Bill Young, Gotaro Tsunashima, John Howard

A drama set in Western Australia's Pilbura desert. A geologist named Sandy, and a Japanese businessman, Hiromitsu, play out a story of human inconsequence, in the face of the blistering universe. The ...( read more  read more... )end of the journey leaves neither person capable of going back to the place from where they started.

Flixster Users

73% liked it

4,487 ratings

Critics

67% liked it

87 critics

R, 1 hr. 40 min.

Directed by: Sue Brooks

Release Date: August 30, 2003

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DVD Release Date: May 11, 2004

Stats: 320 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (320)


  • January 15, 2008
    A film of rare beauty and hidden brilliance. A tale of human strengths and frailty and a barometer of cultural diversity. Will always be the film in which Toni Collette delivered the performance of her career.
  • May 11, 2006
    A Japanese Story is one of the better Australian made films and this comes in it's themes of cultural indifferences and relationships between two completely different people and is achieved with great performances. The paradox of a Japanese man (Hiromitsu), who is so used to crow...( read more)ded places. being in one of the most open, deserted places in the world in handled very well and the cinematography and musical composition binds together to make for a very cohesive and realistic tone. The rythm and inclusions of minor camera shots are the only problems with this film and the fact that the characters are never really defined apart from their ongoing journey brings the lack of depth. However, with scenes such as the 'lake scene' of this film it is easy to see why A Japanese Story is a worthy standout in the Australian film industry.
  • October 28, 2007
    Love Japanese Horror, This was not a Horror flix in anyway, But I screamed as loud as any Horror Flix I ever saw, Pretty boring, not sure how it got on my rental list but will not be on my to buy list. Nice Australian scenes
  • September 6, 2009
    Image and video hosting by TinyPicfor sexuality and language

    Japanese Story had a good storyline, and an unexpected surprise. The romantic part between Colette and th...( read more)e Japanese was nice to see, two complete different culture. The movie was developing so nice till the last part. I could not understand why they had to do this and let it end this way. It wasn't necessary. Toni Collette did a very good as the Australian geologist who must tour around the Japanese businessman. They become friends during this trip in the Australian desert.
  • July 11, 2009
    This movie had its momemts. For some reason, I really did not care about the characters except on the surface level. This film really was deep on an emotional scale...but it did not have any impact on me. Character development could have been better.
  • November 11, 2009
    The first half was beautiful. The second half was depressing.
  • October 14, 2009
    Touching story which starts out with two people not being able to stand each other.
  • July 20, 2009
    I thought this film was really well acted,was nice too see the characters learning more about each other and their cultures.I felt myself go through every emotion watching this. I will recommend to all my friends.Nice scenery too! Am pleased I picked this as had never heard befor...( read more)e,a nice surprise and change from all the Holywood films lately,seems to have more emotion....am sure many would enjoy this as well if they knew about it-take a look!
  • January 30, 2009
    jungle fever..two peopple from different life styles cause of race...this movie isn't campy though..it's serious and emotional.
  • October 13, 2008
    A beautiful story, sad.

Critic Reviews


January 30, 2004
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

Refreshingly simple and quiet. full review

January 30, 2004
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

To mildly respect Japanese Story is easy. To enjoy it would require an act of will. full review

January 30, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

This is that rare sort of film that is not about what happens, but about what happens then. full review

January 30, 2004
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

A mawkish fusion of Nicolas Roeg's Walkabout and the recent Lost in Translation, with cultural politics even more problematic than those Sofia Coppola danced about in her film. full review

January 29, 2004
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

On one level -- an important one -- Brooks' picture, erotically charged and haunting, is about the way people connect, and change each other, profoundly. full review

January 15, 2004
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

Sue Brooks's film, a stretched-out short story set against the natural sublimity of the Australian wilderness, provides Toni Colette with an opportunity to display her range. full review

January 9, 2004
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Tsunashima is superb, and a never-better Collette has a radiant intensity that hits you right in the heart. full review

View more Japanese Story reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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Japanese Story Trivia


  • Horror story of a Japanese hospital on the verge of closing when it becomes infected with a mysterious virus that turns people to goo?  Answer »
  • In which Australian movie does Toni collette accidentally kill a japanese man?  Answer »
  • She appeared in "Japanese Story", "The Hours" and "About A Boy".  Answer »
  • This 1953 Japanese ghost story by Master Kenji Mizoguchi predates the gory horror films of recent times:  Answer »

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