Wasabi (2001)

In Japan for the funeral of his long-lost love, a tough French detective learns that he also has a teenage daughter and that her life is in danger from the Yakuza.

Director:

Gérard Krawczyk

Writer:

Luc Besson

Stars:

Jean Reno, Ryôko Hirosue, Michel Muller

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean Reno	...	Hubert Fiorentini
Ryôko Hirosue	...	Yumi Yoshimido
Michel Muller	...	Maurice 'Momo'
Carole Bouquet	...	Sofia
Yoshi Oida	...	Takanawa
Christian Sinniger	...	Le Squale
Alexandre Brik	...	Irène
Jean-Marc Montalto	...	Olivier (as Jean Marc Montalto)
Véronique Balme	...	Betty
Fabio Zenoni	...	Josy
Haruhiko Hirata	...	Ishibashi
Michel Scourneau	...	Van Eyck (as Mikhel Scourneau)
Jacques Bondoux	...	Del Rio
Osamu Tsuruya	...	Douanier 1
Akihiro Nishida	...	Douanier 2

Storyline

Hubert is a French policeman with very sharp methods. After being forced to take 2 months off by his boss, who doesn't share his view on working methods, he goes back to Japan, where he used to work 19 years ago, to settle the probate of his girlfriend who left him shortly after marriage without a trace. There he mets his former colleague Momo and his daughter Yumi who he did not know was ever born. Hubert eventually finds out why his girlfriend left him and the reason becomes his and his new daughters problem.

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Plot Keywords:

frenchman abroad | hit with a golf ball | dinner date | will | video arcade | 

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Taglines:

Quite Possibly The Greatest French-Language, English-Subtitled, Japanese Action-Comedy Of All Time.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Comedy | Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

On Miko's empty apartment, the window shows a neon light advertisement with the Japanese words "raw wasabi"

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Goofs

Yakuza member leaps at Hubert at the bank and Hubert shoots him, but the effect of the gun doesn't show blood, revealing some kind of material exploding, simulating the bullet impact.

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Quotes

Sofia: You're wearing cologne?
Hubert Fiorentini: Yes, I found an old bottle.
Sofia: The bottle I gave you 2 years ago?

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Connections

Featured in Cinemassacre Video: Underrated Action Movies (2019)

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Soundtracks

Real Funky Time
Performed by Dax Riders
Written by C. Azencoth, O. Ruel & Nicolas Berger-Vachon (as N. Berger Vachon)
©Editions Subscience
©2001 Subscience
avec l'aimable autorisation
d'ULM Universal Licensing Music

User Reviews

Entertaining and surprisingly funny in places

I never know how to rate these types of films. OK it's no masterpiece to bring some sort of existential meaning to your life and yes it is deeply flawed in many ways even by the standard at which it aims for but nonetheless, I found some endearing quality in its light hearted humour and entertaining style.

Any film with Jean Reno in the lead and Luc Besson behind the script is going to entertain and this does just that. Thankfully the film is kept short enough for none of the flaws to start to irritate and the kick ass French cop goes to Japan theme is done well enough to warrant a viewing.

My DVD had the option for French with English subtitles or English dubbed. Even though Jean Reno does his own over dubbing in the English version, I found the overall effect was a little stale. I restarted the film in French with subtitles and the energy and humour of the performances just shone through a lot better.

Details

Country:

France Japan

Language:

French Japanese

Release Date:

31 October 2001 (France)

Also Known As:

Wasabi

Filming Locations:

Tokyo Jumbo Golf Center, Adachi, Tokyo, Japan

Box Office

Budget:

EUR15,300,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$17,560, 29 September 2002

Gross USA:

$97,220

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$10,366,360

Company Credits

Production Co:

EuropaCorp, Samitose Productions, TF1 Films Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1