initially she appeared mostly in commercials, magazine advertisements, and a ...

) and Motoko (

Sakura Ando is a Japanese actress. Career Ando won the award for Best Supporting Actress at the 31st Yokohama Film Festival 2010 for ''Love Exposure'', ''The Wonderful World of Captain Kuhio'' and '' Tsumitoka batsutoka''. She was also nominated for the a ...

), and their driver, Haraki (

Shiori Kutsuna is an Australian-born Japanese actress, known for her role as Ran Mori in ''Shinichi Kudo's Written Challenge!'', Minami Maho in ''Beck,'' Haru/Harumi in ''125 Years Memory,'' and Yukio in ''Deadpool 2''. She plays Mitsuki in the Apple TV+ s ...

), to see Miki (

Kazue Fukiishi is a Japanese actress and former gravure idol. She won the award for best supporting actress at the 28th Yokohama Film Festival for ''What the Snow Brings'', ''Tegami'', and ''Memories of Tomorrow''. Career Fukiishi starred in Takuji Suzuki's '' ...

), an old friend now living in a psychiatric hospital after attempting suicide. Jinko and Motoko have not seen Miki in six years, and the trip becomes a meditation on their own lives and sorrows, as well as reconciliation for their guilt of not being able to help her before.

Cast

as Jinko *

as Haraki *

as Motoko *

as Miki *

Masanobu Andō is a Japanese actor. Ando has appeared in films such as Takeshi Kitano's '' Kids Return'' (1996), Kinji Fukasaku's '' Battle Royale'' (2000), Takashi Miike's '' Sukiyaki Western Django'' (2007), and Chen Kaige's ''Forever Enthralled'' (2008). He ...

as Naoto *

Shunsuke Kazama is a Japanese actor and television personality affiliated with Johnny & Associates. Biography In 1997, when Kazama was in his second year of junior high school, he entered Johnny & Associates and started activities as a trainee. He made his debu ...

as Kawada *

Mariko Gotō (born February 22, 1982 in Izumiōtsu, Osaka) is a Japanese singer, lyricist, composer and actress. Her career started in the early 2000s with the band , where she served as vocalist and guitarist. After it broke up in 2003, she joined punk jaz ...

as Senpai *

Hanae Kan is a Japanese actress. Kan made her film debut in 2001 in ''Pistol Opera is a 2001 Japanese film directed by Seijun Suzuki and starring Makiko Esumi. Storyline The film's main character, Miyuki Minazuki, ranked number three in The Assassin ...

as Kyoko

Reception

On ''

Film Business Asia ''Film Business Asia'' was a film trade magazine based in Hong Kong. The magazine was created in 2010 by Patrick Frater, former journalist for ''Variety'', ''The Hollywood Reporter'', and '' Screen International'' and Stephen Cremin, co-founder o ...

'', Derek Elley gave the film a 4 out of 10, saying that the "existential road drama of four young women offers diminishing results." A review on Japan Times by Mark Schilling gave the film a rating of 3.5 out of 5.

References

External links

* * 2013 films Films directed by Hiroshi Ishikawa 2010s Japanese films {{2010s-Japan-film-stub