Earthquake Bird (2019)

An enigmatic translator with a dark past is brought in for questioning after an ex-pat friend, who came between her and her photographer boyfriend, ends up missing and presumed dead.

Director:

Wash Westmoreland

Writers:

Susanna Jones (based on the novel by), Wash Westmoreland (written for the screen by)

Stars:

Alicia Vikander, Kiki Sukezane, Kenichi Masuda

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alicia Vikander	...	Lucy Fly
Kiki Sukezane	...	Natsuko
Kenichi Masuda	...	Mr. Yamada
Chiaki Kawamo	...	Policewoman
Ken Yamamura	...	Det. Oguchi
Kazuhiro Muroyama	...	Det. Kameyama
Naoki Kobayashi	...	Teiji Matsuda
Akiko Iwase	...	Ms. Katoh
Yoshiko Sakuma	...	Mrs. Yamamoto
Naomi Urushibara	...	Ms. Ide
Jack Huston	...	Bob Johnson
Riley Keough	...	Lily Bridges
Tomoyasu Sakata	...	Karaoke Singer
Shôzô Sasaki	...	Noodle Shop Owner (as Shozo Sasaki)
Chiaki Yamamoto	...	Teiji's Aunt (Younger)

Storyline

In 1989 Tokyo, Lucy Fly, an enigmatic expat haunted by a painful past, enters into an intense relationship with Teiji, a handsome yet similarly troubled local photographer. Lucy's imperturbable exterior begins to crack when a naive newcomer, Lily Bridges, becomes entangled in their lives and ends up missing - suspected dead.

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Plot Keywords:

neo noir | year 1989 | tokyo japan | expat | female expat | 

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Taglines:

Look Beyond What You See

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexuality, full nudity and brief language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

15 November 2019 (USA)

Also Known As:

Earthquake Bird

Filming Locations:

Tokyo, Japan

Company Credits

Production Co:

Scott Free Productions, Twenty First City

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39:1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie that Lucy is looking at the beginning is "Black Rain" directed by Ridley Scott, the producer of the movie

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Quotes

Lucy Fly: [having just met] Just trying to make conversation.
Teiji: Why?
Lucy Fly: Because that's what normal people do.
Teiji: But you are not normal.
Lucy Fly: Neither are you.
Teiji: So let's not pretend to be.
Lucy Fly: Okay.

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Connections

Features Black Rain (1989)

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Soundtracks

Sonata for Violin and Cello
Written by Maurice Ravel
Performed by Thaleia Quartet

User Reviews

Engrossing, but you need to concentrate to stay with it.

Earthquake Bird is a very different film, it's not exactly what I was expecting having seen a trailer, but I enjoyed it. You will question events and reality as you watch Lucy plunged into a series of bizarre events, as you watch you'll ask if events were real, and if those around her did indeed exist. Alicia Vikander is absolutely terrific in the lead, so convincing. Naoki Kobayashi and Riley Keough also impress in supporting roles. The first forty minutes or so were a bit of a challenge, it took a long time to open up, but when it does it becomes a very absorbing watch. The pace won't suit everyone, some may find it a little slow, but I enjoy this type of psychological thriller.

A thumbs up from me, just stick with it, it's worth it.