re:mote voices

Title: Japanese Story
Cast: Toni Collette, Gotaro Tsnashima, Matthew Dyktynski, Yumiko Tanaka, Kate Atkinson
Director: Sue Brooks

The Australian film Japanese Story sees Toni Collette return for her first major/Australian film role in sometime, though it is perhaps ironic that it hits the screens in Britain at the same time as Connie And Carla, in which she co-stars. Apparently since it’s release in Australia Collette has won a number of awards for her performance in this film, which I guess are pretty much deserved.

My biggest problem with the film, is the unimaginative name. Calling a film “Japanese story” for apparently no other reason than one of the lead characters happens to be Japanese seems a little weak. For example, the film about a Japanese man who comes to Australia for a car is not that different from this film in terms of basic plot lines, but at least they went for the title “Goddess of 1967”, or an American man and girl find themselves struggling to come to terms with the differences in environment of Japan and it gets the title “Lost In Translation”. There could no doubt be dozens of more imaginative titles, so it seems like little effort has been made here, something which while minor, was enough to keep me guessing as to whether some real reason for the title would ever become evident.

That is besides the point, and probably seems a little negative but it is still a valid comment. Anyway. Sandy Edwards (Collette) is a partner in a software company who specialise in geological systems. Tachibana Hiromitsu (Gotaro Tsnashima) is the son of a major Japanese industrialist, who might be interested in investing in the software company. Sandy’s other half in the company suddenly announces that he can’t look after Hiromitsu as planned, landing Sandy in it. Hiromitsu thinks that she is his driver and treats her badly from the start, apart from which, it becomes clear that he is really in Australia on personal business and not too interested in what Sandy’s company has to offer. One of the results is that despite Sandy’s protests, they end up deep in a dangerous part of the outback, where they quickly come stuck. In their efforts to come out of the situation alive, the pair gain a certain understanding/respect for each other, turning their relationship about. To which point there is a certain level of classic storyline, man and woman meet, initially don’t get on, only for things to be turned around. But just as things look to be settling into this potential rut, the film changes direction.

Collette and Tsnashima pretty much have the film to themselves, the supporting roles remaining scarce for the most part. Luckily the two pull off their parts well, with the natural back drop of the Australian wilderness providing a vivid and striking environment. The results for Japanese Story is that we have a strong film here, that will no doubt appeal to many. Though I would be wary of the level of positive press it has been getting, as that is likely to raise ones expectations – leaving, in my case a certain edge of disappointment.