Big River (2006)

Director:

Atsushi Funahashi

Writers:

Atsushi Funahashi (writer)
Eric Van Den Brulle (writer)

Release Date:

20 January 2006 (Japan)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Friendship knows no borders.

Cast

Kavi Raz	...	Ali
Jô Odagiri	...	Teppei
Chloe Snyder	...	Sarah
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ray Anderson	...	Bartender
Tracy Anumada	...	Frita
Alyssa Black	...	Restaurant customer
Charles Brown	...	Grampa
Anthony Casanova	...	Cowboy
Emily Chamberlain	...	Rental Car Clerk
Nick DeSimone	...	Cowboy
Frankie Gonzalez	...	Migrant Worker
Karen Greenberg	...	Waitress
David C. Hayes	...	Gas Station Attendant
Lisa B. Hunt	...	Restaurant customer
Zareena Jaffer	...	Nadia
Clint James	...	Cowboy 2
Bruce Jensvold	...	Robber
David Joder	...	Furniture Store Salesmen
Charles Karp	...	Patrolman
Rita Kurtz	...	Cowgirl Dancer
Roderick LeDesma	...	Cowboy #3
Dennis Moore	...	Cowboy
Brian Mulligan	...	INS Officer
Mohammed Naqvi	...	Accountant
Debbie Overbey	...	Airport Patron
Alonso Parra	...	Restaurant waiter
Chris Poulos	...	Cowboy

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA | Japan

Language:

English | Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

South Korea:12

Filming Locations:

Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Company:

Big River Films

very good

I managed to catch this film on the World movies service on my satellite TV. As I suffer from insomnia I often find myself channel in the early hours of the morning to pass the time. I was quite surprise to see such a wonderful film by pure chance. The premise is a simple one which revolves around three travellers meeting by chance in the Arizona desert. The movies charter their dramas and foibles as they travel on the road. Naturally a film like this, with the unlikely characters meeting and being on the road recalls the likes of Kerouac and Wenders. There's something magnificent yet introspective about travelling by alone and meeting strangers who are in a similar vain to you. Their disenchantment is mirrored within the serene environment, by the gorgeous natural light touching upon the American landscape.

The narrative is minimal, in that the characters give a more understated performance. I feel that their psychology is mirrored within the environment itself. There is one moment when the Japanese male is lost on the highway alone in the dark. The sparse highway lights and the darkness envelopes the character, it is becomes an oppressive force. At times the characters seem to become figures within an Edward Hopper painting, they are weary eyed and completely unsure of themselves.

I really enjoyed this movie for its meditative and solemn atmosphere. At times it is long winded, but I feel it is all worth while in order to experience the message the movie has to offer.