Ocha Cups for Christmas

"In a culture where giving is tradition, she could only take."

2002 0h 30m EN

🤯

9.0

MASTERPIECE

⭐

8.4

IMDB

★9.0TMDB · 1★8.4IMDB · 21

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

It is Christmas in Japan and Karen, an American exchange student, is miserably homesick, in spite of the kindness of the Japanese couple she lives with.

“In a culture where giving is tradition, she could only take.”

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Cast

Emily Harrison
Karen
Tohoru Masamune
Mr. Tomori
Takayo Fischer
Mrs. Ishikawa
Toshi Toda
Mr. Ishikawa
Kei Ogawa
Ayumi
Noriko Iwasaki
Mia
Yukari Black
Waitress
Sachiyo K
Love Hotel Clerk

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Michael Fimognari
Writers: Michael Fimognari, Jordan McMullin, Jordan McMullin
Languages: English, Japanese

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 30-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 24 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Japanese.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Michael Fimognari, shot by Alice Brooks. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Wataru Hokoyama. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Chad Galster shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Emily Harrison and Tohoru Masamune and Takayo Fischer carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Michael Fimognari directs. Alice Brooks behind the camera. Wataru Hokoyama scores. Chad Galster cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Dialogue in English, Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 30-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
2Released 24 years ago.
3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Japanese.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Directed by Michael Fimognari, shot by Alice Brooks. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Wataru Hokoyama. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Chad Galster shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Emily Harrison and Tohoru Masamune and Takayo Fischer carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "In a culture where giving is tradition, she could only take.".
10IMDB entry: tt0341506 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
11Only 1 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.