Sad Vacation

Sad Vacation

136 mins | Drama | Sept. 8, 2007

Kenji, abandoned by his mother, scrapes out a meager existence doing odd jobs including driving bar hostesses and their customers home. Besides this he takes care of the sister of an old friend in jail and a young illegal immigrant. But his life reaches a turning point when he happens to meet Chiyoko, his long lost mother. She is now married to Mamiya, the owner of an express package delivery service. They also have a teenage son, Yusuke. Subdued feelings of alarm, discomfort and resentment between Chiyoko, Kenji, and his half brother Yusuke hide underneath and are seemingly caused by the inseparable blood ties that seem to wield control over everyone's destiny. Is blood that powerful? What exactly defines a mother or a father? While Kenji struggles with these questions and attempts to escape his fate, Chiyoko seems content to let these issues unfold and find a solution. Where will it ultimately lead them?

Sad Vacation

136 mins | Drama | Sept. 8, 2007

Sad Vacation
Kenji, abandoned by his mother, scrapes out a meager existence doing odd jobs including driving bar hostesses and their customers home. Besides this he takes care of the sister of an old friend in jail and a young illegal immigrant. But his life reaches a turning point when he happens to meet Chiyoko, his long lost mother. She is now married to Mamiya, the owner of an express package delivery service. They also have a teenage son, Yusuke. Subdued feelings of alarm, discomfort and resentment between Chiyoko, Kenji, and his half brother Yusuke hide underneath and are seemingly caused by the inseparable blood ties that seem to wield control over everyone's destiny. Is blood that powerful? What exactly defines a mother or a father? While Kenji struggles with these questions and attempts to escape his fate, Chiyoko seems content to let these issues unfold and find a solution. Where will it ultimately lead them?
IMDb rating 6.8
Producers Kirishima 1945
Original title サッド ヴァケイション
Directors Shinji Aoyama
Writers Shinji Aoyama

Cast

Tadanobu Asano

as Kenji Shiraishi

Eri Ishida

as Chiyoko Mamiya

Aoi Miyazaki

as Kozue Tamura

Yuka Itaya

as Saeko Shiina

Katsuo Nakamura

as Shigeki Mamiya

Kengo Kora

as Yusuke Mamiya

Joe Odagiri

as Goto

Kosuke Toyohara

as Kawashima

Yôichirô Saitô

as Akihiko

Yūsuke Kawazu

as Kijima

Maho Toyota

as Makimura

Ken Mitsuishi

as Shigeo

Kaori Tsuji

as Yuri Matsumura