Japanese Story

"Some stories can change your life."

2003 1h 50m EN

😐

6.3

MID

★6.3TMDB · 80

DramaRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Sandy, a geologist, finds herself stuck on a field trip to the Pilbara desert with a Japanese man she finds inscrutable, annoying and decidedly arrogant. Hiromitsu's view of her is not much better. Things go from bad to worse when they become stranded in one of the most remote regions on Earth.

“Some stories can change your life.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Toni Collette
Sandy Edwards
Gotaro Tsunashima
Hiromitsu Tachibana
Matthew Dyktynski
Bill Baird
Lynette Curran
Mum
Yumiko Tanaka
Yukiko Tachibana
Kate Atkinson
Jackie
Bill Young
Jimmy Smithers
Reg Evans
Bloke in Row Boat

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Sue Brooks
Writers: Alison Tilson
Languages: Japanese, English
Countries: Australia, Netherlands

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

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 71% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 23 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Japanese, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Australia, Netherlands.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Sue Brooks, shot by Ian Baker. 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 Elizabeth Drake. 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 Jill Bilcock 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

Toni Collette and Gotaro Tsunashima and Matthew Dyktynski carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Sue Brooks directs. Ian Baker behind the camera. Elizabeth Drake scores. Jill Bilcock cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in Australia, Netherlands. Dialogue in Japanese, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 71% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
2Released 23 years ago.
3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Japanese, English.
4International production across 2 countries: Australia, Netherlands.
5Directed by Sue Brooks, shot by Ian Baker. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Elizabeth Drake. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Jill Bilcock shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Toni Collette and Gotaro Tsunashima and Matthew Dyktynski carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "Some stories can change your life.".
10IMDB entry: tt0304229 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
11Only 80 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.