Chicken Heart

2002 1h 45m JA

🙌

7.6

BANGER

★7.6TMDB · 5

ComedyDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Former boxer Iwano, teamed up with Sada and Maru, who live in the same apartment building, makes his daily living as a punching bag for drunken businessmen in some corner of the amusement quarters. The three have continuously avoided putting themselves in a situation that could tie them down, especially Iwano, who is totally clueless about what he wants to do with his life. One day, they receive notice that their apartment building will be torn down. As a compensation for the eviction, their remaining rent is considered as settled. Having lost their place to live, the three each try to find their way.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Hiroyuki Ikeuchi
Iwano
Kiyoshiro Imawano
Sada
Suzuki Matsuo
Maru
Nobuyoshi Araki
Ittoku Kishibe
Toshinori Omi

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Hiroshi Shimizu
Writers: Hiroshi Shimizu
Languages: Japanese
Countries: Japan

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

ERA

Did you know

Released 24 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

CRAFT

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Hiroshi Shimizu, shot by Hiroshi Takase. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Hiroyuki Ikeuchi and Kiyoshiro Imawano and Suzuki Matsuo carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0321654 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 5 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Hiroshi Shimizu directs. Hiroshi Takase behind the camera. Keiichi Suzuki scores. Chise Sanjo cuts. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 24 years ago.
2Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
3Directed by Hiroshi Shimizu, shot by Hiroshi Takase. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Keiichi Suzuki. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Chise Sanjo shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Hiroyuki Ikeuchi and Kiyoshiro Imawano and Suzuki Matsuo carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0321654 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 5 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.