Ryusuke Sayama
An emotionally damaged girl is taken in by a married couple, the Takanashis. Shortly after the start of their happy family, the journalist wife is killed. The villainous forces that murdered his wife now come for Takanashi and his adopted daughter. In order to protect the girl so precious to him, Takanashi stands against them with his karate.
It is based on the story of The Ballad of Narayama updated to the present day, with the substitution of putting a parent into an old people's home for the abandonment of the original. The film won the Golden St. George and the FIPRESCI Prize at the 21st Moscow International Film Festival.
Kazuhiko
Minako, a Tokyo housewife, is depressed that everyone has an active life outside the home except her. Taking her inspiration from TV reports of a hitch-hiking chainsaw murderer, Minako decides to spice up her life by finding a young lover and running off with him by faking her kidnapping. While her family frets and worries, Minako has a wonderful time. Eventually, though, she decides it's time to go back to her family. Her lover, however, isn't ready for the fun to end, and Minako's fake kidnapping soon becomes all too real.
