A Team Judas production. (International sales: Team Judas, Tokyo.) Produced by Hirotaka Kuwahara. Directed, written by Bunyo Kimura.
With: Maki Nishiyama, Hitoshi Hasegawa, Mutsuo Yoshioka.
Love is split like an atom when birth and death are linked by radiation in the moody low-budget meller "Good Bye." Shot on DV, Bunyo Kimura's first feature displays a talented beginner's eye and a promise of better things to come with bigger budgets. However, occasional arty indulgences suggest the writer-director lacks confidence in his simple but moving story. Anti-nuclear themes and good enough perfs, spiced with nudity, should make this popular with digitally slanted fests.
With an extended shot of a roaring ocean on the Aomori coastline, and an even longer, silent nude scene between lovers Kimi (Maki Nishiyama) and Osamu (Mutsuo Yoshioka), the pic gets off to a slow, pretentious start before daring to launch its story. Both Osamu and Kimi's father (Hitoshi Hasegawa) work at a nuclear waste-processing plant. Dad shows little concern when Osamu is exposed to dangerous radiation, but the latter's decreased suitability for parenting puts a wedge between him and Kimi. Characteristically stiff Japanese performances are layered with an austerity that matches the desolate landscape. Tech credits are above average for digital fest fare, apart from the poor direct-sound recording.
Camera (color, DV), Takahashi Kazuhiro; editors, Hirotaka Kuwahara, Bunyo Kimura; music, Satiko Kitamura. Reviewed on DVD, Tokyo, Jan. 13, 2009. (In Rotterdam Film Festival -- Bright Future.) Original Japanese title: Hebano. Running time: 81 MIN.
Contact the Variety newsroom at
news@variety.com