I watched 'Japanese Story' for the fourth time since when I first saw it about five months ago, and my opinion on the film has changed upon reflection. I initially rated it 10/10, which now seems a little too generous - let me explain why: The film starts off as a generic romantic comedy/culture clash film, but veers off in an unexpected (despite the foreshadowing in the first half an hour of the film) direction, morphing into a sombre drama. It is a slow film, and is definitely much better viewing the first time around. The first time you watch the film, the slowness of the film gives the characters more depth and the events slowly unravel in a predictable pattern. The film reaches its unexpected climax, which makes your adrenaline rush for a moment, even though it is filmed in real time just like the rest of the film, and then the film flows smoothly to its end, slowing until it stops.
I find Toni Collette very easy to watch in this film - she plays feisty geologist Sandy with believability, showing her vulnerability as well as her confidence. Sandy agrees to chauffeur a Japanese businessman named Hiromitsu Tachibana around the Australian desert in the hope of selling the company Hiromitsu's father owns her software. Sandy is at her most vulnerable when in the desert with Hiromitsu, and her most confident when surrounded with her double-monitored computers, her high-tech can opener and a large truck - civilization, basically. I suppose that everyone becomes a little vulnerable when they're in an environment as seemingly devoid of life as the desert, because everyone is scared of nothing - and it makes sense that when surrounded by nothing, you'd take advantage of something, hence why Sandy and Hiromitsu take advantage of each other and have a passionate, but awkward affair.
This film has received a lower rating not because the film has become worse in my opinion - no, it is still moving and beautiful (acting, cinematography and music-wise), and sometimes a little confronting (or humorous, depending on how you receive raw human emotion) - but because the film is so slow that by the fourth viewing, you can hardly sit through it. I wouldn't buy this film on DVD.
Many people find several things annoying about this movie, and I should warn you that you might also find them annoying. You wouldn't want to be crying at the end of film for the wrong reasons.
The music - an orchestral funereal song sung in Japanese by a woman, which plays solidly for about 25 minutes. This will either annoy the sh*t out of you, or move you.
Toni Collette - some people find her raw performance laughable, and others find it unstoppably moving. Once again, it just depends on who you are.
The plot, or lack thereof - A deliberately simple premise to investigate the love that blooms between two people when surrounded by a desolate expanse. The lack of a solid, clever plot completely infuriates the Charlie Kaufmans of the world.
The pace - The slowness can make the film seem banal and boring, but I found lots of subtle things to watch in the film. I've read reviews on this site that said the relationship bloomed out of nowhere, but I saw when it started to occur, I don't know what film they were watching. I would recommend your full attention watching this film.
So my advice to you is to relish the first viewing, come with an open mind to this film, try not to laugh at how preposterous it seems and think of the film as a chronological record of an event in Sandy's life - that's what the film is. Don't let the title mislead you in its infinite vagueness - there's nothing to do with Japan in this film at all; it's about a relationship. That said, I can't think of a better title, I think this must've been a hard film to title. Perhaps: 'They Fell In Love In The Middle of A Desert And Then The Film Went All Art-house On Us!'
I find Toni Collette very easy to watch in this film - she plays feisty geologist Sandy with believability, showing her vulnerability as well as her confidence. Sandy agrees to chauffeur a Japanese businessman named Hiromitsu Tachibana around the Australian desert in the hope of selling the company Hiromitsu's father owns her software. Sandy is at her most vulnerable when in the desert with Hiromitsu, and her most confident when surrounded with her double-monitored computers, her high-tech can opener and a large truck - civilization, basically. I suppose that everyone becomes a little vulnerable when they're in an environment as seemingly devoid of life as the desert, because everyone is scared of nothing - and it makes sense that when surrounded by nothing, you'd take advantage of something, hence why Sandy and Hiromitsu take advantage of each other and have a passionate, but awkward affair.
This film has received a lower rating not because the film has become worse in my opinion - no, it is still moving and beautiful (acting, cinematography and music-wise), and sometimes a little confronting (or humorous, depending on how you receive raw human emotion) - but because the film is so slow that by the fourth viewing, you can hardly sit through it. I wouldn't buy this film on DVD.
Many people find several things annoying about this movie, and I should warn you that you might also find them annoying. You wouldn't want to be crying at the end of film for the wrong reasons.
The music - an orchestral funereal song sung in Japanese by a woman, which plays solidly for about 25 minutes. This will either annoy the sh*t out of you, or move you.
Toni Collette - some people find her raw performance laughable, and others find it unstoppably moving. Once again, it just depends on who you are.
The plot, or lack thereof - A deliberately simple premise to investigate the love that blooms between two people when surrounded by a desolate expanse. The lack of a solid, clever plot completely infuriates the Charlie Kaufmans of the world.
The pace - The slowness can make the film seem banal and boring, but I found lots of subtle things to watch in the film. I've read reviews on this site that said the relationship bloomed out of nowhere, but I saw when it started to occur, I don't know what film they were watching. I would recommend your full attention watching this film.
So my advice to you is to relish the first viewing, come with an open mind to this film, try not to laugh at how preposterous it seems and think of the film as a chronological record of an event in Sandy's life - that's what the film is. Don't let the title mislead you in its infinite vagueness - there's nothing to do with Japan in this film at all; it's about a relationship. That said, I can't think of a better title, I think this must've been a hard film to title. Perhaps: 'They Fell In Love In The Middle of A Desert And Then The Film Went All Art-house On Us!'