DISTANCE

Year: 2001
UK: ICA Projects
Cast: Arata, Yusuke Iseya, Susumu Terajima, Yui Natsukawa, Tadanobu Asano, Azusa, Kenichi Endo, Seminosuke Murasugi, Baijaku Nakamura, Ryo, Kanji Tsuda, Yorie Yamashita
Director: Hirokazu Koreeda
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese (English subtitles)
UK: 132 mins
UK Release Date: 31 May 2002 (Limited Release - London)
(in Japanese)

Synopsis

On the anniversary of the collective suicide of a group of cult members, the bereaved relatives reconvene. Finding themselves inexplicably stranded in a remote place, they encounter the only surviving member of the cult and embark on a long, dark night of the soul. Inspired by the fate of the Japanese Aum cult, this is a mysterious and profound film that brilliantly contemplates the loss of loved ones.

Although DISTANCE was inspired by the Japanese Aum's cult nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway in 1995, Korreda here focuses on the emotional life of the characters rather than seeking to explain historical events.