Confessions – The Only Japanese Movie on Oscar Short List

UPDATE: Sadly Confessions was not nominated, but I still hope it finds a U.S. distributor. It looks like a really interesting film.

The only Japanese movie that made the short list for an Academy Award (Oscar) this year is the film “Confessions”. I haven’t seen it yet so if anyone has, please feel free to comment about it.

IMDB (Internet Movie Database) describes it as a revenge thriller about a grieving mother with a plan. It is directed by Tetsuya Nakashima, possibly best known for 2004’s Kamikaze Girls and Memories of Matsuko in 2006.

It stars Takako Matsu, who I think is one of Japan’s best actresses. She often delivers very thoughtful, understated performances, but can also dominate a scene when necessary. She also starred in Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad which one a Japanese Academy Award. She also starred in “April Story”, which is my favorite. I mentioned both of these movies in a previous post on Japanese movies.

Also in the film are prolific young Japanese hearthrob Masaki Okada, and the ubiquitous Japanese actress Yoshino Kimura (who American may have seen in Sukiyaki Western Django). If you were in Japan for even a week, you probably saw her on a tv drama or tv movie somewhere.

I have to say it looks like an absolutely fascinating movie. The trailer below conjures up images of Battle Royale. Takako Matsu plays the teacher doing the narration. You can see Masaki Okada as what seems to be the young gym teacher.

This looks like a very interesting movie.