Kawaki (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:

mini skirt | female nudity | wench | japanese high school girl | rape | 

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Taglines:

Shock Therapy Entertainment.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official Site Official site [Japan]

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

4 December 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

El mundo de Kanako

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,834, 6 December 2015, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$15,336, 10 January 2016

Company Credits

Production Co:

GAGA,GyaO,Licri

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

After finished this film, director Tetsuya Nakashima had directed NTT Docomo's TV commercials. Also starring Nana Komatsu.

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Connections

References Kojak (1973)

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Soundtracks

Everybody Loves Somebody
Written by Sam Coslow , Irving Taylor and Ken Lane
Performed by Dean Martin
licensed by Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc.

User Reviews

Some people are just born rotten

I have always believed that some people are inherently evil. They are born with twisted mentalities that no amount of psychological aid can help. These people learn to assimilate into society as best they can, but they are conniving, wicked and wholly untrustworthy. This film is the story of one such person, and her name is Kanako. In the vein of movies like "Audition" by way of Quentin Tarantino, this film is the tale of a very twisted girl from a very broken family. The more we learn about Kanako, the more we realize that she was rotten to the core, and nothing could have been done to rehabilitate her. Sure, her parents might be at fault for their lack of rearing, perhaps it was a mix of nature and nurture, or it could simply be that she is just a horrible human being with no redeemable qualities. Whatever the case may be, Kanako uses her looks, and her influence to deceive, torture and use anyone that she pleases, and as her parents find out just how twisted she is, the story goes from depressing to downright terrifying. The love of a parent for a child is unparalleled, but sometimes, parents have to recognize when their kids are just no good and ensure that they are permanently removed from society. This was one of the most disturbing, shocking and downright vile films I have seen in some time, and I loved every single minute of it.

The acting: Superb. The entire cast was amazing.

The Directorial style; Reminiscent of Quentin Tarrantino. You can tell that this director was a fan.

The cinematography; Beautifully shot, with many scenes equally beautiful and stomach churning.

Overall, I would recommend this film to anyone who enjoys disturbing, gritty films that show the true nature of humanity. It is a portrait of a textbook sociopath, who destroys everything she encounters, leaving battered husks of humanity in her wake. It is not for the feint of heart, or those easily offended.