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Japanese Story

  • 20032003
  • RR
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
6.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • IMDbPro
Japanese Story (2003)
Against the background of an Australian desert, Sandy, a geologist, and Hiromitsu, a Japanese businessman, play out a story of human inconsequence in the face of the blistering universe. The end of the journey leaves no one capable of going back to where they started from.
Play trailer2:08
1 Video
6 Photos
  • Drama
  • Romance
Against the background of an Australian desert, Sandy, a geologist, and Hiromitsu, a Japanese businessman, play out a story of human inconsequence in the face of the blistering universe. The... Read allAgainst the background of an Australian desert, Sandy, a geologist, and Hiromitsu, a Japanese businessman, play out a story of human inconsequence in the face of the blistering universe. The end of the journey leaves no one capable of going back to where they started from.Against the background of an Australian desert, Sandy, a geologist, and Hiromitsu, a Japanese businessman, play out a story of human inconsequence in the face of the blistering universe. The end of the journey leaves no one capable of going back to where they started from.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
6.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Sue Brooks
  • Writer
    • Alison Tilson
  • Stars
    • Toni Collette
    • Gotaro Tsunashima
    • Lynette Curran
Top credits
  • Director
    • Sue Brooks
  • Writer
    • Alison Tilson
  • Stars
    • Toni Collette
    • Gotaro Tsunashima
    • Lynette Curran
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 132User reviews
    • 63Critic reviews
    • 73Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 20 wins & 13 nominations

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:08
    Trailer

    Photos6

    Toni Collette and Gotaro Tsunashima in Japanese Story (2003)
    Toni Collette and Gotaro Tsunashima in Japanese Story (2003)
    Toni Collette and Gotaro Tsunashima in Japanese Story (2003)
    Toni Collette and Gotaro Tsunashima in Japanese Story (2003)
    Toni Collette in Japanese Story (2003)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Toni Collette
    Toni Collette
    • Sandy Edwardsas Sandy Edwards
    Gotaro Tsunashima
    • Hiromitsu Tachibanaas Hiromitsu Tachibana
    Lynette Curran
    Lynette Curran
    • Mumas Mum
    Matthew Dyktynski
    • Bill Bairdas Bill Baird
    Yumiko Tanaka
    • Yukiko Tachibanaas Yukiko Tachibana
    Kate Atkinson
    Kate Atkinson
    • Jackieas Jackie
    Bill Young
    Bill Young
    • Jimmy Smithersas Jimmy Smithers
    Reg Evans
    Reg Evans
    • Bloke in Row Boatas Bloke in Row Boat
    George Shevtsov
    • James (lawyer)as James (lawyer)
    Justine Clarke
    Justine Clarke
    • Janeas Jane
    Igor Sas
    • Fraseras Fraser
    Mike Frencham
    • Blakeas Blake
    John Howard
    John Howard
    • Richardsas Richards
    Phil Bennett
    • Barmanas Barman
    Heath Bergersen
    • Petrol Blokeas Petrol Bloke
    Jules Hutchinson
    • Canteen Workeras Canteen Worker
    • (as Jules Hutchison)
    Kuni Hashimoto
    Kuni Hashimoto
    • Japanese Translatoras Japanese Translator
    Mark McAullay
    • Watsonas Watson
    • Director
      • Sue Brooks
    • Writer
      • Alison Tilson
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Crazy credits
      Our thanks to the people of Nyamal, Ngarluma, Yinjibarndi, Bunjima and Nyiparli Nations.
    • Connections
      Featured in Inside Japanese Story: An Evening with the Filmmakers (2004)
    • Soundtracks
      ABC News Theme
      (1986)

      Written by Tony Ansell (as T. Ansell) and Peter Wall (as P. Wall)

      Published by ABC Music Publishing and

      Kindly reproduced with the permission of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation

    User reviews132

    Review
    Top review
    Gender and Cultural Topsy Turvy in the Outback
    "Japanese Story" is a fascinating exploration of gender and cultural roles, with a more incisive take on the contrasts than "Lost in Translation," let alone than in the simplicity of "The Last Samurai."

    The Australian outback is a harsher but beautiful landscape of blokes and sheilas than the Manhattan of "Sex and the City" but it brings into relief similar questions of expectations of guys and gals in life and sex.

    Toni Colette's "Sandy" is one tough geologist required to guide Gotaro Tsunashima to his father's company's environment-destroying mining businesses. Each suspiciously views the other through narrow stereotypical lenses that block out the complexities of their real lives and potential.

    They very gradually adapt to each other, opening each other up to new experiences in quite unexpected ways, even though their language and life communication is still limited. She is the shaggy, physical, confident one; he is the smooth, intellectual, diffident one. "Sandy" is aggressive in a way much more typical of males in U.S. movies, while "Tachibana" is redolent of the farm wife in "The Bridges of Madison County."

    The third act is even more startling in its catharsis for "Sandy" as she finds inner strengths and vulnerabilities to deal with her responsibilities across the cultural chasm.
    helpful•6
    2
    • noralee
    • Feb 22, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 25, 2003 (Australia)
    • Country of origin
      • Australia
    • Official sites
      • Palace Films
      • Screenwest (Australia)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Японская история
    • Filming locations
      • Perth Airport, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
    • Production companies
      • Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC)
      • Fortissimo Films
      • Gecko Films Pty. Ltd.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,740,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $647,054
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $23,962
      • Jan 4, 2004
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,098,613
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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