The Light Shines Only There

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Movie: The Light Shines Only There
Romaji: Soko nomi nite Hikari Kagayaku
Japanese: そこのみにて光輝く
Director: Mipo O
Writer: Yasushi Sato (novel), Ryo Takada
Producer: Hideki Hoshino
Cinematographer: Ryuto Kondo
World Premiere: March 16, 2014 (Osaka Asian Film Festival)
Release Date: April 12, 2014
Runtime: 120 min.
Genre: Drama / Disillusioned Youth / Dysfunctional Family / Best Film-Movie of the Year
Distributor: Tokyo Theatres
Language: Japanese
Country: Japan

Plot Synopsis by AsianWiki Staff ©

Tatsuo Sato (Go Ayano) quits his job and roams around aimlessly, trying to escape from his painful past. Tatsuo Sato then meets Takuji Oshiro (Masaki Suda) at a pachinko parlor. They strike up a friendship and Tatsuo goes with Takuji to his home. Takuji's home is located along the beach, but the home is a rundown shack.

There, Takuji lives with his ill father, ambivalent mother and older sister Chinatsu (Chizuru Ikewaki). Tatsuo sees something special with Chinatsu. A light shines there despite the oppressive atmosphere that surrounds their situation.

Notes

Based on novel "Soko nomi nite Hikari Kagayaku" by Yasushi Sato (published March, 1989 by Kawade Shobo Shinsha Publishers inc.).
Filming begins on June 26, 2013.

Cast



Go Ayano	Chizuru Ikewaki
Tatsuo Sato	Chinatsu Oshiro



Masaki Suda	Hiroko Isayama	Taijiro Tamura	Kazuya Takahashi	Shohei Hino
Takuji Oshiro	mother	father	tree farm owner	Tatsuo's boss

Additional Cast Members:

Trailers

Image Gallery

Film Festivals

2014 (9th) Osaka Asian Film Festival - March 7-16, 2014 - Closing Film *World Premiere
2014 (38th) Montreal World Film Festival - August 21-September 1, 2014 - World Competition
2015 (38th) Göteborg International Film Festival - Jan. 23-Feb. 3, 2015 - Focus: Japan
2015 (9th) JAPAN CUTS - July 9-19, 2015 *East Coast Premiere

Awards

2014 (38th) Montreal World Film Festival - August 21-September 1, 2014
- Best Director (Mipo O)
2015 (36th) Yokohama Film Festival - February 2, 2015
- Best Film
- Best Director (Mipo O)
- Best Screenplay (Ryo Takada)
- Best Cinematographer (Ryuto Kondo)
- Best Actor (Go Ayano)

Comments

Aoi Sora Jun 29 2019 8:18 am Not the genre that everyone's gonna watch. But I appreciate all the hard work from the teams. Go Ayano, Masaki Suda and Chizuru Ikewaki played really good, so natural and human. No wonder this is an award winning movie. After watching this, you're gonna grateful for your own life because so many people out there struggle a lot for life.

Ki Apr 21 2014 3:51 am As a young teenager, I watched this film "Last Exit to Brooklyn" that was absolutely devastating. That's about the only film I can think of that compares to "The Light Shines There." While, I didn't find much hope in "Last Exit to Brooklyn," "The Light Shines There" does leave you with an uplifting message through its dark journey and when I say dark ... I do mean suffocating darkness.

Credit goes to director Mipo Oh for weaving such a story with stunning cinematography (wonderful colors at all the right times & many bokehlicious framed shots) as well as a minimal soundtrack that strikes a chord every time it plays. I'm not sure I would want to watch "The Light Shines There" again, but I'm certainly glad I watched it once. Recommended for anybody that wants to feel pain, but ultimately receive a sense of hope from their experience.

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