Another View 2004 / Cha no aji / Japan 2003
The fact that peace and love bless the Haruno family’s everyday existence doesn’t mean that things are boring. Reality and imagination in their lives are blended with the heady simplicity of the fragrance rising from their tea cups. What is the family to do when dad’s brother, a successful manga author, asks for something special for his birthday?
The Haruno family live in a town in the mountains connected to the metropolis by rail. Reality and imagination in the lives of the Harunos are blended with the heady simplicity of the fragrance rising from their tea cups. But the fact that peace and love bless their everyday existence doesn’t mean that things are boring. Six-year-old Sachiko is harried at home and school by an imagined massive twin. Her older brother Hajime is trying to impress an attractive new classmate. Their eccentric grandfather – a retired animator – only retains his professional interest in the animation of his own body. The father, Nobuo – a therapeutic hypnotist – sometimes enjoys practising on his own family. Yoshiko, the mom, bears it all with an understanding smile. She has her own cares – to resume her career as an animator, thus carrying on the family tradition. Mom’s brother, Ayano, returns to his hometown after being hit by a wave of nostalgia. And what is the family to do when dad’s brother, a successful manga author, asks for something special for his birthday?
143 min / Color, 35 mm
Director Katsuhito Ishii
/ Screenplay Katsuhito Ishii
/ Dir. of Photography Kosuke Matsushima
/ Music Little Tempo
/ Editor Katsuhito Ishii
/ Producer Kazuto Takida, Kazunori Wadakura
/ Production Grasshoppa! Films Production
/ Cast Maya Banno, Takahiro Sato, Tadanobu Asano, Satomi Tezuka, Tomokazu Miura, Tatsuya Gasyuin, Ikki Todoroki, Tomoko Nakajima
/ Contact Grasshoppa! Films Production
www: www.chanoaji.jp
Katsuhito Ishii (b. 1966, Niigata, Japan) started out in 1992 directing commercials which brought him several awards. In 1996 he shot his first short film, The Promise of August, which took the Grand Prix at the Yubari IFF. He came out with his feature debut two years later, Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl (Samehada otoko to momojiri onna, 1998), inspired by Minetaro Mochizuki’s manga novel. His next picture, Party 7 (2000), was a grand success. In 2001-02 he wrote and directed two series of short animated films: Hal & Bons (in 3D) and Trava (2D). He furthered his animation reputation with the anime sequences in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill. He in turn used the services of Takeshi Koike for the animation in Party 7 and The Taste of Tea (Cha no Aji).
Grasshoppa! Films Production
3-5-4 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, 150 0012, Tokyo
Japan
Phone: +81 3 340 706 83
Fax: +81 3 340 706 83
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