Eureka (2000)

Average rating

(66%)

Starring:	Koji Yakusho \| Aoi Miyazaki \| Yoshiko Miyazaki \| Yohichiroh Saitoh
Director:	Shinji Aoyama
Studio:	ARTIFICIAL EYE
Run time:	218 mins
Genres:	Drama \| World Cinema
Languages:	Japanese
Subtitles:	English
Released:	April 22, 2002
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When a bus is violently hijacked in a small Japanese town, only three people survive: the guilt wracked driver Makoto (Koji Yakusho), and young brother and sister, Kozue and Naoki. Two years on, each of them, still traumatised by their ordeal, struggle to re-engage with life. But then one day Makoto impulsively buys a bus, and sets off with Kozue and Naoki on a long journey across Japan, which becomes a cathartic odyssey of spiritual self-discovery. Shinji Aoyama's beautifully shot drama is a serene and resonant meditation on the psychological scars wrought upon the victims of terror and violence and of the courage and inner strength they must find to survive.

Rating of 4 stars out of 5

Director Shinji Aoyama has called this extraordinary film “a prayer for modern man, who is searching for the courage to go on living”. Inspired by John Ford's The Searchers, the story follows coach driver Koji Yakusho and siblings Aoi and Masaru Miyazaki, who are the only survivors of a tragic bus hijacking. Two years after the incident, Yakusho seeks out the traumatised teenagers and suggests a cross-country journey to salve their damaged souls. Nearly four hours in length, Aoyama's meditation on redemption allows for a measured discussion of memory, regret and the gradual erosion of cultural identity, while the decision to print Masaki Tamura's CinemaScope imagery in monochrome enhances the action's ethereal aura. Although a serial killer subplot intrudes upon the serenity of the odyssey, the overall atmosphere of the piece remains a deeply affecting experience.

Highest rated reviews

35 out of 41 people found the following review helpful:

Outstanding movie, definitely to be seen.

Bruce M from Oxford, England, 2nd August, 2004

A brother and sister take their daily bus ride to school. A young man in a suit pulls out a gun and hijacks the bus. Three executions and one police siege later, the hijacker is dead and the two children plus bus driver Makoto are the only ones not to be killed.

This dramatic sequence happens in the very beginning of the movie, and the next 3.5 hours (which for me passed quickly!) deals with what happens afterwards for the survivors. The pace is 'slow' but suspensful, and is definitely a movie packed with symbolism, outstanding studies of people, some gorgeous camera angles, and a tinted black and white which was perfect for the movie.

Although the movie is about coming to terms with tragedy, it is more a movie about enjoying life. It is also a small mirror into some parts of Japanese culture.

Strongly recommended, although definitely not your typical 'high-octane shoot them up quick thrills' movie.

Don't miss the 'extras', where there is a short 'interview' with the director.

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4 out of 4 people found the following review helpful:

Another Good Japanese Film

A Customer from Yorkshire UK, 24th March, 2005

This Film is a long but interesting film with a story line you can follow but never guess fully what may happen next. One could only appreciate it if they had the time to watch it and concentrate on the way the story develops. There are a few confusing characters, but it is well explained throughout the film if you can bear with it, you will catch up and at three hours plus, you have plenty of time to sit back and absorb. Unfortunately the ending could have been better, but then I guess alot of endings could be. It does leave you thinking as it has quite a few loose ends, but throughout the film you question who is the murderer, and Why? All is revealled in due course! I think the loose ends were a good point in a way, as they were written in to leave you Wondering. Especially about the Mans severe cough! Some of the points brought up are extemely true to real life, especially after severe trauma such as a near death experience. Funnily enough this fact is brought out into the open by a 22 year old adult and explains the reason for it. If you love long films and have the patience, Id recommend you try watching it. You could always have a break in the middle. The only fault to the film that really stood out was the lack of body language of these particular actors.

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