Years of longing: Ishmael (Hawke) is still in love with Hatsue (Kudoh, in the reflection) after all these years...
The plot travels from the late 1930s to the early 1950s on a remote Washington island, centring on Ishmael Chambers (Hawke), a young journalist who has been obsessed with his Japanese-American neighbour Hatsue (Kudoh) since childhood. Their romance is a kind of Romeo & Juliet affair, forbidden on racial grounds even before the horrors of WWII arrive, sending the Japanese residents off to concentration camps as paranoia takes over the community. But that was nine years ago. And now Ishmael has the key to clear Hatsue's husband (Kune) of a murder charge. Will he continue his obsession, feeding the town's lingering racism, or will he do the right thing for once?
Every aspect of the film works beautifully to tell this essentially simple morality tale. And it's all wonderfully understated, from the finely measured performances (the supporting cast is especially good) to the gorgeous images and textures. Even the editing is a work of art as it jumps around in time, piecing together the current mystery as well as the characters' joint and separate past experiences. Wonderful stuff! And if there's any complaint it's that the film takes itself too seriously--it seems to think it's terribly complicated and deep, when actually there aren't many surprises in here, nothing really grabs hold and shakes us up as it should. But never mind ... just sit back and soak in the artistry of it all.
[15-- adult themes, violence and gore, language] 2.May.00
US release 24.Dec.99; UK release 12.May.00
