Country:Japan
Runtime:120 min
Released:06 Jun 2009
Plot: Urutora mirakuru rabu sutori 2009 Written and directed by Satoko Yokohama in her second feature, Bare Essence of Life is the story of 25 year old Yojin Kenichi Matsuyama, a farmer in the rural village in the Aomori prefecture on the island of Honshu Yojin is different, very different Prone to strange outbursts, throwing things, repeating words and phrases, and wildly disconnected thoughts, something has gone wrong in his wiring Combining black comedy with fantasy and a little romance and drama thrown in to stir the pot, Bare Essence in its literal translation Ultra Miracle Love Story carves out a niche all of its own and shows enough raw talent to warrant a close watch of this director This goofy but often brilliant film had many in the Vancouver Film Festival audience scratching their heads in disbelief and some heading for the exits, but most seemed to be having a good time As the film opens, Yojin wakes up to the ring of half a dozen alarm clocks, glances at the white board in his room where he records his daily schedule, then ventures out to begin his day helping his grandmother Misako Watanabe grow and sell products from her organic vegetable garden Though often with poor results, the boy follows instructions from a tape left him by his deceased grandfather no mention is made about his parents Life is uneventful, however, until Machiko Kumiko Aso, a new teacher, arrives from Tokyo to teach nursery school We soon learn that the attractive teacher has come to this rural area to forget the death of her boyfriend Kanake in a car accident in which he was driving with another lover The story is that his head was severed and landed somewhere on a roof and Machiko consults the local medium to see if there has been any word from his spirit Yojin is immediately drawn to Machiko and wants desperately for her to like him but quite naturally, she is a bit frightened by him, especially when he tries to pull her out of her classroom through an open window He loves the children, however, all non professional actors recruited from the local school, and they respond to him as well One day, while playing with a young boy in his garden, he discovers that being sprayed with pesticide makes him calm and his mind clear This also makes him more appealing to Machiko so he continues to spray himself with pesticide, ignorant of the potential consequences to his health Though Yojins outbursts are definitely off putting, Matsuyama is an outstanding actor who makes the oddball character sensitive and appealing As the relationship between Yojin and Machiko progresses, we also hear ideas about the state of humanitys evolution, our ties to nature, and the health hazards of the spraying of pesticides on our crops Yokohama has said in an interview that she wanted to create a film in which people were liberated from the conventions society imposes since too many people hold themselves together at the expense of expressing their vitality and freedom To that end, she has endowed her film with a free spirited exuberance and enough miracles and surprises to hold us until the Second Coming If she believes that people will only continue to evolve when they are free, open, and stimulated, Bare Essence of Life may point the way to a new beginning
More Movies on M4ufree.ac
Here for Life (2019)
Here For Life is an uncommon story on common ground Wayward, hybrid, tender
Roy Walker Beyond A Joke (2019)
Roy Walker, one of Northern Irelands most popular comedians, reflects on the extraordinary highs and lows of his remarkable life as he approaches his 80th birthday
Fresh Kills (2023)
Follows the story of the loyal women of an organized crime family that dominated some of the boroughs of New York City in the late 20th century
No Voltees (2024)
When two siblings return to their childhood home, they are confronted by a violent, supernatural presence that dwells deep within their worst traumas
Fiebre (1971)
Sandra is married to a race horse landowner They do not love each other One day, while walking, she meets Jose Maria, a hard woodsman
Brothers Blue (1973)
A group of young desperados is hunted for several years by a determined bank guard Jack Palance Both the gangs actions, and their demise in a climactic finale a la Bonnie and Clyde are very graphic and violent
Buenos Aires 100 Km (2004)
An Argentine Stand By Me, Buenos Aires KM 100 is a touching story about five friends growing from childhood into adolescence The small quiet town they live in doesnt have much to offer and cant fulfill their curiosity
Vampyr (1932)
A drifter obsessed with the supernatural stumbles upon an inn where a severely ill adolescent girl is slowly becoming a vampire
Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954)
In first century Rome, Christian slave Demetrius is sent to fight in the gladiatorial arena and Emperor Caligula seeks Jesus robe for its alleged magical powers
The Gabby Petito Story (2022)
Follows Gabbys tragic murder Centering in her complicated relationship with her fiance Brian Laundrie and what may have gone wrong during their cross country trip
Norm Macdonald: Me Doing Standup (2011)
Norm MacDonald, the iconic anchor of SNLs Weekend Update and star of the cult classic Dirty Work, is back with a vengeance
Destination: Infestation (2007)
While on a flight home from Colombia, the plane that Dr Carrie Ross and her daughter are on is attacked by bullet ants whose sting is the most painful and deadliest on the planet Joining
Ill Take Sweden (1965)
An executive, unhappy with his daughters choice for a future husband, accepts a transfer to his firms Stockholm branch and takes her along, only to discover that Sweden is far more sexually liberal than the United States
Ladies Should Listen (1934)
The switchboard operator in an apartment building falls in love with a businessman who lives in the building, whom she has gotten to know only over the phone When she discovers that the mans current girlfriend is actually part of a
Sorry, Thanks (2009)
Reeling from a brutal break up, Kira sleeps with Max, a charming but disheveled wreck already committed to long term girlfriend Sara Max no emotional sophisticate becomes obsessed, mostly with Kira, but vaguely with his curious la