Synopsis

Summer vacation is the most anticipated time for most children but not for Masao who has never met his parents. As he stumbles on his mother’s address in a remote town, Masao sets out on a journey to find her. His kind neighbor conscripts her ex-yakuza husband to accompany him. Unfortunately, this profligate man is of no help to Masao as he gambles away all the money and takes away Masao’s pocket money. Despite the rough start, as their journey continues, they become intimate and develop a father-son-like relationship. This masterpiece is heart-warming and pleasant, a rarity in Kitano Takeshi’s rather violent filmography. Adding more warmth to the film and engraving it in our memory is Hisaishi Joe’s lighthearted and nostalgic music. His piano, which sounds like raindrops hitting lotus leaves, takes the most outstanding supporting role in the film.

감독

키타노 타케시

1947년 동경 출생. 키타노 타케시는 1970년대 초부터 연극무대에서 활동해 왔다. '비트 타케시' 라는 애칭으로 일본 최고의 코미디언이 된 그는 오시마 나기사 감독의 <메리 크리스마스, 미스터 로렌스>(1983)의 출연을 계기로 서구에 알려지게 된다. 1989년 <그 남자, 흉폭하다>(1989)로 감독 데뷔 후 <소나티네>(1993), <키즈 리턴>(1996), <하나비>(1997), <돌스>(2000) 등을 통해 일본을 대표하는 감독이 되었다.