Tony Takitani (2004)

When technical illustrator Tony Takitani asks his wife to resist her all-consuming obsession for designer clothes, the consequences are tragic.

Director:

Jun Ichikawa

Writers:

Jun Ichikawa, Haruki Murakami (short story)

Stars:

Issei Ogata, Rie Miyazawa, Shinohara Takahumi

2 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Issei Ogata	...	Tony Takitani, Shozaburo Takitani
Rie Miyazawa	...	Konuma Eiko, Hisako
Shinohara Takahumi	...	Young Tony Takitani
Hidetoshi Nishijima	...	Narrator (voice)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Yumi Endô
Miho Fujima	...	4th daughter
Miki Hayashida
Shizuka Moriyama
Hiroshi Yamamoto

Storyline

Due to his Western name, Tony was shunned by other kids and spent a solitary childhood. Though gifted as an artist, his drawings lacked feeling, so as an adult, he carved a career as a technical illustrator. Then in middle age, Tony suddenly falls for a pretty young woman, Eiko Konuma, who visits him one day on business. Eiko is like an angel in Tony's daily existence, and for the first time in his life, he feels connected to the outside world. However, Eiko does have one fault: she's a clothing shopaholic. Confusion also begins to develop when it appears that Eiko has a double.

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Plot Keywords:

japanese man | two word title | character name as title | watering a plant | husband and wife domestic | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Nearly every shot in the movie moves from left to right, some are static (particularly toward the end) and only a few from right to left.

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Connections

Featured in 2006 Independent Spirit Awards (2006)

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Soundtracks

Solitude
Written by Ryuichi Sakamoto

User Reviews

Simplicity on the subject of loneliness. A shade of "grey"

This is a slow, deliberate film on the subject of loss (and loneliness) The first few minutes don't exactly imbue you with confidence, and strike very much as a "pseuds" corner speciality.

The filmmaker and the droll narrator however save you and produce a gentle portrait of a man who lives through loneliness.

There are woman involved too, but the cast is sparse.

I have read other users mention melancholy in their reviews. I disagree with this. This is a film simply shot and with a gentle simple piano score attached to it. There are no vibrant colours but it is just as visually enchanting as the "The thin red line" even for it greyness.

It is the strength of the characters that however keep you engaged.

Watch this.

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

29 January 2005 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Tony Takitani

Filming Locations:

Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,765, 26 June 2005

Gross USA:

$129,783

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$556,268

Company Credits

Production Co:

Breath, Wilco Co.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1