IMDb on iPhone and iPod touch Learn more Learn more Download from the App Store
IMDb > Japón (2002)
Photos (see all 5 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
6.8/10   1,405 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 19% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
Carlos Reygadas (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for Japan on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
2 October 2002 (Belgium) more
Genre:
Plot:
A painter from the big city goes to a remote canyon to commit suicide. To reach some calmness he stays at the farmstead of Ascen, an old religious woman. Although but a few words are spoken love grows. | add synopsis
Awards:
16 wins & 8 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(4 articles)
To Be Human
 (From IFC. 9 September 2009, 12:03 PM, PDT)

Silent Light
 (From The AV Club. 8 January 2009, 1:06 PM, PST)

User Reviews:
"Japon" Worth the Trip to Mexican Mountaintop Death more (41 total)

Cast

  (in credits order)
Alejandro Ferretis ... The man
Magdalena Flores ... Ascen
Yolanda Villa ... Sabina
Martín Serrano ... Juan Luis
Rolando Hernández ... The judge
Bernabe Pérez ... The singer
Fernando Benítez ... Fernando
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Carlo Reygadas Barquín ... The hunter
Create a character page for: ?

Directed by
Carlos Reygadas 
 
Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Carlos Reygadas  writer

Produced by
Carlos Reygadas .... producer
Jaime Romandia .... co-producer
Carlos Serrano Azcona .... associate producer
Gerardo Tagle .... line producer
 
Cinematography by
Diego Martínez Vignatti 
Thierry Tronchet 
 
Film Editing by
Daniel Melguizo 
Carlos Serrano Azcona 
David Torres 
 
Production Design by
Alejandro Reygadas 
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alex Ezpeleta .... second assistant director
Bertrand Roland .... assistant director
 
Sound Department
Gilles Laurent .... sound
Ramón Moreira .... sound
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Diego Martínez Vignatti .... camera operator
Thierry Tronchet .... chief camera operator
 
Other crew
Rubio Marco .... production assistant
 
Thanks
Arvo Pärt .... special thanks
 

Production CompaniesDistributors
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Japan (Europe: English title) (festival title) (International: English title)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for some strong sexuality, nudity and language.
Runtime:
130 min | Argentina:132 min | Canada:122 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | Netherlands:143 min | USA:122 min | UK:133 min | USA:128 min (unrated version)
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.66 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Director Carlos Reygadas financed the initial shoot of $50,000 himself. more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Ayacatzintla (2003) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
5 out of 9 people found the following review useful.
"Japon" Worth the Trip to Mexican Mountaintop Death, 13 August 2002
10/10
Author: Ori_Stav from Tel Aviv, Israel/Palestine

A traveller on a suicidal trek arrives in a remote mountain village. He takes lodging with an elderly woman on the mountaintop, with whom a bizarre relationship ensues. He is eventually unable to kill himself, but death surprisingly strikes elsewhere.

The title is ironic, i suppose, as the iconography and pace oppose the (western?) cultural imaginary of 'Japan': Suicide fails, work is inefficient, landscape is arid, tech. is primitive, speech and emotion and action are low-key and lax, almost indifferent.

Coarse, minimalistic, stunning. Cinematically reminiscent of Herzog.

Was the above review useful to you?
more (41 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Japón (2002)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Decoding the title... invertedplate
ES MALISIMA nepento
Do you know the 'nameless' man's name?... makuabob
Andrei Tarkovsky meets Robert Bresson who also meets Abbas Kiarostami gracielacervantes
about cut scene. ppeerrssoonnaa
Modestly passable film with a deceptive title. woebagge
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Holy Mountain Novecento Andrey Rublyov Die Blechtrommel The Ruling Class
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb Mexico section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.