Japón [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray]

Director: Carlos Reygadas, Carlos Reygadas Barquin Carlos Reygadas

Overview

A man on the brink of suicide regains the will to live under decidedly unusual circumstances in this drama from Mexico. A quietly despondent man (Alejandro Ferretis) leaves behind the city for a journey into a quiet village in the valley, telling anyone who cares to know that once he's settled in, he intends to kill himself. The man takes a room with Ascen (Magdalena Flores), and elderly woman who lost her husband some years ago. Keeping to himself, the man paints, thinks, and prepares himself for death, while Ascen slowly becomes aware of the depth of his depression. As Ascen's nephew attempts to rob her of her share of the family estate, the man feels a desire to live waking inside him again -- as well as the desire for a woman. Improbably, the man turns to Ascen for physical affection, and sensing his need for comfort, she complies, though the seduction lacks a great deal in the way of romance. The first feature film from writer and director Carlos Reygadas, Japon received an enthusiastic response when it was screened as part of the Directors' Fortnight series at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/26/2019
UPC:	0715515228213
Original Release:	2002
Rating:	R
Source:	Criterion Collection
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	2:14:00
Sales rank:	5,693

Special Features

New 2K digital restoration, supervised by director Carlos Reygadas with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack; New conversation between Reygadas and filmmaker Amat Escalante; Video diary shot by actor Alejandro Ferretis during the film's production; Adulte, a 1998 short film by Reygadas; Deleted scene; Trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Alejandro Ferretis	The Man,Football Boy
Magdalena Flores	Ascen,Boy with a Slingshot/Football Boy,Football Boy,Peasant Knocking Down Barn
Yolanda Villa	Sabina
Martin Serrano	Juan Luis,Juan Luis' Son
Rolando Hernandez	The Judge,Drunkard in Bar,Drunkard in Bar,Man Shaking Hands in Mass,Woman Shaking Hands in Mass,Tractor Driver
Bernabe Perez	The Singer,Vicente,Peasant Drinking Pulque
Fernando Benitez	Fernando
Carlos Reygadas Barquin	The Hunter
Pablo Gil Sanchez Mejorada	Hunting Boy,Hunting Boy
Ernesto Velázquez	Hunter Unloading
Pablo Tamariz	Puzzled Hunter
Alex Ezpeleta	Hunter with Beer
Fran Castillo	Walking Hunter
Diego Martinez Vignatti	Sitting Hunter
Luis Amador	The Butcher
Noe Barranco	Fat Boy at Butcher's
Jesus Escamilla	Boy's Father
Fernando Tellez	Fernando, Man without the Use of His Hands
Jazmin Acosta	Fernando's Daughter,Football Boy,Football Boy,Football Boy,Peasant Knocking Down Barn,Peasant Knocking Down Barn
Eugenio	Peasant with Hoe
Silvia Duran	Peasant Drinking Pulque,Drunkard in Bar
Claudia Rodriguez	Woman in Dream
Jose Luis Najera	Juan Luis' Thin Son
Reynaldo Barrios	Drunkard in Bar
Juan Lopez	Drunkard in Bar
Felix Chavez	Drunkard in Bar
Rolando Marin	Drunkard in Bar
Aaron Garcia	Football Boy
Lucia Mendoza	Woman with Flock
Alejandro Reygadas	Priest
Basilio Valderrama	Peasant Knocking Down Barn
Benito Montiel Guinifais	Peasant Knocking Down Barn
Marcial Jarillo	Peasant Knocking Down Barn
Gaspar Mohedano	Peasant Knocking Down Barn
Emilio Casanas	Peasant Knocking Down Barn
Raymundo Cortes	Peasant Knocking Down Barn
Arvo Part	Composer

Technical Credits

Carlos Reygadas

Carlos Reygadas	Director,Producer,Screenwriter
Carlos M. Serrano	Producer
Ramón Moreira	Sound Editor
Gilles Laurent	Sound/Sound Designer
Carlos Reygadas Barquin	Director