The World of Kanako (2014)

As former detective Akikazu searches for his missing daughter, Kanako, he soon learns she has a mysterious secret life.

Director:

Tetsuya Nakashima

Writers:

Akio Fukamachi (based on the novel by), Tetsuya Nakashima (screenplay)

Stars:

Kôji Yakusho, Nana Komatsu, Satoshi Tsumabuki

3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kôji Yakusho	...	Akikazu Fujishima
Nana Komatsu	...	Kanako Fujishima
Satoshi Tsumabuki	...	Detective Asai
Hiroya Shimizu	...	I / narrator
Fumi Nikaidô	...	Nami Endo (Kanako's ex-middle school classmate)
Ai Hashimoto	...	Emi Morishita (Kanako's high school friend)
Jun Kunimura	...	Dr.Tsujimura
Joe Odagiri	...	Detective Aikawa
Miki Nakatani	...	Rie Azuma
Aoi Morikawa	...	Tomoko Nagano
Munetaka Aoki	...	Sakiyama
Asuka Kurosawa	...	Kiriko Fujishima
Mahiro Takasugi	...	Yasuhiro Matsunaga
Shôno Hayama	...	Boy with blonde hair
Hiroki Nakajima	...	Shimazu

Storyline

Kanako, a beautiful girl and one of the best students at school, goes missing with all the belongings left behind in her room. Her father Akikazu is now asked by his ex-wife to look for their daughter. He starts a desperate search of Kanako using any means, in the hope of getting his "ideal" family back in place despite the fact that the very reason of the family breakup was because of his problematic personality and behaviors. Following tracks of her past and present and talking to her "friends," he starts to get to know his daughter whom he never knew or didn't even attempt to know. When Akikazu is led to one clue, he realizes the world Kanako was facing beyond his imagination... Can the father find his daughter, and get back his perfect happy family he has dreamed of after all these years?

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Plot Keywords:

female nudity | rape | wench | japanese high school girl | dysfunctional family | 

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Taglines:

Is his daughter a monster?

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Toho Company refused to make this film.

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Connections

References Kojak (1973)

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Soundtracks

Under the Sky
Written by 'Yasushi Sasamoto'
Performed by 'Yasushi Sasamoto'

User Reviews

A completely in your face tale of a fathers search for his estranged daughter

This is one of those films that you need to pay attention to. It is about Kanako Fujishima who is a bright and beautiful high school student. She is 'the cool set' all by herself and everyone wants to know her. Then one day she goes missing with no trace and no apparent reason for having done so. She lives with her mum who has divorced her father due to his atrocious behaviour.

He was a cop who quit the force around the same time and has become a drug and drink dependant security guard ever since – a state of affairs which has done little to improve his behaviour. However, when their daughter goes missing he is called by his estranged wife to find her. Thus begins a search in which he wants to find his daughter, but in doing so he uncovers a whole side to her that he had never imagined.

Now this is a film that I completely loved and was a bit bowled over by to be honest. It starts a bit full on with plenty of blood splatter – a theme that is repeated rather a lot throughout the 114 minute run time. Ex cop Akikazu is a real 'piece of work', brutish, violent, paradoxical and about as likable as a bout of gangrene.

He explodes onto the screen is a flurry of abuse which he sort of maintains throughout. He drives a 1970's Nissan Gloria which is in keeping with a lot of the styling here. That being the opening sequences are very seventies and full of Batman like words imposed in cartoon on the screen – mainly violent or profane. There is animation throughout too. It is violent, it is bonkers in places and to my amazement I actually laughed a couple of times. There are a few minor issues with continuity but nothing that could possibly detract from the overall impact of this great piece of Japanese movie making.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Site Official site [Japan]

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

4 December 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

The World of Kanako

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,834, 6 December 2015

Gross USA:

$16,627

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,627,892

Company Credits

Production Co:

GAGA, GyaO, Licri

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1