Big Dreams Little Tokyo (2006)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Dave Boyle

Writer:

Dave Boyle (writer)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Because a fish out of water is best served with ginger and wasabi.

Plot:

Big Dreams Little Tokyo is the story of Boyd, an American with an uncanny ability to speak Japanese. Boyd aspires to succeed in the world of Japanese business but finds himself mostly on the outside looking in. Meanwhile, his roommate Jerome, is a Japanese American who has always felt too American to be Japanese but too Japanese to be American. He aspires to be a sumo wrestler but finds his weight and blood pressure are thwarting his dreams. Together they struggle to find their place in a world where cultural identity is seldom what it seems.

Plot Keywords:

Japanese | Sumo | Cultural Identity | Business | Japanese Business

Cast

Dave Boyle	...	Boyd
Jayson Watabe	...	Jerome
Rachel Morihiro	...	Mai
Drew Knight	...	Andy
Pepe Serna	...	Mr. Gonzalez
Michael Yama	...	Mr. Ozu
James Kyson Lee	...	Murakami
Sonny Saito	...	Mr. Tanaka
Robert Suetsugu	...	Mr. Sugimoto (as Bobby Suetsugu)
Naohiro Takita	...	Mr. Fuji
Dane Allred	...	Boyd's Dad
Kei Miyara	...	Takanori
Yuta Kinjo	...	Kei
Jonna Tamases	...	Lydia
Hiroshi Watanabe	...	Masashi

Runtime:

USA:86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

Spanish | English | Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Filming Locations:

San Jose, California, USA

Company:

Brainwave

Trivia:

In spite of its title the film doesn't take place in Little Tokyo (Los Angeles) but in Japantown (San Jose) -- there are also shots of San Francisco's Japantown.

Boyd's big dreams of acceptance in another culture and his own skin.

This darling film mixes the interacting of a number of characters and cultures: a wannabe Japanese salaryman, sushi restaurant "cook", Mexican entrepreneur, Japanese executives, and a precious e.r. nurse.

The director,Dave Boyle,takes an implausible Chaplinesk character and makes us love him as he overcomes the pitfalls and successes of business and love, an enduring and new friendship.

Characters are intricately woven, so everyone can find someone to identify with and laugh at as well.

Japanese culture places a high priority on community, and the humorous scenes of Boyd's uniqueness draws giggles and guffaws.

His unusual pairing of characters and topics are a riot. Boyd's intent allows the character to skirt stereotyping.

His Japanese language,cultural observances, and understanding of the human condition are respectable.

The film has an intimate feel due to the close up shots and controlled establishing shots, maybe due to a limited budget. But it works well. this method bring you into the characters feelings.

I viewed this screening with an audience primarily of teenagers. Their reactions indicated they enjoyed the cultural exchange of the personalities.

The pacing and the editing could have been tighten a bit. Perhaps a bit shorter.

This young director, actor, writer has a perspective that is worth watching. I will watch for the name in the future.