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Year: 2013
Runtime: 109 min
Language: Japanese
Director: Abbas Kiarostami
In this poignant Japanese drama, a retired professor's quiet evening with a charming escort takes an unexpected turn. As they share a tender connection over cooking, music and conversation, the boundaries between client and companion blur. But when the student's jealous boyfriend enters the scene, their fragile tranquility is disrupted, revealing a complex web of regrets, missed opportunities and uncertain destinies.
Warning: spoilers below!
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In the bustling city of Tokyo, a sociology student named Akiko, portrayed by the talented Rin Takanashi, leads a double life as a high-end escort. Despite her seemingly glamorous existence, she faces the constant scrutiny of her envious boyfriend, Noriaki, played by Ryō Kase, who harbors suspicions about her secretive sideline, oblivious to the full extent of her activities.
One fateful evening, Akiko is paired with Takashi, an elderly former professor brought to life by Tadashi Okuno. To everyone’s surprise, rather than engaging in their expected intimate encounter, Takashi chooses to prepare a dinner for her. The following day, he kindly drives her to school for her important exams. While waiting for her, Takashi mistakenly meets Noriaki, who falsely assumes that this older gentleman is Akiko’s grandfather. In a moment of vulnerability, Noriaki takes this encounter to propose his intentions to marry Akiko, an offer Takashi gently deflects by asserting he isn’t ready for such a commitment.
Once Akiko completes her test, the trio drives to a nearby bookstore. During their journey, Noriaki, keen-eyed as ever, diagnoses an issue with Takashi’s car and persuades him to stop by his garage for some repairs. While there, Akiko becomes increasingly anxious as one of Takashi’s former students appears, fearing that the truth about her profession might spill to Noriaki, shattering the fragile façade they’ve maintained.
When Takashi finally drops Akiko off at the bookstore and heads back home, he is soon jolted by a frantic phone call from her. Rushing back, he finds her in distress, her mouth injured yet she refuses to disclose what has happened. Instinctively, Takashi takes her back to his apartment. However, the situation escalates as Noriaki arrives, erupting with anger through the intercom and pounding on the door. Takashi nervously glances out the window, only to witness an object being hurled through it, causing him to collapse to the floor in shock.
Last Updated: November 15, 2024 at 18:35
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