I Wish (2011) Kiseki (original title)

Director:

Hirokazu Koreeda

Writer:

Hirokazu Koreeda (screenplay)

Release Date:

11 June 2011 (Japan)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

12-year-old Koichi, who has been separated from his brother Ryunosuke due to his parents' divorce, begins to believe that the new bullet train service will create a miracle when the first trains pass each other at top speed. |

Plot Keywords:

Bullet Train | Checkout Clerk | Librarian | One Word Title | Hospitality

Awards:

3 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Hiroshi Abe	...	Mr. Sakagami (Teacher)
Jô Odagiri	...	Kenji (Father)
Yoshio Harada	...	Wataru (Grandfather's Friend)
Masami Nagasawa	...	Ms. Mimura (Teacher)
Kirin Kiki	...	Hideko (Grandmother)
Yui Natsukawa	...	Kyoko (Megumi's Mother)
Ohshirô Maeda	...	Ryunosuke
Koki Maeda	...	Koichi
Nene Ohtsuka	...	Nozomi (Mother)
Yuri Nakamura	...	Ms. Aoki - Nurse
Lily	...	Higashi's Wife
Kyara Uchida	...	Megumi
Ryôga Hayashi	...	Tasuku
Isao Hashizume	...	Shukichi (Grandfather)
Ryôsei Tayama	...	Wataru's Friend
Chôei Takahashi	...	Higashi
Kanna Hashimoto	...	Kanna
Rento Isobe	...	Rento
Seinosuke Nagayoshi	...	Makoto
Yûna Taira
Shunsuke Godai	...	Wataru's Friend
Masahito Irie	...	Kenji's Friend
Kazuaki Shimizu	...	Policeman

Directed by
Hirokazu Koreeda

Writing credits
Hirokazu Koreeda		(screenplay)

Produced by
Kentarô Koike	....	producer
Satomi Odake	....	co-producer
Hijiri Taguchi	....	producer

Cinematography by
Yutaka Yamasaki		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Hirokazu Koreeda

Casting by
Yoshiko Arae

Production Companies

• Bandai Visual Company
• Chugoku Broadcasting (RCC)
• East Japan Marketing & Communications Inc.
• Eisei Gekijo
• Fukuoka Broadcasting System (FBS)
• GAGA
• J-Wave
• JR Kyushu Agency
• JR West Japan Communications
• Kyushu Railway Co. (JR Kyushu) (support)
• Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS)
• Minaminihon Broadcasting Co.
• Nishinippon Shimbun, The
• RKB Mainichi Broadcasting Corporation
• RKK Kumamoto Broadcasting Co.
• Shirogumi
• TV Man Union
• Yahoo Japan
• d-rights

Distributors

• A-Film Distribution (2012) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• A-Film Distribution (2012) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• GAGA (2011) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Le Pacte (2012) (France) (theatrical)
• Magnolia Pictures (2012) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Wild Side Films (2012) (France) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Atom Cinema (2012) (Taiwan) (all media)
• Bandai Visual Company (2011) (Japan) (DVD)
• Film1 (2013) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Golden Scene (2012) (Hong Kong) (all media)
• Leopardo Filmes (2012) (Portugal) (all media)
• Mirovision (2011) (South Korea) (all media)
• Sahamongkolfilm Co. (2012) (Thailand) (all media)
• Teleview International (2011) (Lebanon) (all media) (Middle East)

Other Companies

• Apex II  lighting equipment supplied by
• Hoei Sangyo Co. Ltd.  film stock supplied by
• Imagica  film processing
• Sanwa Cine Equipment  camera equipment supplied by

Also Known As:

"Kiseki" - Japan (original title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild thematic elements, language and smoking

Runtime:

128 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS-Stereo

Certification:

South Korea:All | USA:PG | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Netherlands:AL | Singapore:PG | Portugal:M/6 | UK:PG | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Sakurajima Volcano, Kagoshima, Japan

Company:

Bandai Visual Company

When The Train Comes Along . . .

This is the story of two young Japanese brothers who live apart following the break-up of their parents' relationship. The older boy dreams of his family reuniting and prays for a miraculous intervention in the form of a volcanic eruption, hoping this might lead to his evacuation from his grandparents' region and a return home. Then, when he discovers that the passing of the speeding Bullet trains, approaching from opposite directions, creates a 'cosmic' moment during which wishes are granted, he sets out with a few friends to meet his brother at the meeting point on the railway line. There they make their wishes - with varying results.

The two brothers are forced to deal with the consequences of their parents' choices, ones they have had no part in making. Their belief, to varying degrees, in the power of 'faith' (believing that wishes can come true) then leads them to have to face the consequences of their own choices. Given their youthful immaturity, there is real poignancy in witnessing their confrontation with some harsh realities.

The movie features brilliant performances from the young actors and an excellent supporting cast of adults. There is also gorgeous and evocative cinematography, scenes of the Japanese countryside and its urban impositions, not least the Bullet line itself elevated on its concrete trackbed.

It takes some time, too long perhaps, for the story to gain momentum. But once the youngsters embark on their journey to meet the trains, the story moves at a brisker, more engaging pace. The climax (yes there is a climax, contrary to the view of another reviewer) brings moments of intense beauty and sharp sadness, regret for the loss of childish innocence of as well as optimism in the hope for a better future.

So this is a slow-burner, but persistence brings rewards. Recommended.

(Viewed at The Cornerhouse, Manchester, UK 21.02.13)