JAPANESE STORY

Year: 2003
USA: Samuel Goldwyn Films
UK: Tartan Films
Cast: Toni Collette, Gotaro Tsunashima, Matthew Dyktynski, Lynette Curran, Yumiko Tanaka, Kate Atkinson, Bill Young, Reg Evans, George Shevtsov, Justine Clarke, Igor Sas, Mike Frencham, John Howard, Kuni Hashimoto, Heath Bergersen
Director: Sue Brooks
Country: Australia
USA: 99 mins
UK: 106 mins
USA Rated: R for some sexuality and language
UK Certificate: 15 contains strong language and moderate sex
USA Release Date: 31 December 2003 (Limited Release - Los Angeles)
UK Release Date: 4 June 2004


Synopsis

Sandy Edwards (Toni Collette), an ambitious geologist, suddenly finds herself having to baby-sit Hiromitsu (Gotaro Tsunashima) a taciturn Japanese businessman. Hoping to strike up a business deal, she agrees to take him on a field trip around Western Australia's remote Pilbara desert. Against the background of the outback these two diametrically opposed strangers are to find themselves thrust together in a potentially life or death situation. As they journey further and further into the desert, they leave more and more of what they know about each other and themselves behind.

The film oscillates between a cross-cultural journey, an emotional drama, and a haunting love story, while director Sue Brooks catches her audience off guard as she takes us down an unexpected route.