Looking for Cherry Blossoms

  • 64'
  • Japan
  • 2009
Joe Odagiri was until now only an actor, and a very popular actor in Japan to boot. This is the first film in which he directs as well as acts. And to say that the humour in the film is absurd is also not enough. The absurd humour here is taken beyond the point which can be described in the usual terms. Let's say: too absurd for words.
Protagonist Tsuyoshi visits his grandfather in hospital. The old man turns out to receive mysterious cards every day with cherry blossoms on them. The sender is not known.
The film is largely a road movie; crazy men in a taxi looking for the cherry blossoms that can be seen on grandfather's mysterious postcards. The quest is soon a name in itself. The other aim seems to be the reinvention of humour, which does not want to be funny and that of course ensures it is.
Looking for Cherry Blossoms is a small, inventively made film. An old taxi and some absurd jokes are apparently all you need to rediscover the wheel. Even though this wheel looks like no other wheel. The film was produced by StyleJam, a strikingly creative production house that has attracted a lot of attention in recent years. They make films that transcend the traditional Japanese genre labels. Like this. (GjZ)


  • 64'
  • Japan
  • 2009
Director
Joe Odagiri
Premiere
World premiere
Country of production
Japan
Year
2009
Festival Edition
IFFR 2009
Length
64'
Medium
Betacam Digi PAL
Original title
Sakura na hito tachi
Language
Japanese
Producer
Kai Naoki
Production Company
StyleJam Inc.
Sales
StyleJam Inc.
Screenplay
Joe Odagiri
Cinematography
Tsukinaga Yuta
Editor
Joe Odagiri
Production Design
Joe Odagiri
Sound Design
Joe Odagiri
Music
Joe Odagiri
Cast
Sabu Kawahara, Hiroshi Yamada
Website
http://www.stylejam.co.jp
Director
Joe Odagiri
Premiere
World premiere
Country of production
Japan
Year
2009
Festival Edition
IFFR 2009
Length
64'
Medium
Betacam Digi PAL
Original title
Sakura na hito tachi
Language
Japanese
Producer
Kai Naoki
Production Company
StyleJam Inc.
Sales
StyleJam Inc.
Screenplay
Joe Odagiri
Cinematography
Tsukinaga Yuta
Editor
Joe Odagiri
Production Design
Joe Odagiri
Sound Design
Joe Odagiri
Music
Joe Odagiri
Cast
Sabu Kawahara, Hiroshi Yamada
Website
http://www.stylejam.co.jp