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

The fashion company featured in the film, BABY, THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT, is an actual Lolita dress company based in the Shibuya neighborhood of Tokyo.

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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

Comes on like a Japanese Ghostworld only 10 times more outrageous !!!

Watched this gem of a film just a week before xmas 2004,,,and mighty glad I did,,as apart from maybe Eternal Sunshine and 2046 nothing really as stood out in 2004 for me.

I'm not saying this film's perfect it does go way too dreamy and slips a lot into teen angst a little too much,but for a hugely entertaining wild ride you gotta see it as nothing for along time comes close to this on the fun scale.

Included are show stopping camera angles/tricks and odd moments of surreal nonsense all wrapped around story of a pair of female teens (Kyôko Fukada & Anna Tsuchiya who both look and act awesome) finding their own individual identities,add some great gags on modern life's consumerism and you've got a sure fire cult maybe even worldwide hit on your hands.I can hear teen girls ripping their posters of N-Sync and Westlife down from their walls and putting up Momoko & Ichigo one's.All in all hugely recommend to fans of Japanese culture i'd give this a super fun 8 maybe adding an half for the fun anime sections...