Movielogr
Tora-san, Wish You Were Here (2019)
Directed by Yôji Yamada
Twitter Facebook Google+Overview
The 50th film in Tora-san series, using the old footages and newly shot scenes to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the series. The adult Mitsuo, Tora-san’s nephew, who runs into Izumi, his first love, whom he had once promised to marry. The familiar faces of Kurumaya Cafe, which Tora-san’s family ran in Shibamata, also return. Catching up with old friends, it is always their dearest memories of Tora-san which everyone shares on such occasions…
Length 115 minutes
Actors
Kiyoshi Atsumi | Chieko Baishô | Hidetaka Yoshioka | Kumiko Goto | Gin Maeda | Chizuru Ikewaki | Mari Natsuki | Ruriko Asaoka | Jun Miho | Gajiro Satoh | Nenji Kobayashi | Isao Hashizume | Hiyori Sakurada
Viewing History (seen 1 time)
| Date Viewed | Device | Format | Source | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/31/2020 | TV | Streaming | Video on Demand | 8.5 stars |
| (Average) 8.5 stars |
Viewing Notes
My final film of JAPAN CUTS 2020 and perhaps my second most anticipated after LABYRINTH OF CINEMA. Damn, they really did it. They (and by they I mean Yoji Yamada, Shochiku and crew) really made a final film in this now 50 film franchise on the 50th anniversary of the first film. Fucking impressive just for that feat. Imagine directing a movie then directing the 50th installment 50 years later.
After SPECIAL ACTORS, this is my second favorite feature film of JAPAN CUTS. It’s a wonderful and loving tribute to both Kiyoshi Atsumi (Tora-san) and the monumental series of films. It become crystal clear why JC2020 chose the specific Tora-san films they did for their Classic Bundle as this movie references them all including several flashbacks to certain scenes. Also the prominent actors from those films return this movie and LET ME TELL YOU THAT I WAS BLOWN AWAY SEEING THE ADULT IZUMI (Kumiko Goto). When I discovered that Kumiko Goto has not acted since the last Tora-san film in 1995 I WAS EVEN MORE BLOWN AWAY. Seriously. What’s the story there. Did Yamada call her up and say, “so I know you retired from acting after the final film 25 years ago but I’m making the for real final film for the 50th anniversary and I’d like to you to unretire just for this movie.”
Kumiko Goto was Mitsuo’s high school sweetheart but left for Europe after the last Tora-san movie. So she and Mitsuo just went on separate paths, getting married and starting a family. This movie brings them back together in an unusual circumstance. It’s fucking amazing and nearly had me in tears. Also, holy shit is Kumiko Goto a beautiful woman. I thought she was definitely a cute girl when I saw her in the ‘89 Tora-san movie last night. To see her all grown up (45 years old in this film) and absolutely stunning and knowing she hasn’t acted in anything for 25 years… well, it was quite a lot to process on top of this terrific celebration of Tora-san.
With the release of this movie, I pray they will release the entire series for home video here. I know a 50 movie set will not be cheap but I’d cash in some of my retirement to get my hands on it. I’ve seen 8 of the 50 movies and I’ve loved them all. So I’d say it’d be a worthwhile purchase.
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