Storyline: Urutora mirakuru rabu sutori 2009 Written and directed by Satoko Yokohama in her second feature, Bare Essence of Life is the story of 25 year old Yojin Kenichi Matsuyama, a farmer in the rural village in the Aomori prefecture on the island of Honshu Yojin is different, very different Prone to strange outbursts, throwing things, repeating words and phrases, and wildly disconnected thoughts, something has gone wrong in his wiring Combining black comedy with fantasy and a little romance and drama thrown in to stir the pot, Bare Essence in its literal translation Ultra Miracle Love Story carves out a niche all of its own and shows enough raw talent to warrant a close watch of this director This goofy but often brilliant film had many in the Vancouver Film Festival audience scratching their heads in disbelief and some heading for the exits, but most seemed to be having a good time As the film opens, Yojin wakes up to the ring of half a dozen alarm clocks, glances at the white board in his room where he records his daily schedule, then ventures out to begin his day helping his grandmother Misako Watanabe grow and sell products from her organic vegetable garden Though often with poor results, the boy follows instructions from a tape left him by his deceased grandfather no mention is made about his parents Life is uneventful, however, until Machiko Kumiko Aso, a new teacher, arrives from Tokyo to teach nursery school We soon learn that the attractive teacher has come to this rural area to forget the death of her boyfriend Kanake in a car accident in which he was driving with another lover The story is that his head was severed and landed somewhere on a roof and Machiko consults the local medium to see if there has been any word from his spirit Yojin is immediately drawn to Machiko and wants desperately for her to like him but quite naturally, she is a bit frightened by him, especially when he tries to pull her out of her classroom through an open window He loves the children, however, all non professional actors recruited from the local school, and they respond to him as well One day, while playing with a young boy in his garden, he discovers that being sprayed with pesticide makes him calm and his mind clear This also makes him more appealing to Machiko so he continues to spray himself with pesticide, ignorant of the potential consequences to his health Though Yojins outbursts are definitely off putting, Matsuyama is an outstanding actor who makes the oddball character sensitive and appealing As the relationship between Yojin and Machiko progresses, we also hear ideas about the state of humanitys evolution, our ties to nature, and the health hazards of the spraying of pesticides on our crops Yokohama has said in an interview that she wanted to create a film in which people were liberated from the conventions society imposes since too many people hold themselves together at the expense of expressing their vitality and freedom To that end, she has endowed her film with a free spirited exuberance and enough miracles and surprises to hold us until the Second Coming If she believes that people will only continue to evolve when they are free, open, and stimulated, Bare Essence of Life may point the way to a new beginning
Adventures in Odyssey A Stranger Among Us (1998)
Adventures in Odyssey A Stranger Among Us 1998 Thunder Lightning Mystery Mystery Well, it shouldnt be, but Connie and Dylan have gotten caught up in a mystery movie and suddenly every visitor to Whits End looks suspicious to them
The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956)
The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956) This comedy-drama is partially a gentle satire on America's drive to change the world in the post-war years. One year after World War II, Captain Fisby is sent to the village of Tobiki in Okinawa to teach the pe
My Little Pony: Best Gift Ever (2018)
My Little Pony: Best Gift Ever (2018) In this one-hour Christmas-themed special, the Mane Six and Spike are each hoping to find the best gift ever for Hearth's Warming.
Caviar (2023)
Caviar 2023 Antigone Corday is an aspiring social media influencer She is mourning the recent death of her brother, Jeremiah, a well known pundit and voice for progressive causes Soon, she receives a mysterious package in the mail a pre re
Mechanical Marvels: Clockwork Dreams (2013)
Mechanical Marvels: Clockwork Dreams (2013) Excellent one hour documentary narrated by Professor Simon Schaffer which explores the fascinating and rarely told story of automata, those intricate clockwork devices built hundreds of ...
Rough Stuff (2017)
Rough Stuff (2017) Off the highways and beyond the furthest posts is a lawless land where outcasts go to escape their pasts and start anew.
Today You Die (2005)
Today You Die (2005) A former thief who is trying to go straight seeks vengeance on those who framed him.
A Monster in Paris (2011)
A Monster in Paris (2011) Paris, 1910. Emile, a shy movie projectionist, and Raoul, a colorful inventor, find themselves embarked on the hunt for a monster terrorizing citizens. They join forces with Lucille, the big-hearted star of the Rare Bird cab
Peter von Kant (2022)
Peter von Kant 2022 Peter Von Kant, a successful, famous director, lives with his assistant Karl, whom he likes to mistreat and humiliate Through the great actress Sidonie, he meets and falls in love with Amir, a handsome young man of modest means
A Choice of Weapons Inspired by Gordon Parks (2021
A Choice of Weapons Inspired by Gordon Parks 2021 Follows Gordon Parks stellar career from staff photographer for LIFE magazine, through his artistic development photographing everyday Americans, through his evolution as a novelist and groundbreaking
Friends with Money (2006)
After she quits her lucrative job, Olivia finds herself unsure about her future and her relationships with her successful and wealthy friends.
The Beach House (2016)
The Beach House 2016 Four people from an Arab generation roaming over the ruins of ideologies, causes and virtues of their predecessors It portrays their intellectual and emotional nonchalance about what is happening around them in their daily lives
The Boston Strangler (1968)
The Boston Strangler (1968) The Boston Strangler is a 1968 American neo-noir film based on the true story of the Boston Strangler and the book by Gerold Frank
Run Gun (2022)
Run Gun 2022 After leaving a life of crime and violence, Ray is a reformed good guy, enjoying a quiet family life in the burbs But when his past is discovered, Ray is blackmailed into one last job to collect a mysterious package After a deadly double
The Attic (1980)
The Attic (1980) A librarian devotes her life to caring for her wheelchair-bound tyrannical father after being stood up at the altar. She fantasizes about causing deaths of the men who most wronged her and finds joy only with her pet monkey. Her monk
First Dog (2010)
First Dog (2010) While US president Barrett opens a school bearing his name, his inseparable dog Teddy gets lost in the commotion when a gun is fired at its master. To avoid a press scandal, the matter is kept discrete. The dog wanders off to a count
The Ten (2007)
The Ten (2007) Quirky inter-related stories. Standing by two tablets, Jeff promises to introduce ten short stories, each about one of the commandments. A man survives a fall from a plane and his fiancée marries someone else before falling in love wi
The Manchurian Candidate (2004)
When his army unit was ambushed during the first Gulf War, Sergeant Raymond Shaw saved his fellow soldiers just as his commanding officer, then-Captain Ben Marco, was knocked unconscious. Brokering the incident for political capital, Shaw eventually
Nosferatu (2024) HD - N/A |
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024) HD - 7.4 |
Back in Action (2025) HD - N/A |
Wolf Man (2025) CAM - N/A |
Kraven the Hunter (2024) HD - 5.5 |
Mufasa The Lion King (2024) mHD - N/A |
Alarum (2025) HD - N/A |
Sniper The Last Stand (2025 HD - N/A |
Erotic Day Dream (2000) DVD-18+ - 4.7 |
Gladiator II (2024) HD - 7.1 |
Moana 2 (2024) mHD - 7.0 |
Wicked (2024) HD - N/A |
Gladiator II (2024) HD - 7.1 |
Moana 2 (2024) mHD - 7.0 |
Wicked (2024) HD - N/A |
Kraven the Hunter (2024) HD - 5.5 |
Red One (2024) HD - 6.8 |
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024) HD - 7.4 |
Mufasa The Lion King (2024) mHD - N/A |
Venom The Last Dance (2024) HD - 6.1 |
Nosferatu (2024) HD - N/A |
Sidelined The QB and Me (20 HD - N/A |
Heretic (2024) HD - 7.1 |
Elevation (2024) HD - N/A |
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024) HD - 7.4 |
Mufasa The Lion King (2024) mHD - N/A |
Wicked (2024) HD - N/A |
Gladiator II (2024) HD - 7.1 |
Kraven the Hunter (2024) HD - 5.5 |
Nosferatu (2024) HD - N/A |
Moana 2 (2024) mHD - 7.0 |
Werewolves (2024) HD - N/A |
Venom The Last Dance (2024) HD - 6.1 |
Wolf Man (2025) CAM - N/A |
Back in Action (2025) HD - N/A |
Babygirl (2024) CAM - 6.0 |