Cafe Lumiere Movie Review 2005

Taiwanese director Hou dedicates his homage to Japanese master Yasujiro Ozu with a narrative about loneliness, isolation, and modern urban life. In Tokyo, Yoko (pop star Hitoto in her debut) announces to her father and stepmother that she's pregnant but has no intention of marrying. Her best friend is bookseller Hijame (Asano). She is doing research on composer Jiang Wen-Ye (whose work is used on the soundtrack); he's doing a computer art project about the city's commuter trains, which mean you see a lot of the subway system. It's understated to the point of inertia. Japanese with subtitles.

Distribution

Not Yet Released

Running time 104 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Trains, Japan

Screenplay

Chu Tien-Wen

Cinematography

Lee Ping-Bing

Director

Hou Hsiao-Hsien

Music

Jiang Wen

Other

Tu Duu-chih, Liao Ching-Sun, Kazumi Hoshino, Tashiharu Aida

Producer

Ichiro Yamamoto, Hideshi Miyajima, Liao Ching-Sung, Fumiko Osaka, Shochiku Company