Another film starring Satoh Takeru! YAY! The last few films I saw him in were the Rurouni Kenshin films and he gave a fantastic performance as the leading role. Lets fast forward to this film, If Cats Disappeared from the World that was directed by Magai Akira and stars Satoh along side Miyazaki Aoi, who is considered one of Japanese most beautiful actresses. I think she very cute but I don't think "beautiful!" when I look at her.... The film did well in the Japanese box office even though it didn't get the top spot. It came close by maintaining the third position for two weeks then bumping up to second place in it's third week run. Qualities that help draw in an audience was the two leads and the fact that the screenplay is based off a well known novel in Japan.
A postman is diagnosed with a brain tumor and is said to die soon. He's then met by an angel of death that promises him more time on earth if he is willing to give up something precious to him each time he wants to extend his life. The thing the angel of death chooses will be wiped off the face of the earth.
If Cats Disappear caused me to tear up in the first fifteen minutes of watching. Not because anything really sad had happened but because the main character doesn't seem to have anything to live for. He just goes about this daily routine over and over again in a robotic fashion. The central conflict at hand is like the icing on top of an already baked cake. You feel sorry that he's about to die but whats even sadder is the fact that he doesn't know the true meaning of life. This makes watching him trying to survive all the more pathetic and sad. The plot is more about substance than giving the viewer a fast paced storyline that won't bore you. Some people might get bored watching if your not the kind of person that can appreciate a film that wants to pull you in with character dialogue and humanism. I actually thought this film was going to be one of those ones where you watch the main character slowly die but the film doesn't make the main character out to be the victim. He knows what situation he's in but he has control. You will cry but the film doesn't try to make you cry. Relation to the character will be the main cause of the tears that will fall. Events progressed based on what is chosen to disappear and the absence of each thing causes our main character to remember the relationships formed based on that object. Its a case of you never know what you have until its gone. Also the fact that sometimes people have more in their life than they think they have. A person's just focusing on the wrong things. Instead of looking at all the good that has happened in their life. With each object the main character is forced to relive all the relationships he has made with people including his ex girlfriend and his parents. His memories are both lighthearted and bittersweet but by the time everything is done the main character along with viewers have a brand new lease on life.
Satoh had to act out a character that was alone most of the time except for the flashback scenes. I felt that his acting ability truly comes through in this role and it was a breath of air after Rurouni Kenshin. I loved the performances by the actor and actresses that played his parents. They were a huge part of the film's relation to cats as well as the strong resolve of the Satoh's character by the film's conclusion. The father came of as cold and uncaring but you find that that there's another side to him. Miyazaki plays the ex girlfriend who shares a deep history with Satoh's character. Their scenes are pretty awkward because of the circumstances of their break up, however, these scenes are also interesting. Especially when you get a look into what their relationship was like. The other relationships that involve friends were also emotionally touching. One of the most touching lines of the film was one said at the end of the film, "Thank you for being born into this world." I got chills listening to this line being spoken and this line fit the atmosphere of the ending perfectly too.
The shots of the main character riding the bike around his local town was nice to watch in the beginning and end of the film.. The scenes were shot in a way to symbolize progression in the character's resolve. It might look like a simple scene of a guy riding on a bike but I see a man in the mist of making important decisions or deciding to face whatever problem that may be in his way. A scene with a waterfall that will takes your breath away also makes an appearance. Satoh and Miyazaki are stand on a bridge thats surrounded by a group of waterfalls. I'm not sure if they really left Japan to shoot this scenes but gosh, if they did, the overall result was worth the travel. I felt like the scene was a symbol of a place where life begins and ends. Miyazaki's lines in this scene give viewers the grave realization that life is meant to live in the moment without regrets. Just this scene in itself was enough for me to love the way this film was shot.
If Cats Disappear from the World was more than I expected it would be. I thought it was going to be more about pity but it was deeper than that. The beauty of life and the relationships that make life beautiful was more of the focus than pity. Long story short, I came for Satoh Takeru and left with a heavy heart. Don't you love it?
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