Coz I'm new and haven't read all the posts in this forum- it might have already been talked about-

however-

has anyone seen 'japanese story' its Australian (i think?) starring Toni Collette and Gotaro Tsunashima who both give stunning performances.

I've not really been able to make my mind up yet about this film- so I was wondering what other people thought.

Its definetley memorable. For those who haven't seen it, its about an Australian geologist Sandy played by Collette who is a very strong independant woman (without being cliched) who is very sure of her own abilities and surroundings. enter then the japanese business man Tachibana Hiromitsu who she has to show around, he is very typically...japanese (without mocking). The scene where he realises he has a woman driver (shock horror!!) is laugh out loud funny though.

needless to say they don't really hit it off at first, but an evening stranded in the Australian outback soon solves that.
for hiromitsu Australia is such a contrast to his naitve home, he is naturally overwhelmed at first, but then starts to settle into his surroundings and starts to really enjoy himself. The weights and pressures of his japanese life are lifted momentarily in the vast Australian landscape.




the film starts off quite lightheared and fun- then about half way through something happens (don't want to spoil it too much) that shakes you out of your comfortable viewing- suddenly it takes a much darker path. I think this great because it mirrors life so perfectly- one day you can be sooo happy and plodding along without a worry- then something will happen that turns your life around, spins you round in circles, lifts you up that smacks you back down to earth.

I have to admit I spent most of the last part of the film in tears (i am a sap)
there is a piece of music in the film that is so harrowing and will stick in your head for hours after watching it- also so simple, yet brilliant.


anyway thats my two cents worth on the film- and I reccomend it for a viewing if you haven't already seen it.

I thought it was "good" but not great. I'd give it either a 6/10 (B-) or 7/10 (B-), probably the 7/10 (B-) which was what I originally gave it after seeing it the first week it hit DVD.