Vital (2004)
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86% of critics liked it
(7 reviews) -
70% of users liked it
(2,634 ratings)
Japanese body horror auteur Shinya Tsukamoto, still best known in the U.S. for Tetsuo, teams with hipster icon Tadanobu Asano for the psychological drama Vital. Asano plays Hiroshi Takagi, who wakes from a coma, his memory seriously impaired, and decides, to the relief of his parents (Kazuyoshi… More Japanese body horror auteur Shinya Tsukamoto, still best known in the U.S. for Tetsuo, teams with hipster icon Tadanobu Asano for the psychological drama Vital. Asano plays Hiroshi Takagi, who wakes from a coma, his memory seriously impaired, and decides, to the relief of his parents (Kazuyoshi Kushida and Lily), to go back to medical school. His memory returns slowly. Eventually, Hiroshi remembers that he had a girlfriend, Ryôko (Nami Tsukamoto) who was with him when he wrecked his car. She was killed in the crash. As he and his classmates begin to work on human cadavers, Hiroshi catches the attention of another top student, a driven and manipulative young woman named Ikumi (Kiki). The two become involved in a twisted relationship of sorts, but Hiroshi is more and more focused on his work. He comes to believe that the corpse he's working on in the lab is Ryôko's. Distraught, he goes to visit the dead girl's parents (Jun Kunimura and Hana Kino), who offer little comfort. Meanwhile, the other students are disturbed by Hiroshi's growing obsession with his "subject." Vital was shown by the Film Society of Lincoln Center as part of the 2005 Film Comment Selects. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi
- Directed By
- Shin'ya Tsukamoto
- Written By
- Shin'ya Tsukamoto
- Genres
- Drama, Art House & International, Science Fiction & Fantasy
R,
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 2005 Limited
- Studio
- Tartan
Critic Reviews
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David Rooney, Variety
Macabre yet oddly poignant, graphically physical but also metaphysical, clinical yet unexpectedly soulful.
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David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
A typically worthless endeavor from noted hack Shinya Tsukamoto...
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Anton Bitel, Eye for Film
Vital sees Tsukamoto, a director who is never less than fascinating, in his finest form, tackling the mysteries of human identity with an elegiac calm. Vital viewing.
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MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher
Beautiful and disturbing, this Asian horror art film explores the intersection between madness and grief with a serene calm that belies the psychological turmoil under its silken surface.
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Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
Vital offers its share of disturbing images and gristly medical-lab sound effects, but in the end, its pursuit of closure is surprisingly hopeful.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Tadanobu Asano
as Hiroshi Takagi
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Nami Tsukamoto
as Ryoko
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Kiki
as Ikumi
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Ittoku Kushida
as Dr. Kashiwabuchi
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Kazumi Kushida
as Hiroshi's Father
- Jun Kunimura
- Lily
- Hana Kino
- Go Rijyu
- Kazuyoshi Kushida
- Gô Rijû
- Ittoku Kishibe
- Masato Tsujioka
- Ririi
