Japan (2002) Japón (original title)

Director:

Carlos Reygadas

Writer:

Carlos Reygadas

Release Date:

2 October 2002 (Belgium)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A painter from the big city goes to a remote canyon to commit suicide. To reach some calmness, he stays at the farmstead of Ascen, an old, religious woman. Although but a few words are spoken, love grows. |

Plot Keywords:

Canyon | Stone | Sledge Hammer | Amateur Actor | Surrealism

Awards:

16 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Alejandro Ferretis	...	The man
Magdalena Flores	...	Ascen
Yolanda Villa	...	Sabina
Martín Serrano	...	Juan Luis
Rolando Hernández	...	The judge
Bernabe Pérez	...	The singer
Fernando Benítez	...	Fernando
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Carlo Reygadas Barquín	...	The hunter

Directed by
Carlos Reygadas

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Carlos Reygadas

Produced by
Carlos Reygadas	....	producer
Jaime Romandia	....	co-producer
Carlos Serrano Azcona	....	associate producer
Gerardo Tagle	....	line producer

Cinematography by
Diego Martínez Vignatti
Thierry Tronchet

Film Editing by
Daniel Melguizo
Carlos Serrano Azcona
David Torres

Production Design by
Alejandro Reygadas

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alex Ezpeleta	....	second assistant director
Bertrand Roland	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Gilles Laurent	....	sound
Ramón Moreira	....	sound
Ricardo Viñas	....	dolby sound consultant

Camera and Electrical Department
Diego Martínez Vignatti	....	camera operator
Thierry Tronchet	....	chief camera operator

Other crew
Rubio Marco	....	production assistant

Thanks
Arvo Pärt	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• No Dream Cinema
• Mantarraya Producciones
• Hubert Bals Fund
• Solaris Film
• Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografía (IMCINE)

Distributors

• Artecinema (2003) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• Artificial Eye (2003) (UK) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Bodega Films (2003) (France) (theatrical)
• Contact Film Cinematheek (2003) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Eurocine (2003) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Look Now! (2003) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Mantarraya Producciones (2003) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• Sharada Distribuzione (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Tartan (2003) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Vitagraph Films (2003) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Filmfreak Distributie (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Moskwood Media (200?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Palisades Tartan (2002) (USA) (all media)
• Tartan Video USA (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Tartan Video (2004) (UK) (DVD)
• Ventura Distribution (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

"Japón" - Mexico (original title)

MPAA:

Rated R for some strong sexuality, nudity and language (cut)

Runtime:

130 min | Argentina:132 min | Canada:122 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | Netherlands:143 min | USA:122 min | UK:133 min | USA:128 min (unrated version)

Country:

Mexico | Germany | Netherlands | Spain

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:R (cut) | USA:Unrated | France:U | Australia:MA | Argentina:16 | New Zealand:R16 | UK:18 (cut)

Company:

No Dream Cinema

Trivia:

Director Carlos Reygadas financed the initial shoot of $50,000 himself.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Ayacatzintla (2003)

This film, though not close to perfect is a beautifully crafted work that uses cinema to create poetry.

This film, though not close to perfect is a beautifully crafted work that uses cinema to create poetry. It seems that the director might have been heavily influenced by Italian neorealist cinema (think de Sica) and uses nonprofessional actors who convincingly take on their roles. The story explores sex and romance among people normally associated with being at the end of their lives and no longer in need of that type of affection. The older woman lead is brilliant, and the cinematography captures the unromanticized bleakness of life in rural Mexico. The problem with the film is that it seems a bit pretentious when it becomes too cryptic. Also, at times, the story meanders, and I still don't get the title but overall a solid piece of work and a nice respite from big-budget Hollywood films.