The Land of Hope (2012) ( Kibô no kuni )

The Land of Hope (2012) (Blu-Ray) (*)

~~$27.99~~ $21.97

Original Title: Kibô no kuni
Screened, competed or awarded at:
Toronto International Film Festival
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Subtitles )
Japanese ( Dolby Digital 5.1 )
Japanese ( Dolby DTS-HD Master Audio )

Product Origin/Format:
United Kingdom ( Blu-Ray/Region B )

Running Time:
133 min

Aspect Ratio:
Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)

Special Features:
Anamorphic Widescreen
Interactive Menu
Making Of
Scene Access
Teaser(s)
Trailer(s)

Movie filmed in 2012 and produced in:
Germany ( Germany, Central Europe )
Japan ( India, Eastern Asia )
Taiwan ( India, Eastern Asia )
United Kingdom ( Great Britain, Ireland )

Directed By:
Shion Sono

Written By:
Shion Sono

Actors:
Isao Natsuyagi ..... Yasuhiko ono
Naoko Ohtani ..... Chieko ono
Jun Murakami ..... Yoichi ono
Megumi Kagurazaka ..... Izumi ono
Hikari Kajiwara ..... Yoko
Yutaka Shimizu ..... Mitsuru suzuki
Denden ..... Ken suzuki
Motoki Fukami ..... Arai
Mitsuru Fukikoshi ..... Mizushima
Akira Hamada ..... Matsuzaki
Hiroshi Honjomaru ..... Mishima
Keisuke Horibe ..... G-man on TV
Hajime Inoue ..... Cop
Yûsuke Iseya ..... Tanigawa
Kenzô Kawarasaki ..... Gynecologist
Satoru Matsuo ..... Cop
Shirô Namiki ..... Hashimoto
Hiroshi Ohmori ..... Hayashi
Daikichi Sugawara ..... Shimura
Sôtarô Tanaka ..... TV emcee
Tetsuji Tanaka ..... Meiko suzuki
Toru Tezuka ..... Hiromi
Mariko Tsutsui ..... Kato
Fusako Urabe ..... Gas station guy
Takashi Yamanaka ..... Shimada
Ryôtarô Yonemura ..... Cop
Yûken Yoshida
Mana Yoshimuta
Gitan Ôtsuru

Synopsis:

Sion Sono, the controversial director of LOVE EXPOSURE, HIMIZU and COLD FISH takes on the difficult subject of the recent Fukushima nuclear power plant explosion in typical Sono style. In a typical Japanese village, Yoichi Ono lives with his wife, Izumi and his parents. The Ono family live a frugal, but happy life as dairy farmers living in the peaceful village. One day the worst earthquake in history strikes causing a nearby nuclear power station to explode. Their neighbours, who live within the range of the nuclear power station, are forcibly ordered to evacuate by the government. But the Ono family have only half of their garden designated as within range. They then have to make a hard decision whether to take refuge or not. The film,which is examining a highly relevant subject, describes the mental anguish of the family. A family that is forced to separate by an extremely unfortunate event beyond their control. The past, the present, and the future of the two couples from different generations rises to the surface.

After a decade of extreme provocation in the likes of 'EXTE: Hair Extensions' and 'Love Exposure', could Shion Sono be mellowing? 'Land of Hope' may deal with the aftermath of a nuclear accident, but at heart it's a straightforward melodrama, almost soap operatic in its focus on character and emotion. Following a tidal wave, the fictional Nagashima plant goes into meltdown, resulting in mass evacuations. But while some residents are forced into temporary shelters, their relatives refuse to leave the land they've worked all their lives. There's real power in Sono's simple film, from the name of the plant itself - steeped in nuclear horrors past - to the note-perfect performances of its central cast. And if the film as a whole doesn't satisfy, it's perhaps because the director is trying so hard to broaden his appeal, to make this story of disaster, grief and government interference palatable to the widest audience possible.

This is a movie about roots, growing up, self-discovery, death, life and the possibilities of learning more about yourself through hardship. This is a movie about commitment - in love as well as in life - and how to make good things happen in a bad world. This is a good movie about bad things happening to good and bad people alike.

This product was added to our catalog on Tuesday 01 October, 2013.

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