Kurosawa is a household name for film fans around the world, but Akira is not the only master auteur who possesses that surname. Kiyoshi Kurosawa made his name making creepy and unnerving horror films. Kairo is my favourite genre film of all time and Cure is also a fantastic slice of terror. In recent years he’s taken a different path with the brilliant Tokyo Sonata and the touching Journey to the Shore.
It has been three years since Mizuki (Eri Fukatsu) lost her husband Yusuke (Tadanobu Asano) but she’s not phased when one day he suddenly reappears. Her life has almost been in stasis since he died but his return sparks a new lease of life. The pair embark on a trip to visit those who helped him as he traversed between the world of the living and another reality. Along the way, Mizuki finally finds some closure for their relationship.
Journey to the Shore is a meditation on life and death and all the states in-between. Starring two of Japan’s best actors, it gently touches on the profound in the everyday. However, don’t expect a rapid pace as Kurosawa demands concentration and contemplation. As their new experiences bring back memories of the past Mizuki and Yusuke connect in ways they haven’t done before. Journey to the Shore is a beautiful offbeat treatise on the meaning of life, love and death.
Journey to the Shore is released on Dual Format by Eureka as part of their Masters of Cinema collection on Monday.
