Japón

Fortnight 2002, Feature film, 2h09

Synopsis

A cynical and disillusioned man from the city heads to a remote Mexican countryside to prepare his death. There he finds lodging with an old Indian widow in her rickety home overlooking a desolate canyon. Confronted with the old woman’s infinite humanity, in the vastness of a wild, breathtaking nature, he oscillates between cruelty and lyricism. And with senses drugged, his desire and instincts for life and raw sexuality reawaken. Redemption is found through a spiritual impulse and existential renaissance.

Director

Carlos Reygadas

Carlos Reygadas was born in Mexico City in 1971. He studied international law and armed conflict in Mexico City and London, but suddenly abandoned a promising career as a jurist. Moving to Brussels, Reygadas discovered the cinema as a passionate self-taught. After making a several shorts in 1998, he returned to the sites of his childhood vacations to undertake the ambitious « Japan »,shot in cinemascope witn non professional actors and with the volunteer backing of his entourage.

Casting

Alejandro Ferretis
Carlos Reygadas Barquín
Magdalena Flores
Martin Serrano
Roland Hernández

Team

Screenplay
Carlos Reygadas

Image
Diego Martínez Vignatti

Sound
Gilles Laurent, Ramón Moreira

Editing
Daniel Melguizo, Carlos Serrano, David Torres

Music
Jean Sébastien Bach, Arvo Pärt, Dimitri Shostakovich

Set decoration
Alejandro Reygadas

Production

Production :
Carlos Reygadas

Production Manager :
Gerardo Tagle
NoDream Cinema
avenida Michoacan 49
Col. Hipodromo Condesa
06170 Mexico, Mexique
tél. : (52 5) 211 79 88

Carlos Serrano Azcona (Espagne)
Mantarraya Producciones Cadereyta
8 Colonia La Condesa
06170 Mexico, Mexique
tél. : (52 5) 211 79 88
jefaso@teleline.es

Ventes à l’étranger :
The Coproduction Office
24 rue Lamartine
75009 Paris, France
tél. : 33(0)1 56 02 60 00
fax : 33(0)1 56 02 60 01
festivals@thecopro.de

Presse française :
Laurence Granec, Karine Ménard
tél. 33 (0)1 47 20 36 66
fax : 33 (0)1 47 20 35 44

Presse internationale :
Premier PR
Chis Paton et Jane Gibbs
tél. (44 207) 494 34 78
fax : (44 207) 734 20 24
chris@prempr.co.uk
jane@prempr.co.uk

Title in Original Version : Japon

Awards

Mention spéciale Caméra d’Or

Deux cents dirhams

L’Imbalsamatore