Shimotsuma monogatari (2004)

Momoko, a strange and seemingly emotionless girl obsessed with 18th century France, befriends a Yanki biker and the two experience the ups and downs of their unusual lives in a rural Japanese town.

Director:

Tetsuya Nakashima

Writers:

Nobara Takemoto (novel), Tetsuya Nakashima (screenplay)

Stars:

Kyoko Fukada, Anna Tsuchiya, Hiroyuki Miyasako

14 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kyoko Fukada	...	Momoko Ryugasaki
Anna Tsuchiya	...	Ichigo Shirayuri
Hiroyuki Miyasako	...	Momoko's Father
Sadao Abe	...	Ryuji 'the Unicorn' / Doctor
Eiko Koike	...	Akimi
Shin Yazawa	...	Miko
Hirotarô Honda	...	Yakuza Boss
Kirin Kiki	...	Momoko's Grandmother
Yoshiyoshi Arakawa	...	Grocery Store Manager
Katsuhisa Namase	...	Pachinko Parlor Manager
Ryôko Shinohara	...	Momoko's Mother
Yoshinori Okada	...	Baby, 'The Stars Shine Bright' Owner
Kanako Irie
Haruo Mizuno	...	Himself
Yûichi Kimura	...	Yakuza

Storyline

Momoko Ryugasaki is the daughter of a smalltime gangster that forges Versace brand and a lowlife woman. Momoko is smitten by the Rococo period and dresses in a Lolita style, with frilly dresses and embroidery bonnet. She is raised by her father since her mother divorced him to marry her gynecologist, and he has taught her how to perfectly embroider. When Mr. Ryugasaki includes the Universal Studios brand in his products, he is forced to move to the rural Shimotsuma with Momoko to live in the house of her grandmother. Momoko decides to sell her collection of forged Versace and Universal Studios to make money to buy her expensive clothing. The rebel "yanki" Ichigo Shirayuri visits Momoko to buy clothes and soon they begin the most unlikely friendship.

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Plot Keywords:

thin girl | slender attractive woman | thin and attractive | slim and attractive | slender girl | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Official Sites:

CIPA [France] Official Site [Japan]

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese French English

Release Date:

29 May 2004 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Kamikaze Girls

Company Credits

Production Co:

Amuse Pictures,Hakuhodo DY Media Partners,Hori Production

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At the part when Ichigo and Momoko are having lunch together, Momoko is holding a pink book. The title reads "How to be a Lolita" in Japanese.

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Quotes

Momoko Ryugasaki: Stop spitting!

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Crazy Credits

At the end of the film, Momoko and Ichigo pose together in a photo booth.

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Connections

References Battles Without Honor and Humanity (1973)

User Reviews

Lolita and Japanese moped gang fans

The story is about a girl who goes to Tokyo to buy her Lolita clothes, and the moped gangster girl she very unwillingly befriends. This movie is funny cute and sexy. Laughed a ton, and then got misty eyed too. A great Thelma and Louise kinda female bonding movie. Haven't seem T&L though, so don't take my word for it. The camerawork and cinematography, wait, the entire storytelling is funky and pop, but it's such a good story. Glad to have caught the last showing. The climax is surreal. But so is everything else. it's a movie driven on fashion, but the plot is knit tightly :) And still I wouldn't care, these two girls are both incredible. Very hot, very hot. A classic for Japanese pop culture conoisseurs. A decent story for all others.