Japón
Mexico, Netherlands, Spain, Germany
2002
129 Min
Color
2.55:1
Spanish
Synopsis
Assisted by a cane, the unidentified lead (Alejandro Ferretis) of Japón limps through a desolate canyon in his trademark red flannel jacket searching for deeper meaning. He has arrived at this remote Mexican location, escaping the city to paint and find the kind of serenity only nature can provide.
Here he stays with Ascen (Magdalena Flores), an elderly woman who cooks for him and cleans his shirts. Ascen has lived on the land for forty years, but her nephew Juan Luis (Martin Serrano) is now reclaiming the land.
Juan Luis intends to demolish a building which protects Ascen’s modest dwelling, so he can collect money for the stones that hold up the structure. As the unidentified painter tries to get Ascen to fight for her home, he develops a sexual desire for his elderly host. –vendettafilms.co.nz
Director
Carlos Reygadas
Carlos Reygadas Castillo is a Mexican filmmaker known for his three films Batalla en el Cielo, Japón and Stellet Licht (Luz Silenciosa). After Batalla en el Cielo he was known for his raw depiction of sex on his films and the use of old or ugly characters. With Stellet Licht Carlos competed once more for the Palm d’or at the 2007 edition of the Cannes Film Festival, and has become one of the most prominent writer/directors of modern cinema.
In 1987 Carlos Reygadas discovered his filmic passion after watching the films Andrei Tarkovsky. He studied Law in Mexico, afterwards he specialized in Armed Conflicts in London and worked for the United Nations.
In 1997 Carlos participated in a film competition in Belgium with his first short film, Maxhumain. Shortly after that, in 1999 he began writing his first long film: Japón, which he didn’t began to shoot until 2001. The film was presented at the Rotterdam Film Festival and received a special metion on the Caméra d’Or award at… read more
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ramosbarajas
22May12
From the beginning it is hypnotic. One cannot do much except keep watching. I felt it was so basic - and that's a good thing. It deals with raw emotions, feelings. There is little to not like with this film. It's not perfect, but very good.
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ramosbarajas
22May12
Lo único que no me gusto es como hablo el director en una entrevista... Habla muy intelectualmente sobre cosas que en verdad ni al caso. Como te vas a poner a hablar de lo metafísico y lo subjetivo y el significado de los títulos en obras de arte en una entrevista de una película sobre la vida rural?
Roberto Reis likes this
Susanna-Cole
16Mar11
The Mexican landscapes are ruggedly arresting and majestic (I've seen Mexico in a new light), the story is somewhat unsettling and not, for me, in the form of a thought-provoking sucker-punch that offers you something meaty to mentally chew over. Five out of five stars for the cinematography, two stars for all else. On a side note: do any of you know where in Mexico this was filmed? The Hidalgo state, perchance?
Roberto Reis likes this
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New Mexican Cinema
By Jerry Johnson on February 14, 2010
There are many typical over-eager first-time director moves, but overall Reygadas nails it. I’ve traipsed off by myself to some rural pueblito to get drunk and be self important on more than one occasion… read review
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