Many of the newspaper film reviewers in my English-speaking country rated the movie 4-stars out of 5. They had been mostly reliable, so I waited for the chance to catch the movie on video. Prices at the cinemas being on the high side, I usually reserve that privilege to movies of mood and special effects.
I did not know much about Jap Story before, only that it was about a Jap businessman and an Aussie girl who was his tour guide and that the story was set in Australia. I've watched Aussie films before and always find the place to inspire some great tales. As in the JS film, the utter desolate expanse of the Australian landscape really dwarfs our own significance.
Of the movie, I came away with mixed feelings. On one hand, I think there is something of substance to the script. On the other, like a snack, it leaves me feeling not quite full at the end. I think, even if Ms Collette did an excellent acting job here, her character and life doesn't quite come through here. After the movie, I can't quite sit down and write what Sandy Edwards is about.
That she cares, we know. Why is she attracted to Hiromitsu? (Or Asian men for that matter) We don't. What's her take on a new man-woman relationship? We don't. There was some hint about her past relationship, but how that affected her, we don't know. What is she looking for in a new one?
From the movie, I gather she is strong and independent, yet, on occasion, perhaps, need the assistance of a man. It was telling how she looked to Hiromitsu for a hand when trying to lift his luggage into her jeep. It was not too much for the asking from a gal, isn't it?
Did she find a soul-mate in Hiro? Of this, I'm not sure. Did she find a man to care for and even exhibit her nurturing tendencies without coming on too strongly as an Alpha female? Maybe.
I am still wondering about that scene - the love-making one in the motel - where she strips and then puts on Hiro's pants and makes love to him - with her on top.
There was a bit of "letting go" and a return to childhood joys at the the scene where the tragedy happened. Was that what she was looking for? Someone who loved rocks and life (a reference to the beginning of the film in which she has a confrontation with her mom over the latter's obsession.) Of this, I think the film is rather thin.
Could this movie also about coming to terms with one's responsibility, something which Hiro kept referring to in his work, role in Jap society/family and tackling problems created by one own self? At the end, Sandy had to put things right with Mrs Hiro. Sure it was a fling. But a beautiful and private fling it shall remain; not some marriage wrecking incident that devastates. For that message, I think the film is worth watching and pondering about. Perhaps, in this crowded city-world of ours, all we need is the space to come to terms with consequence of our actions. Of course, being in Australia will help heaps!
I did not know much about Jap Story before, only that it was about a Jap businessman and an Aussie girl who was his tour guide and that the story was set in Australia. I've watched Aussie films before and always find the place to inspire some great tales. As in the JS film, the utter desolate expanse of the Australian landscape really dwarfs our own significance.
Of the movie, I came away with mixed feelings. On one hand, I think there is something of substance to the script. On the other, like a snack, it leaves me feeling not quite full at the end. I think, even if Ms Collette did an excellent acting job here, her character and life doesn't quite come through here. After the movie, I can't quite sit down and write what Sandy Edwards is about.
That she cares, we know. Why is she attracted to Hiromitsu? (Or Asian men for that matter) We don't. What's her take on a new man-woman relationship? We don't. There was some hint about her past relationship, but how that affected her, we don't know. What is she looking for in a new one?
From the movie, I gather she is strong and independent, yet, on occasion, perhaps, need the assistance of a man. It was telling how she looked to Hiromitsu for a hand when trying to lift his luggage into her jeep. It was not too much for the asking from a gal, isn't it?
Did she find a soul-mate in Hiro? Of this, I'm not sure. Did she find a man to care for and even exhibit her nurturing tendencies without coming on too strongly as an Alpha female? Maybe.
I am still wondering about that scene - the love-making one in the motel - where she strips and then puts on Hiro's pants and makes love to him - with her on top.
There was a bit of "letting go" and a return to childhood joys at the the scene where the tragedy happened. Was that what she was looking for? Someone who loved rocks and life (a reference to the beginning of the film in which she has a confrontation with her mom over the latter's obsession.) Of this, I think the film is rather thin.
Could this movie also about coming to terms with one's responsibility, something which Hiro kept referring to in his work, role in Jap society/family and tackling problems created by one own self? At the end, Sandy had to put things right with Mrs Hiro. Sure it was a fling. But a beautiful and private fling it shall remain; not some marriage wrecking incident that devastates. For that message, I think the film is worth watching and pondering about. Perhaps, in this crowded city-world of ours, all we need is the space to come to terms with consequence of our actions. Of course, being in Australia will help heaps!