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Ritual

Original title: Shiki-Jitsu
  • 20002000
  • 2h 8m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
Ritual (2000)
Drama
A disillusioned filmmaker has an encounter with a young girl who has a ritual of repeating "Tomorrow is my birthday" everyday. He tries to communicate with her through his video camera.A disillusioned filmmaker has an encounter with a young girl who has a ritual of repeating "Tomorrow is my birthday" everyday. He tries to communicate with her through his video camera.A disillusioned filmmaker has an encounter with a young girl who has a ritual of repeating "Tomorrow is my birthday" everyday. He tries to communicate with her through his video camera.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
    • Hideaki Anno
    • Hideaki Anno(screenplay)
    • Ayako Fujitani(novel)
  • Stars
    • Shunji Iwai
    • Ayako Fujitani
    • Jun Murakami
    • Hideaki Anno
    • Hideaki Anno(screenplay)
    • Ayako Fujitani(novel)
  • Stars
    • Shunji Iwai
    • Ayako Fujitani
    • Jun Murakami
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 14User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Photos7

    Ritual (2000)
    Ritual (2000)
    Ritual (2000)
    Ritual (2000)
    Ritual (2000)
    Ritual (2000)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Shunji Iwai
    Shunji Iwai
    • Director
    Ayako Fujitani
    Ayako Fujitani
    • She
    Jun Murakami
    Jun Murakami
    • Bicycle man
    Shinobu Ôtake
    • Her mother
    Suzuki Matsuo
    • Man
    • (voice)
    Megumi Hayashibara
    Megumi Hayashibara
    • Woman
    • (voice)
      • Hideaki Anno
      • Hideaki Anno(screenplay)
      • Ayako Fujitani(novel)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Shiki-jitsu is based on the autobiographical nouvella "Tohimu" written by Ayako Fujitani (who plays the leading role).

    User reviews14

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    That Hideaki Anno Feeling
    Ayako Fujitani is gorgeous and amazing in this film, it's hard to believe that her only other significant credits are three giant monster Gamera movies! (Which I would now like to see!)

    Anno, for those who know his anime, is well-suited for film. The type of fun visual metaphors that filled "KareKano" from wall to wall are here, too, but used a bit more sparingly.

    The plot concerns a burnt-out animator/filmmaker who, running away from his career, returns to the industrial town where he was born. There he encounters a waif, a half-crazy, suicidal, obsessive-compulsive girl who nevertheless has an incredible charm about her. By just listening to her (and eventually filming her), he becomes a part of her life.

    As the two grow ever closer, of course disaster looms. Will he need to retreat from this crazy girl? Will his retreat destroy her fragile heart?

    The end of the film is a bit disappointing. Anno offers some explanations of why she is like she is, but there really is no revelation. Without revelation, it would be better if left mysterious. This may be the novelist's fault but, given his history, Anno does seem to have problems with endings.

    The cinematography is quite beautiful, even the polluted landscape of an industry town is gorgeous here.

    Another viewer complained about metaphors, wondering specifically about the girl liking railroad tracks because they are always together but never meet. Well, the girl begs the guy to always be with her, and she also says that she does not like sex. Simple if you use your brain, but you do have to have one.

    Any metaphors or philosophizing in this movie are just as simple. Nothing high-faluting or divorced from real experience.

    If you liked Evangelion and think you will like this, please remember that there are no giant robots in this movie. If that's cool with you, you will probably have a good time. Thank you.

    addendum: a year after writing the above, I learned that Fujitani is the daughter of action star Steven Seagal, and (between Gamera films) appeared in his 1998 movie The Patriot. Her novella "Shiki-Jitsu," which Anno adapted to the screen was inspired by the difficulties she experienced during the time she spent in Los Angeles. Now I'm even more in awe!
    helpful•10
    9
    • UncleBobMartin
    • Sep 10, 2004

    Details

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    • Release date
      • December 7, 2000 (Japan)
      • Japan
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
    • Production companies
      • Studio Kajino Company
      • Tokuma Shoten
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 2 hours 8 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Digital

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