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A Scene at the Sea

Original title: Ano natsu, ichiban shizukana umi
  • 19911991
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
5.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Claude Maki and Hiroko Ôshima in Ano natsu, ichiban shizukana umi (1991)
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Romance
The lives of a young, hearing-impaired and gloomy couple are fulfilled after the boy holds interest in surfboarding.The lives of a young, hearing-impaired and gloomy couple are fulfilled after the boy holds interest in surfboarding.The lives of a young, hearing-impaired and gloomy couple are fulfilled after the boy holds interest in surfboarding.
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
5.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Takeshi Kitano
  • Writer
    • Takeshi Kitano
  • Stars
    • Claude Maki
    • Hiroko Ôshima
    • Sabu Kawahara
Top credits
  • Director
    • Takeshi Kitano
  • Writer
    • Takeshi Kitano
  • Stars
    • Claude Maki
    • Hiroko Ôshima
    • Sabu Kawahara
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 25User reviews
    • 30Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 12 wins & 7 nominations

    Photos72

    Ano natsu, ichiban shizukana umi (1991)
    Ano natsu, ichiban shizukana umi (1991)
    Ano natsu, ichiban shizukana umi (1991)
    Ano natsu, ichiban shizukana umi (1991)
    Ano natsu, ichiban shizukana umi (1991)
    Ano natsu, ichiban shizukana umi (1991)
    Ano natsu, ichiban shizukana umi (1991)
    Ano natsu, ichiban shizukana umi (1991)
    Ano natsu, ichiban shizukana umi (1991)
    Ano natsu, ichiban shizukana umi (1991)
    Ano natsu, ichiban shizukana umi (1991)
    Ano natsu, ichiban shizukana umi (1991)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Claude Maki
    • Shigeruas Shigeru
    Hiroko Ôshima
    • Takakoas Takako
    Sabu Kawahara
    • Takohas Takoh
    Toshizo Fujiwara
    • Nakajimaas Nakajima
    Susumu Terajima
    Susumu Terajima
    Katsuya Koiso
    Toshio Matsui
    Yasukazu Ishitani
    Naomi Kubota
    Tsuyoshi Ohwada
    Tatsuya Sugimoto
    Meijin Serizawa
    Tetsu Watanabe
    Tetsu Watanabe
    Keiko Kagimoto
    • Surf Shop Womanas Surf Shop Woman
    Kengakusha Akiyama
    • Director
      • Takeshi Kitano
    • Writer
      • Takeshi Kitano
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Born with a hearing impairment, Shigeru is a part timer working for the sanitation service. His girlfriend Takako has the same condition as well. On his usual pickup route, Shigeru finds a broken surf-board in a pile of garbage. His introduction to the world of surfing. Shigeru fails in his attempt to catch a wave. Takako looks on as the locals heckle the first time surfer. Un-hindered by the world around them, Shigeru and Takako commute to the beach every day. Impressed by Shigeru's determination, owner of a surf shop hands Shigeru a wet suit and an entry form to a contest. Ironically, Shigeru is disqualified from the contest for missing the announcement. Not to be discouraged, Shigeru's love for surfing consumes everything around him. He is able to fit in with the local crowd and even finish respectably at the second contest. Summer comes to an end and the cold wind starts to blow between Shigeru and Takako... —Office Kitano
    • surfing
    • wet suit
    • beach
    • surfer
    • reconciliation
    • 11 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Romance
      • Sport
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The first film by Takeshi Kitano that doesn't feature any violence.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Sup chuk sui dik ha tin (2005)

    User reviews25

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Beautiful At Times, But Not Quite Enough
    This film shows that sensitive side of Takeshi Kitano's films. He can really create some beautiful and atmospheric scenes. Sadly, this film didn't have enough to amaze me. I know many people say this is an absolutely beautiful film, and while I cannot deny the beauty of some scenes, it can drag a lot a feel dull at times.

    My main issue was with the main characters. It's supposed to be a love story, but I just didn't feel their connection was believable. It was as if we are expected to see them sitting beside each other day after day as some kind of big romantic connection. Now I understand that he is deaf and, while it sometimes seems like she isn't, the girl is deaf too, making this silent and beautiful connection appear. But I just at times felt like they just happened to beside each-other. They barely ever make any eye contact. You never truly feel that silent love for each other. It felt similar to how when Takeshi Kitano is acting, he has a stone face, but in the case of these characters it doesn't work. Kitano can do his usual emotionless face yet somehow convey a character underneath that face with emotions. The two leads in this cannot do that, and it hurts the film greatly. The film also suffers from being extremely repetitive. We see people walking down the same road numerous times, see the same surfing scenes again and again without any noticeable differences. I wouldn't have minded if you we're seeing him improve his surfing skills each time, but I felt like he didn't really. Even at the end he seemed... okay. His surfing was just good. I didn't know whether that was the point or if he was supposed to actually look really good at it. The surfing feels pointless if there is not a big change in skill. I just felt like I watched a movie about two deaf people who sit around and don't look at each other, and on of them becomes mediocre at surfing. Although I will say the soundtrack is amazing. The music gave me the feelings that I wish the characters would have. It helped add emotional impact to scenes that, without the aid of Joe Hisaishi's score, would have been dull. Kitano also gives us some great shots to take in and enjoy, but the repetition of a lot of them can wear on you.

    In the end, it has some beautiful scenes, but just doesn't cut it. I wish I could have loved this, because Kitano can do some amazingly touching stuff, but it didn't hit my buttons in the right way.
    helpful•7
    5
    • TheFilmGuy1
    • Jul 31, 2014

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 19, 1991 (Japan)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Official site
      • Metropolitan Filmexport (France)
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Escena frente al mar
    • Filming locations
      • Japan
    • Production companies
      • Office Kitano
      • Toho Company
      • Totsu
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 41 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Film Review: Sonatine (1993) by Takeshi Kitano
    Film Review: Sonatine (1993) by Takeshi Kitano
    Apr 21AsianMoviePulse
    Kitano Takeshi to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award From Udine Far East Asian Film Festival
    Kitano Takeshi to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award From Udine Far East Asian Film Festival
    Mar 18Variety Film + TV

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    Claude Maki and Hiroko Ôshima in Ano natsu, ichiban shizukana umi (1991)
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