Dearest (JFF) (35mm) | Movie Release, Showtimes & Trailer | Cinema Online
Movie Details

Dearest (JFF) (35mm)

Eiji works as a prison officer in Hokuriku. At the age of 53, Eiji loses his wife whom he loves the most. Later, he receives a letter from his dead wife requesting that her ashes be scattered in the sea next to her hometown. Eiji is taken by surprise because she had never mentioned such a thing when she was alive. In order to find out her real intentions, Eiji heads to his wife`s hometown of Nagasaki with his homemade camper van.
Eiji bekerja sebagai pegawai penjara di Hokuriku. Pada usia 53 tahun, Eiji telah kehilangan isteri yang sangat dicintai. Suatu hari, dia menerima surat daripada mendiang isteri yang meminta abu mayatnya dibuang ke dalam laut bersebelahan kampung halaman. Eiji berasa sangat terkejut kerana isterinya tidak pernah membuat permintaan seperti ini ketika masih hidup. Dalam usaha mencari niat sebenar isterinya, Eiji pulang ke kampung halaman isterinya di Nagasaki dengan menaiki van ciptaannya.

Language: Japanese
Subtitle: English
Classification: U
Release Date: 12 Sep 2013
Genre: Drama
Running Time: 1 Hour 51 Minutes
Distributor: FILM FESTIVAL ORGANIZER
Cast: Ken Takakura, Yuko Tanaka, Koichi Sato, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, Kimiko Yo, Haruka Ayase
Director: Yasuo Furuhata
Format: 35MM

[More] [Trailers]

Showtimes Comparison
Select up to 3 cinema locations to compare

Select State:
Area:
Cinemas:

 
Your Selected Cinemas:
 
Watch the latest trailers or view more videos here
Review
Writer: Casey Lee

Writer Ratings:
Overall:
Cast:
Plot:
Effects:
Cinematography:

Watch this if you liked: “Up” and “Amour”

Eiji Shimakura (Ken Takakura) is a strict and serious officer at the Tomoyama prison, where he also acts as a part-time woodworks instructor to help with the prisoners' reformation. Although his life seems like it is going to be spent as a lifetime bachelor due to the deep dedication he gives to his job, he is smitten by a singer called Yoko (Tanaka Yuko), during a performance for the inmates and they eventually marry. Years later, Yoko dies from cancer and thus ends their 15 year marriage. Eiji, who is unsure of how he should mourn over her death, shows up to work the next day when he should be taking his condolence leave.

His uncertainties are answered when he receives a letter from his late wife and is told that another letter would be waiting for him at a distant port town in Nagasaki, which he later finds out to be Yoko's hometown that she had left since she was 13. Opening the first letter, he is told to spread Yoko's ashes into the sea at her hometown as her final wish. To accomplish this, he embarks on the long road ahead with his customized van to find out what awaits him at the end of the road.

Despite what the setup may suggest, "Dearest" isn't a drama that is aimed to be mopey or a tearjerker, but goes towards being a matured and calm exploration about the meaning of a marriage. As Eiji travels along the road, he encounters characters who are at different states of marriage themselves, as they remind him of moments of the marriage he had.

The plot thickens when Eiji arrives at his destination. After receiving a rather mysterious goodbye from his wife's last letter and unable to secure a ship due to record breaking winds, the themes evolve like a butterfly breaking out from its cocoon. Though the ending might seem a little far-fetched, it puts a good punctuating point that life goes on, even when it has almost lost all of its meaning, and we drift only when we don't have a place we can call a home.

"Dearest" may be a little hard to comprehend for those below a certain age because Yasuo Furuhata presents the film in a very philosophical manner, but if you can accept the simultaneous taste of sweetness and the swelling tragedy in watching a happy old couple going on dates like they were in their teens, then "Dearest" is probably one that would make you sit and ponder about marriage, finding oneself and drifting on the endless road that is called life for the entire film.


Cinema Online, 19 September 2013

   
Showtimes
   
Classification
U - General viewing for all ages
P12 - Parental guidance required for audiences under the age of 12.
13 - For audiences aged 13 years old and above.
16 - For audiences aged 16 years old and above.
18 - For 18+ with elements for mature audiences
[View full list]
You can now proceed to book tickets at MBO Cinemas, click the link below to continue.
Showtimes are subject to change. Please double check Movie title, location and timing again before completing your purchase.
Ok      Cancel
You are now leaving Cinema Online's website.
You can now proceed to book tickets at TGV Cinemas, click the link below to continue.
Showtimes are subject to change. Please double check Movie title, location and timing again before completing your purchase.
Ok      Cancel
You are now leaving Cinema Online's website.
You can now proceed to book tickets at mmCineplexes Cinemas, click the link below to continue.
Showtimes are subject to change. Please double check Movie title, location and timing again before completing your purchase.
Ok      Cancel
You are now leaving Cinema Online's website.
You can now proceed to book tickets at Amerin Cineplex, click the link below to continue.
Showtimes are subject to change. Please double check Movie title, location and timing again before completing your purchase.
Ok      Cancel
You are now leaving Cinema Online's website.
You can now proceed to book tickets at Mega Cineplex, click the link below to continue.
Showtimes are subject to change. Please double check Movie title, location and timing again before completing your purchase.
Ok      Cancel
You are now leaving Cinema Online's website.
You can now proceed to book tickets at Paragon Cinemas, click the link below to continue.
Showtimes are subject to change. Please double check Movie title, location and timing again before completing your purchase.
Ok      Cancel
You are now leaving Cinema Online's website.
You can now proceed to book tickets at 10Star Cinemas, click the link below to continue.
Showtimes are subject to change. Please double check Movie title, location and timing again before completing your purchase.
Ok      Cancel
You are now leaving Cinema Online's website.