Directed by:
Gen TakahashiScreenplay:
Gen TakahashiCinematography:
Philip HarderCast:
Takashi Sasano, 風祭ゆき, 野村宏伸, 津川雅彦, Su-yeon Gu, 出光元, ささの翔太, 水上竜士, 的場浩司, Naomi Hase, Kyôko Hayami, Kira Hidaka, Maiko Kawakami, Yûya TakayamaPlots(1)
Retired teacher Masaaki Takaoka is breeding a new Sakura variety to secure world peace forever. His eccentricity causes his family trouble but he is resolved to win the whole world for his cause. He even calls the leading politicians so that a secret service starts paying attention. Inspired by a real story, the humorous yet deeply humane film portrays the rural Japan in the early 1970s. Director Takahashi Gen soothes the soul with every shot, making viewers realise acutely the innate sense of the old man’s effort: at the end of his life, to come to terms with having bid farewell to his students leaving for war and seeing only one of them come back. He wants to grow more resilient Sakura trees to help prevent future wars. The film excels with its imagery, lighting, situation humour and obviously with the excellent Takashi Sasano in the lead role, also known from Okuribito, Love and Honor and other films. (Eiga-sai)
(more)Cast
Takashi Sasano
Japan
Best movies:
Departures (2008)
Our Mother (2008)
The Hidden Blade (2004)
風祭ゆき
Japan
Best movies:
Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
Achilles and the Tortoise (2008)
野村宏伸
Japan
Best movies:
Heaven and Earth (1990)
Loved Gun (2004)
The Go Master (2006)
津川雅彦
Japan
Best movies:
The Boy and the Beast (2015)
Heaven and Earth (1990)
Dandelion (1985)
出光元
Japan
水上竜士
Japan
Best movies:
Awaking (2006)
Swallowtail & Butterfly (1996)
The Thin Red Line (1998)
的場浩司
Japan
Best movies:
For Those We Love (2007)
Taboo (1999)
Samurai Commando (2005)
Naomi Hase
Japan
Kyôko Hayami
Best movies:
Kira Hidaka
Japan
Maiko Kawakami
Sweden
Best movies:
By Player (2000)
Violent Cop (1989)
Postcard (2010)
Yûya Takayama
Japan
Best movies:
Outrage (2010)
Antiporno (2016)
Zombie Self-Defense Force (2006)