Year: 2020
Country:
JAPAN
Language:
Japanese
Run Time:
126 minutes
UNDER THE OPEN SKY is a remarkable vehicle for the prolific Kōji Yakusho, whose decades-long career spans “Tampopo,” “Shall We Dance,” “Babel,” and more. The versatile actor wears his heart on his sleeve as Mikami, a former Yakuza recently released from a 13-year prison stint for murder. In and out of the Japanese penal system the majority of his life, he vows never to turn to crime again. The ex-con’s spirits are quickly broken, however, as deeply held prejudices and bureaucratic barriers make his re-entry into civil society difficult. As if an unforgiving world wasn’t challenging enough, Mikami has a bad habit of expressing himself through violence, even when acting with the best intentions. Unsure if he can function in a world in which he’s been a lifelong outsider, he seeks comfort in his old ways, but finds much needed kindness in unexpected places. With the utmost patience and compassion, Miwa Nishikawa (protégé of Hirokazu Kore-eda) constructs a redemption melodrama that offers a humanist approach to a flawed soul in need of a second chance. (In Japanese with subtitles) — D.O.
CIFF45 Streams On Demand
Thursday, April 08, 2021 at 11:00 AM -
Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 11:59 PM
Streams Access: United States and US Territories
Accessibility (?)
Closed Captions: No
Audio Description: No
English Subtitles: Yes
Sidebar
Pan-Asian Cinema
Competitions
Reel Women Direct Award for Excellence in Directing by a Woman
International Narrative Competition
Director
Miwa Nishikawa
Producers
Asako Nishikawa, Eiji Kitahara, Taichi Ito
Screenwriting
Miwa Nishikawa
Cinematography
Norimichi Kasamatsu
Editing
Ryuji Miyajima, Tomomi Kikuchi
Principal Cast
Kōji Yakusho, Taiga Nakano
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