Archive of films Japan / Japón

Mexico / Spain
2002, 139 min

Section: Horizons - Awarded Films
Year: 2002

This stirring, existential drama about death, sex, love and spiritual issues tells the story of a man from the city whose life has lost all sense. The man arrives in a small remote village with the aim of committing suicide. After a few days his plans suddenly change and he senses a renewed interest in the things around him… At the Cannes IFF the film took away a Special Mention awarded by the Camera d’Or jury, which assesses films by novice filmmakers.


Synopsis

This stirring, existential drama about death, sex, love and spiritual issues tells the story of a man from the city whose life has lost all sense. The man arrives in a small remote village with the aim of committing suicide. He finds shelter in the house of an old widow. After a few days his plans suddenly change and he senses a renewed interest in the things around him. The first impulse for the man’s return “to the land of the living” is the arrival of the widow’s nephew, just released from jail, who tries to rob the good-natured old woman. The other is far more surprising – the man’s sexual desire is reawakened and he aims for the farthest extreme: he asks the old widow to surrender herself to him. In her ceaseless goodness and wish to help the desperate man, the woman agrees. The widow’s assenting and devoted stance, however, finally paralyses the man and he realises that he isn’t yet capable of giving nor even accepting love and affection. Shortly after this unsuccessful love-making attempt, the old woman dies. The man cannot prevent it. The death of someone who loved and revered life helped to save and bring back the life of another. The man is now able to leave the village to which he had originally come to die. At the Cannes IFF the film took away a Special Mention awarded by the Camera d’Or jury, which assesses films by novice filmmakers.

About the director

Carlos Reygadas

Carlos Reygadas (b. 1971 in Mexico City) originally studied international law in his native Mexico City and in London, but he soon abandoned this promising career. He moved to Brussels where he fell for the charms of film. He began making shorts in 1998 and then returned to the land of his childhood with the aim of making the ambitious project Japan. The critically acclaimed film was premiered this year at Rotterdam where it attracted a lot of attention. At the Cannes IFF the film was screened in the section Quinzaine de Réalisateurs where the Camera d’Or jury, which assesses films by novice filmmakers, awarded it a Special Mention. Filmography: (shorts) Adulte (1998), Prisoners (1999), Oiseaux (1999), Maxhumain (1999).

About the film

Black & white, 35 mm

Section: Horizons - Awarded Films
   
Director: Carlos Reygadas
Screenplay: Carlos Reygadas
Dir. of Photography: Diego Martínez Vignatti
Music: J.S. Bach, D. Shostakovich, Arvo Pärt
Editor: Daniel Melguizo, Carlos Serrano, David Torres
Producer: Carlos Reygadas
Production: NoDream Cinema, Mantarraya Producciones, Carlos Serrano Azcona
Cast: Alejandro Ferretis, Magdalena Flores, Carlos Reygadas Barguín, Martín Serrano, Rolando Hernándes
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