Himizu (ヒミズ) is 2011 Japanese drama film based on the manga series of the same name by Minoru Furuya[2] and directed by Sion Sono.[2][3] The word himizu is the Japanese name for a species of mole. The film competed in competition at the 68th Venice International Film Festival in September.[4] At the festival, Shōta Sometani and Fumi Nikaidō received the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Young Actor and Actress for their work in the film.[5]

Cast

Production

Development

The director Sion Sono had already written the film's script when the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami struck Japan on 11 March 2011.[6] After this disaster, he decided to rewrite the script to adapt the film to this disaster.[6]

Casting

The lead stars of the film were officially announced on 10 June 2011.[7] The lead actor for the film is Shōta Sometani, who plays the role of Sumida, a 15-year-old who suffers from the violence that his father inflicted onto him.[6] Actress Fumi Nikaidō his co-star, plays Chazawa, a rich girl who is Sumida's classmate.[7]

Additional cast members of the film are Yōsuke Kubozuka, Yuriko Yoshitaka, Anne Suzuki and singer Takahiro Nishijima.[8] Actress Yoshitaka previously starred in the 2006 film Noriko's Dinner Table,[8] which was also directed by Sion Sono.[9] Nishijima is from the music group AAA,[8] and also previously starred in Sion Sono's 2009 award-winning film Love Exposure.[10]

Filming

Most of the filming took place at a special set in Ibaraki Prefecture during May 2011.[7]

Reception

Critical reception

Himizu currently holds a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[11] The film was a New York Times Critics' Pick, with Miriam Bale praising its sound design and noting Sono "uses sound, a low, grumbling noise like an earthquake, to convey [dystopian Japan]. He also gives the film a harrowing cacophony and a sense of trauma with sound effects, including subtle echoes."[12] Deborah Young of The Hollywood Reporter criticized the film as being "fraught with brutal violence and needless repetition that draws out its two-hour running time" and added that the film "is still not an easy film to like".[6] However, the reviewer praised the ending of the film, which she describes as "achingly real" and "extraordinarily intense and effective".[6] She also praised the film's young leads Shōta Sometani and Fumi Nikaidō, who she said "grow in stature as the film progresses".[6]

Accolades

Year Award Category Result Recipient
2011 68th Venice International Film Festival Marcello Mastroianni Award Won Shōta Sometani and Fumi Nikaidō[5]

References

  1. ^ "Venezia 68: Programme" (PDF). Venice. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  2. ^ a b "ヒミズ on eiga.com". eiga.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  3. ^ Smith, Ian Hayden (2012). International Film Guide 2012. p. 158. ISBN 978-1908215017.
  4. ^ "Venezia 68: International competition of feature films". Venice. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Official Awards of the 68th Venice Film Festival". Le Biennale di Venezia. Archived from the original on 24 September 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Himizu: Venice Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. 6 September 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  7. ^ a b c 染谷将太＆二階堂ふみ、映画「ヒミズ」で園子温監督に挑む！. eiga.com (in Japanese). 10 June 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  8. ^ a b c 窪塚洋介＆鈴木杏、「ヒミズ」で園子温監督作に初出演. eiga.com (in Japanese). 2 September 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  9. ^ "紀子の食卓 on eiga.com". eiga.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  10. ^ "愛のむきだし on eiga.com". eiga.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  11. ^ "Himizu (2013)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  12. ^ Miriam Bale (13 March 2014). "In Japan, Two Teenagers Bond in a Chaotic, Violent World". The NY Times. Retrieved 10 May 2022.

External links