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Credited cast: | |||
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Kohei Fukungaga | ... | Shun |
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Yuka Hyyoudo | ... | Yu |
Naomi Kawase | ... | Reiko | |
Katsuhisa Namase | ... | Taku | |
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Kanako Higuchi | ... | Shouko |
Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Yûko Den | ... | Background Dancer |
The Aso family live in the old town of Nara. One Day, Kei, one of the Aso's twin boys suddenly disappears. Five years later seventeen-year old Shun, the remaining twin, is an art student. He now has to move forward with his life, together with his childhood friend, Yu. Written by JeanH
A family will always remain a sacred institution for cinema if we take into account the depiction of families on silver screen.It is believed that American cinema and European cinema are known for their spontaneous portraits of family life.However,most national cinemas in Asia including Japanese cinema prefer to sketch a highly restrained description of family life.All erudite viewers have witnessed that in films by Ozu Saan.This is exactly something which viewers can experience in Japanese film "Sharasojyu" directed by renowned Japanese director Kawase Naomi.Her film can be termed as an extremely exquisite portrait of family life.Most filmmakers would evoke a birth and a death in their films to talk about human lives.However,Kawase Saan has gone a step further by choosing to depict in a charming reverse order a death /a disappearance and a birth to present her views about simple life in a small Japanese town.Her film appears admirably genuine and refreshingly honest as family tensions have been consigned to an inferior position to extract best performances from actors to effectively portray other human qualities such as community living and friendship.Many a times all viewers wish that a film must not remain a film but become life.This wish comes true in a particular scene when an entire town is dancing.One is not human if that dance sequence does not stir noblest of feelings in your heart and sad tears tinged with happiness on your cheeks.PS : Film critic Lalit Rao would like to thank a good friend Mr.Philippe Pham for having gifted a DVD of this film for detailed analysis.