Feeling lost, despite seemingly having success, is something that many people will deal with over the course of their lives. And that’s something that is explored in-depth in the beautiful new drama, “To the Ends of the Earth,” by filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa.
As seen in the trailer for “To the Ends of the Earth,” the film tells the story of Yoko, a host of a travel show in Japan that finds herself in Uzbekistan on assignment. However, while there, the weight of stress and failure builds, and she ventures off to discover her voice, figuratively and literally. She is stuck in her existence and feels as if she needs a change to discover who she is and what will make her happy.
“To the Ends of the Earth” played a variety of film festivals in 2019. In our review of the film, we said, “Not only are the Japanese director’s ideas here as clear as the blue desert sky, but ‘To the Ends of the Earth’ is unexpectedly lucid and crowd-pleasing where even Kurosawa’s classic works can frustrate with their opacity.”
“To the Ends of the Earth” will open digitally on December 11 via Metrograph Ticketed Screenings. To help prepare for the new release, fans can also watch Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s “Bright Future” and “Creepy,” with both being screened for a week, beginning on December 4, on the same platform.
Here’s the synopsis:
Yoko (former J-pop idol Atsuko Maeda) travels with a small crew to Uzbekistan (breathtakingly captured by veteran DP Akiko Ashizawa) to shoot an episode of her travel reality show. In front of the camera, her persona is carefree and happy-go-lucky, but behind the scenes she is cautious and introverted. Despite her best efforts, the filming of the television series ends unsuccessfully, and frustrated by the failure, she sets off into the mysterious country. Lost in the streets of Tashkent, she finds herself adrift and alone, confronting her deepest fears and hidden aspirations. A brilliant mix of black comedy, travelogue, drama, and adventure-imbued showbiz satire, To the Ends of the Earth—commissioned to mark the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and the central Asian republic of Uzbekistan—chronicles the journey of a young woman from displacement to self-discovery. A KimStim release.
