Joze to tora to sakana tachi (2003) aka Josee, the Tiger and the Fish

Rating: 7.7/10
Runtime: 116
Language: Japanese (English .srt softsubs)
Country: Japan
Color: Color
IMDb Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416881/

Director: Isshin Inudou
Cast:
Satoshi Tsumabuki ... Tsuneo
Chizuru Ikewaki ... Joze (Kumiko)
Juri Ueno ... Kanae
Hirofumi Arai ... Koji
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
YosiYosi Arakawa ... Bookstore Clerk
Noriko Eguchi ... Noriko
Daigo Fujisawa ... Ryuji
Kazuhiro Fujiwara ... Haruki Kanai
Itsuji Itao ... The Manager
Tai Kageyama ... Master of Mahjong Bar
Anne Mari ... Woman at Mahjong Bar
Yoshiyuki Morishita ... The Pervert
Koji Ookura ... Man at Mahjong Bar
Eiko Shinya ... Joze's grand mother
Hiroyuki Tanaka ... Patron (as Sabu)

Description: Tsuneo (Tsumabuki, of Waterboys fame) is in the beginning of the movie an easygoing student who enjoys a laid-back college life consisting of a part-time job at a mah-jong parlour and casual sex with girls from his school. The life ahead of him seems pretty straightforward and predictable. Then he hears rumours in the mah-jong parlour of a strange old woman who pushes a baby carriage around in the neighbourhood. Why does she always bring a baby carriage? What does it contain? While the busy minds of the customers in the parlour ponder over these questions, the manager asks Tsuneo to take his dog out for a walk. Out walking the dog, the baby carriage in question literally bumps into Tsuneo, and his curiosity leads him to peek inside it. That becomes his first encounter with the strange young woman, Josee (charmingly played by up-and-coming Ikewaki).

a comment from imdb:
This beautiful fairy tale from the shabby quarters of Osaka instantly became one of my favorite flicks of all time when I went to see at at the premiere at Cinequinto in Shibuya on a cold December afternoon in 2003. The cold and noisy streets of Shibuya contrasted the warmth of the cinema and the pleasant music played by Quruli during the credits.

Tsuneo is an easygoing guy who casually sleeps around with girls, works at the local Mahjong Parlour and generally drifts around. A typical Japanese college kid. That is until he literally bumps into Joze. A physically disabled girl who is pushed around in a baby carriage by an old lady (who sleeps at the dinner table throughout most of the movie). Tsuneo is intrigued by this beautiful and surprisingly intelligent young girl. Joze is sarcastic and defensive, but in a very charming manner, and Tsuneo soon becomes a regular visitor at the old lady's shabby house. But is it possible for a guy such as Tsuneo to commit himself to a very special girl such as Joze?

Chizuru Ikewaki's performance as Joze is really extraordinary. The sarcasm and witty remarks mixes really well with her Osaka-dialect and her eccentric exterior, and yet we sense a very sweet and vulnerable girl underneath her shell. Satoshi Tsumabuki also does his job quite well as Tsuneo. The chemistry and intimacy between the two characters as they grow closer to each feels quite real and convincing, and it is entertaining to just watch them interact casually at the same time.

There are so many details that make this movie entertaining. The kid who glares dumbfounded at a naked girl waves at Tsuneo's little brother. The love hotel that turns into the inside of a virtual aquarium when you turn the lights off. The exceedingly delicious-looking food that Joze casually cooks. All these details make this movie a unique and fun experience.

When the movie was over, I found myself entertained by the comic aspects of the movie, but I was also deeply touched by the love story, that seemed so profound and real. This movie is both a light, romantic comedy as well as an intimate story about two people who develop and evolve through their relationship. In this regard, it is thematically similar to recent films such as "Lost in Translation" (2003), "Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind" (2004) and the Japanese "Vibrator" (2003).

"Joze to tora to sakana tachi" is a rare and unique film experience. I implore you to see it. 9/10










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