Japanese Story (2003)

Director:

Sue Brooks

Writer:

Alison Tilson (written by)

Release Date:

25 September 2003 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

Against the background of an Australian desert landscape, so much space and so few people, Sandy, a geologist...

Plot Keywords:

Japanese | Businessman | Australian | Desert | Journey

Awards:

20 wins & 12 nominations

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
Jules Hutchinson	...	Canteen Worker (as Jules Hutchison)
Kuni Hashimoto	...	Japanese Translator
Mark McAullay	...	Watson
Greg McNeill	...	Tom Goodwin
Stephen Parkin	...	Cargo Man
Dean Vince	...	Karaoke Singer
Peter Webb	...	Tony
Koji Kioka	...	Hiromitsu's Child in Photo
Nanami Kioka	...	Hiromitsu's Child in Photo

Directed by
Sue Brooks

Writing credits
Alison Tilson		(written by)

Produced by
Simon Beaufoy	....	associate producer
Mark Blaney	....	associate producer
Sue Brooks	....	co-producer
Bille Eltringham	....	associate producer
David Lightfoot	....	line producer
Magnus Mansie	....	co-line producer
Sue Maslin	....	producer
Alison Tilson	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Elizabeth Drake

Cinematography by
Ian Baker

Film Editing by
Jill Bilcock

Casting by
Dina Mann

Production Design by
Paddy Reardon

Art Direction by
Kelvin Sexton

Costume Design by
Margot Wilson

Makeup Department
Suzanne Meaney	....	hair stylist
Suzanne Meaney	....	makeup artist
Jan Zeigenbein	....	hair designer (as Jan 'Ziggy' Zeigenbein)
Jan Zeigenbein	....	makeup designer (as Jan 'Ziggy' Zeigenbein)

Production Management
Mike Montague	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mark Boskell	....	second assistant director
Rachel Evans	....	first assistant director (as Rachel Evans Artis)
Jeremy Grogan	....	second second assistant director
Brad Holyoake	....	third assistant director
Zena Loxton	....	assistant director attachment

Art Department
Allan Brown	....	props buyer
Allan Brown	....	set dresser
Erin Kealley	....	art department runner
Michelle Martin	....	art department coordinator
David Norton-Woad	....	assistant stand-by props
Michael O'Sullivan	....	stand-by props (as Mick O'Sullivan)

Sound Department
Steve Burgess	....	foley artist
Craig Carter	....	sound effects
Robert 'Gotch' Cutcher	....	boom operator (as Rob Cutcher)
Helen Field	....	facilities management: Soundfirm Australia
Chris Goodes	....	mix assistant
Peter Grace	....	sound recordist
Frank Lipson	....	sound effects
Gerard Long	....	foley artist
Robin May	....	sound engineer
Livia Ruzic	....	supervising sound editor
Peter D. Smith	....	sound mixer (as Peter Smith)
Peter Winkler	....	additional sound engineer

Special Effects by
David Trethewey	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Mark Dickson	....	visual effects supervisor
Ross Mitchell	....	optical effects
Tony Poriazis	....	film recording supervisor
Martin Wiseman	....	visual effects producer

Camera and Electrical Department
Anthony Argiro	....	generator operator (as Antonio Argiro)
Tov Belling	....	focus puller
Michael Bespalov	....	assistant grip
Paul Fimister	....	camera attachment
Mark Goellnicht	....	Steadicam operator
Mark Goellnicht	....	camera operator
Chris Hansford	....	grip
Rob Hansford	....	key grip
Megan Lewis	....	still photographer
Katie Milwright	....	clapper loader (as Katie Robinson Milwright)
Chris Shanahan	....	best boy
Rory Timoney	....	gaffer
Chris 'Chalky' Chalk	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Masa Kokuro	....	casting assistant: Japan
Caatherine Meredith	....	casting assistant
Annie Murtagh-Monks	....	casting associate: Japan
Rika Nakamura	....	casting assistant: Japan
Georgina Pope	....	casting: Japan

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Amanda Irving	....	costume supervisor
Penny Saunders	....	costume buyer

Editorial Department
Billy Browne	....	editing attachment
Paul Cross	....	negative matcher
Pamela Hammond	....	head of post-production
Emily Klooster	....	post-production coordinator
Ian Letcher	....	color grader
Stanley Lopuszanski	....	high definition color grader
Cleo Myles	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Ricky Edwards	....	orchestrator
Peter Jones	....	musician: drums
Peter Neville	....	musician: percussion
Satsuili Odamura	....	musician: koto and shamisen (as Satsuki Odamura)
Naomi Ota	....	translator: song lyrics
John Phillips	....	musician: guitar
Christine Woodruff	....	music clearances

Transportation Department
David Bell	....	driver: Toni Collette
Kim Sexton	....	vehicle coordinator
Steve Wells	....	tracking vehicle: Shotmaker

Other crew
George Adams	....	completion guarantor: First Australian Completion Bond
Ian Anderson	....	laboratory liaison
Maurie Annese	....	script workshop participant
Jennifer Baird	....	consultant: geology (as Dr. Jennifer Baird)
John Bell	....	security assistant
Leni Binos	....	production accountant assistant: Moneypenny Services
Snowy Bostock	....	security officer
Sue Brooks	....	script editor
Hugh Cann	....	interpreter: Japanese
Rainey Carah	....	safety officer
Helen Clarke	....	caterer: Hel's Kitchen
Naomi Cleaver	....	production coordinator
Robyn Coombs	....	caterer: Hel's Kitchen
Emma Downey	....	rushes telecine operator
Jacqueline Fairfax	....	stand-in: Sandy
Rob Fisher	....	completion guarantor: First Australian Completion Bond
Tony Gibbs	....	insurance: HW Wood
Betty Grigg	....	assistant: Alison Tilson and Sue Brooks
Foster Hart	....	entertainment lawyer
Ryan Hodgson	....	unit assistant
Sacha Horler	....	script workshop participant
Jack Hunt	....	unit assistant
Jimmy Jack	....	stand-in: Hiromitsu
Adrian Kortus	....	safety officer
Lottie Lawrence	....	translator: Japanese
John Lonie	....	script editor
Bec Matthews	....	assistant to producer
Bec Matthews	....	production secretary
Monica Maughan	....	script workshop participant
Kate McCarthy	....	production runner
Bill Miller	....	unit assistant
Stuart Morrice	....	production runner: Western Australia
Kazuhiro Muroyama	....	script workshop participant
Donovan Norgard	....	location manager
Bobbie Salmon	....	location assistant
Caroline Scott	....	conforming assistant
Sophie Siomos	....	production accountant: Monnypenny Services
Greg Sitch	....	entertainment lawyer
Annette Smith	....	unit publicist
Corrie Soeterboek	....	completion guarantor: First Australian Completion Bond
Jo Stewart	....	post-production script
Susie Struth	....	continuity
Art Thompson	....	safety report
Duncan Thompson	....	script editor
Kate Thompson	....	nurse
Keith Thompson	....	script editor
Peggy Warren	....	logistics coordinator
Justine Wilcox	....	assistant: Toni Collette
Naomi Cleaver	....	production coordinator (uncredited)
Tony Nagle	....	post-production accountant (uncredited)

Thanks
Karin Altmann	....	special thanks
Wouter Barendrecht	....	special thanks: Fortissimo Film
Tait Brady	....	special thanks: Palace Films
Alan Brooks	....	special thanks
Tania Chambers	....	special thanks
Sharon Connolly	....	special thanks
John Crowley	....	special thanks: BHP Billiton Iron Ore Pty. Ltd.
Yoko Davies	....	special thanks
Noelle Deschamps	....	special thanks
Claire Dobbin	....	special thanks
Claire Dubert	....	special thanks
Krystelle Gardiner	....	special thanks
Glenda Hambly	....	special thanks
Julie Heath	....	special thanks: BHP Billiton Iron Ore Pty. Ltd.
Julie Marlow	....	special thanks
Ross Matthews	....	special thanks (as Ross Mathews)
Bob McCarron	....	special thanks
Desha Meaney	....	special thanks
Rob Meldrum	....	special thanks
Hisaaki Nagao	....	special thanks
Zaneta Onasz	....	thanks
Ursula Pagels	....	thanks
David Rapsey	....	special thanks
Sally Regan	....	special thanks
Roger Savage	....	special thanks
Sandra Schauby	....	special thanks
Charlotte Seymour	....	special thanks
Louise Taylor	....	special thanks
Raymond Taylor	....	special thanks
Alison Tokita	....	special thanks
Yurni Umiamaro	....	special thanks
Elke Wardaga	....	special thanks
Michael J. Werner	....	special thanks: Fortissimo Film
Mark Woods	....	special thanks
Natalie Worthington	....	special thanks: BHP Billiton Iron Ore Pty. Ltd.
Antonio Zeccola	....	special thanks: Palace Films (as Tony Zeccola)

Production Companies

• Fortissimo Films (presented by)
• Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC) (presented by)
• Gecko Films Pty. Ltd.
• Showtime Australia (in association with)
• Lotteries Commission of Western Australia (developed and produced with the assistance of)
• Film Victoria (developed and produced with the assistance of)
• ScreenWest (produced with the assistance of ScreenWest and Lotterywest)
• Footprint Films (associate producer)

Distributors

• 1More Film (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Alfa Films (2006) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Cathay-Keris Films (2004) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Pretty Pictures (2004) (France) (theatrical)
• Samuel Goldwyn Films (2004) (USA) (theatrical) (as Samuel Goldwyn Films)
• Filmauro Distribuzione
• Lolafilms Distribución (Spain)
• Metro Tartan Distribution Ltd.
• Palace Films (Australia)
• Palisades Tartan (2009) (UK) (all media)
• Total Film Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2006) (Argentina) (VHS)
• United King Films (Israel)

Other Companies

• AAV Digital Pictures  post-production facilities
• Accuweigh Australia Pty. Ltd.  producers wish to thank
• Alpha Flight Services  special thanks
• Antler Luggage Australia  producers wish to thank
• Associatione éQuinoxe  developed by
• Auski Tourist Village  special thanks
• Australian Film Commission, The  developed with the assistance of
• BHP Billiton Iron Ore  special thanks
• Becton & Dickson Pty. Ltd.  producers wish to thank
• Bondi Studios  additional recording
• Brita Water Filters  producers wish to thank
• Burswood International Resort Casino  special thanks
• Cadbury Schweppes  producers wish to thank
• Camera Solutions  producers wish to thank
• Canon Australia  producers wish to thank
• Capricorn RoadHouse  special thanks
• Central Tafe  producers wish to thank (as Central Tafe Perth)
• City of Perth  producers wish to thank
• Commander Australia Ltd.  producers wish to thank
• Curtin University of Technology  producers wish to thank
• Demmer Galleries  producers wish to thank
• Film Australia  developed with the assistance of (as Film Australia)
• First Australian Completion Bond Company (FACB)  completion guarantor (as First Australian Completion Bond)
• Fortissimo Films  special thanks
• Gekkeikan Swift & Moore  producers wish to thank
• HW Wood  insurance
• Heinz Australia  producers wish to thank
• Hel's Kitchen  catering
• Hertz Australia  producers wish to thank
• Hewlett Packard Australia Ltd.  producers wish to thank
• Hill & Knowlton  producers wish to thank
• Indigenart  producers wish to thank
• Japanese Consulate  producers wish to thank
• Kathmandu Pty. Ltd.  special thanks
• Kodak  motion picture products
• Leica Australia  producers wish to thank
• Lightworks  edited on
• Maptek Pty. Ltd.  special thanks
• Margaret River Beverages  producers wish to thank
• McGraw Hill Australia Pty. Ltd.  producers wish to thank
• Melbourne Title Co.  titles
• Mescute Inn  special thanks
• Moneypenny Services  production accounting (as Moneypenny Services)
• Motorola Australia  producers wish to thank (as Motorola)
• Mount Newman Joint Venture  special thanks
• Move  original soundtrack released on
• Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co. Ltd.  producers wish to thank
• Nestle Australia Ltd.  producers wish to thank
• PB Foods Ltd.  producers wish to thank
• Palace Films  special thanks
• Panavision Australia  camera and lenses (as Panavision)
• Peter Carter  producers wish to thank
• Peter Waterhouse  producers wish to thank
• Phenomena at Digital Pictures  opening titles
• Pilbara Native Title Service  special thanks
• Pocketphone Communications  producers wish to thank
• Qantas Airways  special thanks (as Qantas)
• Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia  producers wish to thank
• Sanitarium Health Food Company  producers wish to thank
• School of Earth & Geographical Sciences  producers wish to thank
• Shire of East Pilbara  special thanks
• Shire of Roebourne  special thanks
• Smith Snackfood Company, The  producers wish to thank
• Soundfirm  sound post-production (editing facilities)
• South Australian Film Corporation, The  developed with the assistance of
• Stage & Screen Travel  special thanks
• Strathfield Group  producers wish to thank
• The Joinery  editing facilities
• Western Australian Department of Mineral & Petroleum Resources  producers wish to thank (as WA Department of Mineral & Petroleum Resources)
• Westlake Airports Corporation  special thanks
• Willager Hotel  special thanks
• Woodstock Studios  music recorded at

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for some sexuality and language

Runtime:

Australia:110 min | France:105 min (Cannes Film Festival) | USA:100 min (TV version) | Argentina:107 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English | Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Malaysia:18SX (uncut version) | Malaysia:U (edited version) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Australia:M | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Perth Airport, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Company:

Fortissimo Films

Soundtrack:

Asadoya Bushi

A naturalistic journey into a landscape of raw emotion and beauty.

Tender, original and moving, Japanese Story boasts an exceptional performance from Toni Collette. The star of Muriel's Wedding plays the ambitious geologist Sandy Edwards, reluctantly accepting the assignment to guide Japanese businessman Tachibana Hiromitsu (Gotaro Tsunashima) through the Australian outback: a vista of spartan natural beauty captured through expert photography. Unlikely intimacy and human emotion beckons in the expanse, as the feisty Antipodean and reserved Easterner clash and then connect, while getting lost in the desert.

The polarised characters of Sandy and Hiromitsu are thrown together purely for placating the relations of business, reflective perhaps of the relationship between Australia and Japan for the last fifty years as their union exists rather out of an economic necessity. Sandy accepts the assignment in order to promote her software designs, determined to persist in striking up conversation with her reluctant Japanese counterpart. Hiromitsu exhibits all the characteristics of a patriarchal tradition; conversing only with men in the language of business whilst openly rejecting Sandy as merely his chaperon not worthy of any common courtesy of niceties.

The film takes us on a road-trip journey that forces the unlikely couple further into the expansive Australian terrain. Hiromitsu seems obsessed with the amount of space the land has to offer signifying his claustrophobic existence in both his marriage and corporate structure where he is subordinate to his father. His infatuation with Australia's limitless landscape fuels his demands for Sandy to drive deeper into the unknown. Sandy meanwhile openly displays her disdain and frustration towards Hiromitsu yet a series of unpredictable enactments allow attraction, desire and romance to ensue.

Just when their relationship is tenderly developing in adversity, the film takes a dramatic turn, forcing the audiences expectations of a conventional love story to be confounded. What we get instead is a radical turn of events that cause a delineated plot leaving the audience emotionally wrenched whilst unable to fathom the film's outcome. Alison Tilson's script directed by Sue Brooks gives the film a tenderness and realism to both character and plot which could so easily have been overplayed. The film in essence is as unpredictable as life, taking you on a journey where the final destination is never a straightforward route of resolutely love and happiness. Under Brook's direction, Collette and Tsunashima give a performance that is outstanding, captivating and highly charged with emotion. Collete's naturalistic and raw emotion is powerful enough to effect even the hardest of nerves whilst Tsunashima's character transgresses from a confined man to a freer being allowed to shake off his shackles of tradition and expectation.

The film's beautifully constructed cinematography of a picturesque yet barren landscape is reflective of Sandy and Hiromitsus' relationship that exudes so much promise and beauty within an environment of unpredictability, danger and frailty. Hiromitsu even remarks to Sandy that 'You have shown me so much beauty' which rings true through the landscape, her physicality and their human emotion. The film's success lies within its examination of binaries and confounding expectations within those structures. The cultural division between East and West are temporarily eroded in the relationship between Sandy and Hiromitsu whilst gender and sexuality are displayed in a unique cinematic way. The male body becomes the object of desire through the lingering camera work both on the beach and in the hotel bedroom encounter. Both female and male body are examined equally adding to the feeling that both Sandy and Hiromitsu are temporarily detached from the world abandoning all its preconceptions and social baggage.

It is remarkable to see another resounding success for Australian cinema and so refreshing that Collette isn't just prepared to settle at what Hollywood throws at her. Japanese Story is a powerful journey into the unknown and the unexpected, leaving both the protagonists and audience emotionally exposed to what life has in store for us.