Tokyo

Starfish Hotel

 (Japan)

By RUSSELL EDWARDS

A 100 Meter Films production. (International sales: 100 Meter Films, Tokyo.) Produced by Martin Rycroft, Misako Furukawa, Tsuyoshi Toyama, Roland Lamour. Executive producer, Brian Hulse. Co-producers, Shunsuke Yamada, Yumiko Miwa. Directed, written by John Williams.
 
With: Koichi Sato, Kiki, Akira Emoto, Tae Kimura, Kazuyoshi Kushida.
 

A cohesive plot takes third place to mysterious atmospherics and strained sexual relations in "Starfish Hotel." Second Japanese-language feature by Nippon-based, Blighty-born helmer John Williams is an oddity that could pass for the real thing to the uninitiated. Press materials cite inspiration from Japanese cinema and, more relevantly, Haruki Murakami's novels, but most Western auds will be reminded of "Eyes Wide Shut" and the iconic rabbit of "Donnie Darko." Indie and Asian-themed fests may be seduced by this lush-looking effort.

Salaryman Yuichi Arisu (Koichi Sato) subsists in his dull job and apparently sexless marriage by reading the mystery novels of Jo Kuroda. Taunted by a man dressed as a rabbit (Akira Emoto), who distributes flyers for Kuroda's latest novel, and haunted by the novelist himself, Arisu explores the memory of an affair at the titular hotel and traces his wife's disappearance to a high-class brothel. The "is it all a dream?" game hinders the yarn's credibility, but sleek direction, quality lensing and a solid cast help pass the time. Other technical credits are top quality.

Camera (color), Benito Strangio; editor, Yosuke Yafune; music, Shoko Nagai, Takeishi Satoshi; production designer, Katsumi Kaneda. Reviewed at Tokyo Film Festival (market), Oct. 28, 2005. Japanese dialogue. Running time: 98 MIN.