The Taste of Tea
Encyclopedia
is the third film by Japanese
writer and director Katsuhito Ishii
. The film has been referred to as a "surreal
" version of Ingmar Bergman
's Fanny and Alexander
. It was a selection of the Cannes Film Festival
.
, the countryside north of Tokyo
. Nobuo is a hypnotherapist. He teaches his son, Hajime, Go
. Hajime becomes an excellent Go player, but he has a rough time with girls and puberty. Yoshiko refuses to be an average housewife, and works on animated film projects at home. She uses assistance from Grandfather Akira, an eccentric old man who is a former animator and occasional model. Eight year old Sachiko periodically sees a silent, giant-sized double of herself which mimics or benignly watches her. She contemplates ways to rid herself of it. Uncle Ayano is a sound engineer and record producer who comes to stay for a visit. He engages in inward reflection, seeks closure regarding an old relationship, and recounts a childhood experience- a tale which influences Sachiko and ties into later events.
Cinema of Japan
The has a history that spans more than 100 years. Japan has one of the oldest and largest film industries in the world – as of 2009 the fourth largest by number of feature films produced. Movies have been produced in Japan since 1897, when the first foreign cameramen arrived...
writer and director Katsuhito Ishii
Katsuhito Ishii
-Work:Katsuhito Ishii began directing commercials in 1992, receiving numerous awards in this field. His first short film The Promise of August, shot in 1995, went on to receive the Japanese Film Grand Prix in the Fantastic Video Section of the 1995 Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival Ishii...
. The film has been referred to as a "surreal
Surrealism
Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members....
" version of Ingmar Bergman
Ingmar Bergman
Ernst Ingmar Bergman was a Swedish director, writer and producer for film, stage and television. Described by Woody Allen as "probably the greatest film artist, all things considered, since the invention of the motion picture camera", he is recognized as one of the most accomplished and...
's Fanny and Alexander
Fanny and Alexander
Fanny and Alexander is a 1982 Swedish fantasy drama film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. It was originally conceived as a four-part TV movie and cut in that version, spanning 312 minutes. A 188-minute version was created later for cinematic release, although this version was in fact the...
. It was a selection of the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
.
Synopsis
The film is concerned with the lives of the Haruno family, who live in rural Tochigi PrefectureTochigi Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Kantō region on the island of Honshū, Japan. The capital is the city of Utsunomiya.Nikkō, whose ancient Shintō shrines and Buddhist temples UNESCO has recognized by naming them a World Heritage Site, is in this prefecture...
, the countryside north of Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. Nobuo is a hypnotherapist. He teaches his son, Hajime, Go
Go (board game)
Go , is an ancient board game for two players that originated in China more than 2,000 years ago...
. Hajime becomes an excellent Go player, but he has a rough time with girls and puberty. Yoshiko refuses to be an average housewife, and works on animated film projects at home. She uses assistance from Grandfather Akira, an eccentric old man who is a former animator and occasional model. Eight year old Sachiko periodically sees a silent, giant-sized double of herself which mimics or benignly watches her. She contemplates ways to rid herself of it. Uncle Ayano is a sound engineer and record producer who comes to stay for a visit. He engages in inward reflection, seeks closure regarding an old relationship, and recounts a childhood experience- a tale which influences Sachiko and ties into later events.
- Tomokazu MiuraTomokazu Miurais a Japanese actor. Born January 28, 1952 in Enzan, Yamanashi, his real name is Miura Minoru . He attended Hino high school in Tokyo, and married actress and singer Momoe Yamaguchi in 1980...
... Nobuo Haruno - father - Satomi Tezuka ... Yoshiko Haruno - mother
- Maya Banno ... Sachiko Haruno - daughter
- Takahiro Sato ... Hajime Haruno - son
- Tadanobu AsanoTadanobu Asano, born is a Japanese actor. He is known for his roles as Dragon Eye Morrison in Electric Dragon 80.000 V, Kakihara in Ichi the Killer, Mamoru Arita in Bright Future, Hattori Genosuke in Zatoichi, Kenji in Last Life in the Universe, Aman in Survive Style 5+, Ayano in The Taste of Tea, and Temudjin...
... Ayano Haruno - uncle - Tatsuya Gashuin ... Akira Todoroki - grandpa
- Tomoko NakajimaTomoko Nakajimais a Japanese actress. She won the award for best supporting actress at the 12th Yokohama Film Festival for Tugumi.-Filmography:* Tugumi * Dance till Tomorrow * Parasite Eve * Give It All...
... Akira Terako - Ikki Todoroki ... Himself
- Anna TsuchiyaAnna Tsuchiyais a Japanese singer, lyricist, actress and semi-retired model.Tsuchiya was born to a Japanese mother and an American father of Polish-Irish descent from Buffalo, New York. In her earliest years, she spoke English and Japanese...
... Aoi Suzuishi - Kenichi Matsuyama ... Matsuken/The man in the red shirt
Awards
- Audience Award - 2004, Entrevues Film Festival
- Grand Prix - 2004, Entrevues Film Festival
- Best Feature Film - 2004, Hawaii International Film FestivalHawaii International Film FestivalThe Hawaii International Film Festival is a film festival held in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It was started in 1981 by Jeannette Paulson Hereniko and has been held annually in the fall for two weeks...
- Best New Actress (Anna Tsuchiya) - 2004, Hochi Film Awards
- Orient Express Award - 2004, Festival de Cine de SitgesFestival de Cine de SitgesThe Sitges Film Festival is a Spanish film festival that is one of the most recognizable ones held in Europe, considered the world's foremost international festival specializing in fantasy and horror movies...
(Special Mention) - Audience Award - 2005, Dejima Japanese Film FestivalDejima Japanese Film FestivalThe Dejima Japanese Film Festival was named after the artificial island Dejima in the bay of Nagasaki, which was used by the Dutch to trade with the Japanese starting in the 17th century. The festival was aimed at the current state of Japanese cinema. The first edition in May 2005 was held in...
- Best Asian Film - 2005, Fant-Asia Film Festival
- Fantasia Ground-Breaker Award - 2005, Fant-Asia Film Festival (3rd Place)
- Audience Award - 2005, New York Asian Film FestivalNew York Asian Film FestivalThe New York Asian Film Festival was first held in 2002, growing out of the previous year's New York Korean Film Festival...
- Best New Actress (Anna Tsuchiya) - 2005 Kinema Junpo Awards
- New Talent Award (Anna Tsuchiya) - 2005, Mainichi Film Award
- Festival Prize - 2005, Yokohama Film FestivalYokohama Film FestivalThe is a noticed yearly awards ceremony held in Japan. The festival was started as a small affair by fans and film critics, and first held on February 3, 1980. Ten films are chosen as the best of the year, and various awards are given to personnel...