Kazunori's Dream Life

Kazunori's Dream Life

Bruce Von Stiers

Generally I don't watch, or even review, films that have English sub-titles. But there have been a few great films with sub-titles that I really enjoyed, including Das Boot and M, the 1931 thriller that featured Peter Lorre in his first major role.

There is one new film with Japanese dialog and English sub-titles that I really like a lot. The film is Before The Sunset. It is a fantasy drama about a man who is shown what his life might have been like if he'd chosen a different path.

Kazunori Tarasawa is an elderly man, living in a nursing home. He is alone and lonely. The only visitor he has is a young college student, Asuka Yamane. He feels that Asuka is only visiting him because she has a broken heart and wants to fill her time with something.

After getting Mr. Tarasawa up to a place where he can see the sunset, Asuka talks to him about his accomplishments and how he was known as the “God of management.” Then he talks about how he failed his parents, his brothers and even his own children.

Asuka prays to God to give Mr. Tarasawa one wish. Then she asks him if he made a wish. He hadn't so she insists he do so. Then when he does make a wish, something mystical happens.

Kazunori is now 20 years old. Apparently, he is also a soccer player on a university team. He meets up with Asuka, who he recognizes, but doesn't know who he is. Even though he is now a young version of himself, Kazunori remembers everything in his life up to him making the wish. But he is constantly wondering if this whole thing is a dream.

As the film moves along, situations occur that cause Kazunori to remember things about his family. When a soccer teammate talks about studying abroad, that triggers a memory of a son who was studying abroad. The son is commanded to return home to help run the company. Another situation has Kazunori remembering an exchange with his second wife, who people were calling a gold digger.

A key element of the film is a scene where Kazunori has an interaction with God. He is told he has a new life, and it can be fun and wonderful. But the catch is, he can't ask for or accept a marriage proposal until he is 30 years old. If he holds true to that, he will have a long and prosperous life. If not, he'll lose everything. And he is to live for unconditional love, to love everyone, nurture and forgive them and forgive others.

This sounds like it might be a sure thing for Kazunori. Just bide his time on the love and marriage thing and show love and forgiveness for everyone. Well, he doesn't count on falling in love with Asuka, and her with him.

While all of this is going on, Kazunori becomes involved in the theater company that Asuka's father is the director of. They are putting on a performance of Romeo and Juliet. What other play would it be? There are two young people, Asuka and Kaunori, who are destined to be in love, but can't be together. Although this might normally get a headshake or two, the comparisons actually work pretty well in this film.

I can't really say much more about the plot of the film without giving away too much. But there is fame and fortune for Kazunori and Asuka pining away for him. I was concerned a bit that the ending would emulate the story of Romeo and Juliet. Because, why else would that Shakespeare play be a central element of the film? How the film ended was far more pleasant than I had anticipated.

Masane Tsukayama played the older Kazunori Tarakawa. Hiroaki Tanaka was the young Kazunori. Rikako Miura played Asuka Yamane throughout the film. Other characters in the film were Kazunori's friend and fellow actor, Koji Yanagihara. He was played by Shugo Nagashima. Asuka's father, and theater director, Shintaro Yamane, was played by Syouzou Uesugi.

The film was directed by Hiroshi Akabane. The screenplay was written by Ryuho Okawa.

One thing that I should have mentioned earlier is the film's soundtrack. Throughout the film there are songs that kind of guide the story along. They are beautifully sung in Japanese. As with the dialog, the songs have subtitles shown on the screen.

I think that Before The Sunset is a terrific film. It is a fantasy that has a lot of drama and possible heartbreak. As the film goes along, you can't help but hope by the end that Asuka and Kazunori are together.

As of this writing, the film has been given a limited theatrical release. Beginning on October 6 th , Before The Sunset will be shown at the AMC Americana 18 in Glendale, California and at the Regal Hollywood Stadium 20 in Atlanta, Georgia.

To learn more about Before The Sunset, visit the film's official website at https://beforethesunsetmovie.com/

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