While searching for his fiancee Ritsuko, Sakutarou rediscovers through flashbacks the void deep within him caused by the events from his high school days.
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Title: Crying Out Love in the Center of the World (2004)
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10 wins & 7 nominations.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Takao Osawa | ... | Sakutaro Matsumoto | |
| Ko Shibasaki | ... | Ritsuko Fujimura (as Kô Shibasaki) | |
| Masami Nagasawa | ... | Aki Hirose | |
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Mirai Moriyama | ... | Sakutaro Matsumoto (High School) |
| Tsutomu Yamazaki | ... | Shigezou Matsumoto | |
| Kankurô Kudô | ... | Ryunosuke Ooki | |
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Kanji Tsuda | ... | Johnny |
| Issey Takahashi | ... | Ryunosuke (high school student) (as Issei Takahashi) | |
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Rio Kanno | ... | Ritsuko (girl) |
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Tetta Sugimoto | ... | Aki's Father |
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Katsutaka Furuhata | ... | Johnny (high school) |
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Kenta Uchino | ... | Classmate |
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Aki Nishihara | ... | Classmate |
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Masaru Miyazaki | ... | Classmate |
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Marie Kawaguchi | ... | Classmate |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
In 1980s Kyushu, two teenagers fell in love, and exchanged their secrets and thoughts by way of sending tape recordings to each other. More than a decade later, the boy (now grown-up and bittered) rediscovers the last recording of his long-dead lover's voice. Her words trigger a series of flashbacks illustrating the joyful beginning and tragic end of their relationship. Written by Carrie-ko
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Trivia
Sekai no Chushin de, Ai wo Sakebu, a Japanese romance novel by Katayama Kyoichi, sold over 3 million copies in Japan alone. See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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Details
Country:
JapanRelease Date:
8 May 2004 (Japan) See more »Also Known As:
Crying Out Love in the Center of the World See more »Edit
Box Office
Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$74,849,073Company Credits
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Technical Specs
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Sound Mix:
Dolby DigitalColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1Contribute to This Page
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As a rule, I avoid romance tales and this one was nearly no exception. I didn't see it in the theaters when it was out last year, even though friends recommended it. Just by chance, I rented the DVD. It is available in Japan with English subtitles. Now, after several days, I can't stop thinking about it.
Sakutaro is a man in his mid-thirties about to marry Ritsuko, a woman in her late twenties. While getting ready to move, Ritsuko encounters an old audio cassette tape she forgot she had. Though she knew what the tape was, she had never heard it. After locating a store that still sells audio cassette players, she listens to it for the first time. It takes her on a pilgrimage to her (and Sakutaro's) childhood home town. She leaves a message telling him that she's going away for a while.
By chance, Sakutaro learns where Ritsuko went and he goes there. He finds himself on a pilgrimage of his own.
I can't proceed much further, but it can be said that this is not a frivolous love story. I deals with the permanence of love in a most touching and original way. I really hope this film finds its way out of Japan. I gave this movie an eight out of ten.