SWAY
Oh, right, you're right
What to do... That pushes it to mid-month
Please wait a moment
Hello, Hayakawa speaking
Let's push the lab and get this thing over with
I'll be back tomorrow
I can't stand the place for long
Yeah, I'm the black sheep of the family
Tomorrow then Yeah, thanks
I'm sorry, I thought you'd take a week or so off
Book an Okinawa flight for early next week
Is it really OK?
Hey, it's my first vacation in 2 years
Is that ready, Yokoyama?
I'm off
Hayakawa san, your suit
Right
Don't you need a mourning suit?
Whatever
And the tie, that color...
Want to come along?
Off you go
ODAGIRI Joe
KAGAWA Teruyuki
IBU Masatoh
ARAI Hirofumi
MAKI Yoko
KIMURA Yuichi
KANIE Keizo
Written and Directed by: NISHIKAWA Miwa
Hayakawa Fuel
Thank you
Which way?
There
To Buddha, the world must appear with utter clarity
But we humans, no matter how old or affluent we grow,
keep weeping over things we claim
we've seen but haven't, or things in plain sight we've overlooked
To Buddha we must all seem like pitiful blind babies,
stumbling through the darkness
No, no!
Hello
Now, speaking of tears,
at my age,
I'm not about to cry my heart out
sweetly, like that child over there
We stifle our feelings of sorrow,
and intimidate others by hiding our weakness
from them,
or we bare our fangs at them,
only making ourselves more vile
So, when we call out to Buddha,
he guides us, in full awareness
of our confusion and suffering
Amazing, Takeru, I hear you've built a corporation
More like I incorporated
No, I can't drink
Can't drink? Not a drop?
Then what do you do with all your money?
OK, so there's all kinds of photos
You can shoot steam locomotives, or the Rocky Mountains
What kinds of pictures do you take?
Well, all kinds, really Mostly people
Oh, I knew it Naked ladies
Nudes! Right!
No, hardly ever
Oh no, you don't! Next time, you call me!
I always gave you a big allowance, right?
All right, the next time, I'll call you
Really! Hey!
Say, brother! Takeru's a fine boy
He makes a mint, too
It's not easy to make it on your own in that world! Impressive!
No, he's in a risk y business, don't butter him up that way
But it's the best time to flatter him, right, Takeru...
But if your clients dump you,
you're done for tomorrow
Unlike food and fuel,
folks can get along fine without photographs
Take my wife's memorial portrait
They blew her face up from a group shot at a rice cake party
and stuck it on a body below it A shabby piece of work
Her son carries a camera everywhere
but his mother never had a decent picture of herself. Poor thing
Whatever it is that keeps him busy,
I can't believe any picture's more important than
his parent's funeral!
There, there, brother
After all, they call it art We can't possibly...
You were perfectly capable of taking her picture
Plenty of good cameras around
Takeru
You've got nerve calling her "Poor thing"
You locked her up in this soot-stained house
and made her slave over gas fumes for decades
Besides, when did my work ever inconvenience you?
For all your whining, you're just pissed
you have to pay someone else because I won't work for you
Now, now, calm down, Father!
Father calm down Takeru, that's enough, OK
It's not right, in front of Buddha, is it, Priest?
You'll sadden your mother
That's right, see?
Here, with everybody gathered together
You drank too much
You let him overdo it, Aunt!
It's mostly cleaned up, I can head over
Oh, there you are
No, better stay out of it
Just say your boss will be right there Chie, do you mind serving him tea?
Yes, please
Oh, well, so much for my pleasant buzz
Sorry, a difficult customer
Oh, that's fine
Hey, that was Chie on the phone
Remember? Kawabata Chieko
From across the river
She works for us now
Oh...
Did you know?
No, I stopped by to fuel up on my way here
Did you see her?
Not that I noticed
That older-looking woman?
Don't be ridiculous! She's younger than you
She is?
The company she worked for went under
Dad brought her onboard She's a hard worker
That's his way of making sure you find a wife
What's that supposed to mean?
That's for you, it was Mom's
What is this? This projector was hers?
Yeah, don't you remember? I set it aside, figured you'd want it
Hey, it's a Fujica-scope
SH9... Wow, this is cool!
That side of you definitely came from Mom
Here are the movies
Wow!
"Takeru graduates kindergarten"
"Takeru's first birthday"
Don't remember that...
"Hasumi Gorge" We used to go a lot
Say, let's go tomorrow
Huh?
Chie's off tomorrow Let's all go together
I'm the chauffeur? No, you two go I'll go home tonight
Don't be like that, here you finally made it home
Let's catch some trout again
Trout?
We all ate the fish that Dad caught and grilled
Dad?
Don't know, wasn't there
No, you ate it, too
I did not
Dad never took me anywhere I wasn't born yet
You've just forgotten everything
Your brain's fogged up by Tok yo smog
I'm not foggy
Let's go. It'll clean your soul and you'll get good pictures
None of your business
Excuse me I forgot to return your ashtray
For real?
I had no idea
Are you his younger brother?
Me? Yeah, yeah
Part-timer?
Yes, but I've been here 4 years now
Four years? Why don't you get a real job somewhere?
It must be tough working here
Well, but Minoru san's here
It's kind of fun
Excuse me then, I'm done for today
See ya
Sorry, Takeru, you go on home I'm not done
Oh, yeah
Call me if something comes up
Is Chie done?
Yeah
Shall I give her a lift?
She moved out on her own
She lives in town, now
Then I'll go that way
I'm hungry. I'm sure to find something in town
Oh, right, off you go
I don't need that
I happen to be a well-paid man
I never dreamed you'd be working at our station
I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you either
I mean, you've gotten so hip
What! Did I used to be so tacky?
Ah, you don't deny it
When did you move to town?
After my mother remarried Last summer
Huh...
She moved away?
No, she married someone else from the factory
Huh...
You don't live with them?
No, I guess you wouldn't
He has a teenage daughter
Oh, it's his second time, too
But hey, that's great for your mom
Do they get along?
Well, yes, she seems happy
Do you feel like he took your mom away?
It was just the two of us for so long, I feel like it's a load off me
Wish she'd done it a lot sooner!
What was that customer complaining about before?
Claimed we scratched his car when we washed it
That's gotta be a bullshit claim Will the station pay for it?
Minoru san came and managed to calm him down
Huh
That teary-eyed act of his worked... Like...
But you and my brother are like, super tight
Who, me?
After all this time, it made me jealous
Has my brother ever been to your place?
Of course not!
Will you let me in, then?
Hey, green light
Welcome! All right...
Welcome!
Thank you!
Give me your tongue
How am I supposed to dry off? Or do you like me wet?
I put your towel out there!
by Hayakawa Takeru
You can come tomorrow, right?
To Hasumi Gorge
Minoru san's way into it
Well... no...
Let's go That way, he'll never suspect
It's just mushrooms you hate, right?
Yeah... in the old days
Dad?
He went to bed Early day tomorrow
Look at the time
Too late to drive back to Tok yo
Harder than I thought to find a good place
Yeah, mostly just the usual chain restaurants
Exactly, exactly As it turns out...
Chie can be... a real handful, right?
When she starts drinking
No, well, maybe...
She can hold her booze, despite her looks. I ran out of topics
Don't really hang out much
Will you skip the bath?
No, I'll take one
All right, go ahead
You're the last one in
Just...
I'm glad you invited me today
I got to say my prayers to Mom
Even though I was a little late...
Wow! Feels great!
Come on in, Takeru!
Look, fish! Fish!
It's freezing!
He's acting like some kid
Wow, it's beautiful here
You can see right through the light
This place...
It didn't work out right for me, Takeru
Back then,
I was so scared of everything
I was so obsessed with not failing,
my life turned out to be nothing
You're too young to say "My life..."
Tokyo must be great
I can't believe I didn't take off with you then
Tokyo, huh...
It's not what you think
It's just exhausting
It's not the place for provincial types
It flipped!
Hey, did you see?
Yeah, I saw it
But things won't be the same for me anymore...
Hey, hey!
It flipped again! Flipped!
I'm scared
I think he's already sensed it
Sensed what?
Home sure is good for a change of pace
Here I got to see you, Chieko
It brought back memories, right?
Takeru...
I've gotta go take a dump
They used to bring me and Takeru here a lot
But I could never stand high places or all that swaying...
So I always stayed behind
Maybe I'll try crossing it
Oh, don't, it's dangerous It's old, too
I'm completely fine
Minoru san, you wait here
Takeru!
Chie, take it slow
Chie, don't look down
Hold on with both hands You've got to hold the railing
Like this
Cut it out, don't touch me!
Hey!
What are you doing?
What do you see?
What?
I... Chie...
Did she fall!
From here! This came loose and she fell!
All right Let's call the police, now!
Get it together
You get it? Call the police
But Takeru, I...
No "buts"!
Call the police now and tell them she fell in from here
Understand?
It's all right
She might still be OK
Let's go... C'mon
It'll be all right... all right
Brother, you're shivering
It's all right
When I crossed it,
it was already pretty unstable
Especially right there in the middle
I had a feeling it was pretty dangerous
I see
So you didn't notice, after you crossed, when your older brother
and Kawabata san...
Kawabata Chieko, came across the bridge?
No, I didn't notice
I was pretty deep in the woods
I didn't notice at all
Did you let the Tokyo folks know?
Yeah
Your work OK?
Yeah, it's fine
I see
I'm fine
Why!
What were you doing!
Dad
Why didn't you try to stop her?
You did, right, Brother?
You...
When Chie slipped... what did you do!
Cut it out, that's enough!
Enough? You fool!
There's an autopsy set for tomorrow morning,
so the funeral can be scheduled the day after that
An autopsy?
Yes
I'll also explain this to the bereaved family,
but in such cases, an autopsy is legally required for several reasons
You may find it uncomfortable, but she'll be fully restored
I see
Hey, Brother, Brother!
C'mon, you have to greet them It's all right
Ma'm, Ma'm,
Ma'm, Ma'm...
How old was Chie?
She was 29
What?
Yeah, um...
I fell asleep
I didn't even set the alarm
I'm... going home tomorrow
Oh, yeah, right
I'm sorry about everything
I apologize
No...
It'll be all right
I'll be all right
Where's the section chief?
Downstairs watching the martial arts championships
Get me the autopsy and the crime scene report
Hey, dammit
Hold on to the damned ball, fool!
The autopsy...
Arrest Warrant - Homicide
Have him sign it after the round's over
Hey, this is huge!
- Just when they really needed it - Absolutely
A two-run play, shifting the lead
Attorney at Law - Hayakawa Osamu
Co-worker Arrested in Hasumi Gorge Murder
You didn't see it?
Co-worker Arrested in Hasumi Gorge Murder
No, I didn't
You didn't hear any voices or anything?
No, I didn't
Then why do you think he didn't do anything?
Excuse me
You never know. Maybe he pushed her off, like it says here
Wait a minute. This is my brother here, you know him
Yeah, I know that
But he actually confessed
In Japan, a confession carries real weight
Dad harassed him to the point he lost his mind
He couldn't bear his guilty conscience
What does he feel guilty for?
The fact that Chie died while he stood there
The cops egged him on and he finally said, "It's all my fault..."
I understand
Right?
No, how you might feel that way
Unbelievable
Your nephew's about to become a criminal
and you don't give a damn
That has a nasty ring to it
I prefer, "You have a rich grasp of human potential"
Takeru, conjecture is meaningless to the law
Now, the prosecution's bound to dig up all kinds of evidence
It'd be different if you'd seen it, but we can't fight without evidence
Uncle
I'm prepared to take desperate measures
That's not what I'm talking about
Is this what we're talking about?
You can't, yet!
Take it slowly, sir
Hey! Iga, can you hear me!
Iga! Iga!
Iga! Hey!
Hey, say something from over there!
What? What did you say?
Say something!
I can't hear you! What is it!
Look down
Now, don't look at the camera
After the charges are read, you'll be advised of your right to remain silent,
after that... Right here, right here
Let's rehearse
I ask the defendant,
are there any errors of fact in the prosecutor's charges?
Please, Minoru!
On the bridge, I didn't fight with Kawabata san
or touch her hands
She lost her...
She lost her balance and slipped and fell
Takeru, I'm asking you again
Are you sure you didn't see anything?
Why?
I have this feeling
you could see the bridge from where you stood
If I had, I'd have told you
Didn't you hear strange voices or anything at all?
The river rapids were too loud
You couldn't hear a thing...
I'm sure I'd notice something like that
All right, then
You'll say that on the witness stand, right?
Yeah, I'll say it
The new guy they've hired was a classmate of Yohei's
The kid's alarmingly stupid And fat
Yohei freaked out
Dad's calming Yohei down, saying "It's only until Minoru gets back"
Say, have you seen Uncle?
Yeah
He says it's perfect Once the trail starts, it's our game
You can tell the truth, all right?
I'm sure Uncle's filled you in...
Huh?
Even with his bifocals, he's like...
Uncle sure has aged
How he'll manage a trial when he can't even read. No way
No, no, he's at the top of his game
You know, I've never liked him
Takeru
What'll happen if they find me guilty
Idiot, they won't How can you say that!
Don't get all worked up. I just wondered what would become of you
Don't be so negative
Negative? Not at all
Listen, Takeru,
I'm glad I confessed
What's that supposed to mean?
Do you have any idea how it would be
to live in that small town, branded as the man who killed
his childhood friend?
What are you talking about? They all know who you are
It'll go right back to normal
They'll welcome you back warmly
It's strange to hear you call
that town "warm"
What's the difference, spending my life at the gas station or behind these bars?
At least here, I don't have to bow to stupid customers
That punk I got it out of my system
I should've bashed his head in while I was at it
Don't talk like that
Why not? It's just the sort of thing you're always saying
It's a meaningless life anyway
That's not true
What are you saying?
You're impressive
I could never do it
My life is always about running away
From a meaningless life, right?
Your life is wonderful
You do work only you can do,
meet lots of people, make lots of money
Look at me
My work's boring, girls never give me a second look,
at home, I cook, do the laundry and get to enjoy Dad's lectures
Now, on top of that, I'm a murderer How bad is that?
Cut it out, that's not true
Yes, it is What's not true?
Why did it have to turn out this way?
I really don't get it
There's not a single good thing
Why? Why are you and I so different?
You're not wrong
I know that, you asshole!
I'm the only one! I'm the only one! This!
The interview is over Please leave
So, let's get you out of here I'll get you out
The facts of the indictment
"On October 2, 2005, at approximately 2 p.m.,
"on the suspension bridge over the Hasumi River in Hikawa,
"the defendant placed his hand on Kawabata Chieko's shoulder,
"then 28, in order to steady her
"When she rebuffed him bluntly, the angry defendant
"did with murderous intent, grab her and push her
"forcing her to fall between the bridge slats, and the ripped
"bridge cable, hurling her into the Hasumi River below
"Therefore, in said place,
"the defendant did murder the deceased by drowning"
The charge is Murder under Penal Code 199
We ask the court to deliberate these charges
I ask the defendant,
are there any errors of fact in the prosecutor's charges?
On the bridge...
Kawabata san started to run
and the bridge swayed hard
I thought she was in danger...
I wish I hadn't placed my hand on her
She raised...
her voice alarmingly and shoved my hand aside...
I never expected her to treat me that way
Instinctively... it sounds terrible,
but out of resentment, I pushed her
So you don't contest the prosecutor's account of events?
That's when Kawabata san staggered
and landed on her backside on the bridge
I regained my senses...
and reached out,
to help her to her feet...
In other words,
you claim that you did not push the victim off the bridge?
I did not... push her off
But at first,
I was afraid that people would believe
I was guilty if I even said anything
about shoving her
So I lied and
said that she slipped
Still...
If I...
If I hadn't been there...
She'd be alive today
When her death was declared an accident
and nobody accused me of anything,
it was really unbearable
Afterwards, when I went to the police
about another matter and I told the officer,
"It was my fault," I finally felt alive again
But, um...
Thinking it over later, calmly,
I realized very clearly that,
what actually happened and what I told him happened,
are two completely different things
Takeru
Please return this to your father
He probably can't re-use a dead person's uniform,
but I can't keep it around the house
Do you mind?
Thank you for taking the trouble
Well, then
See you
Um, Ma'am
Are you all right?
The child has high school exams,
the factory's cut employees so we're crazy busy
I don't have a moment to spare
Takeru
What did Chieko do to deserve being murdered?
Can you tell me?
What your brother's thinking?
Oh well, that's how it is with brothers, right?
See you in Tokyo
Registered Mail - Cash Sender - Hayakawa Isamu
When she fell on her backside like this,
what did you say to her?
I think I just said "I'm sorry"
Only once?
No, I apologized several times
And then you reached out your hand Was that for another shove?
No, I wanted to help her up I even said, "Hold on"
In other words, you clearly conveyed, with a change
of attitude, that you would not repeat your rough action
I thought I did
But Chieko backed away from you
Yes
Using that diagram, show us how far away she moved
To this spot, "B"
What happened when she reached point "B"?
She suddenly seemed to flip
What do you mean "Suddenly"?
How soon after she reached "B"?
Immediately, like a reflex
Like that
It was like she suddenly fell to her back...
Well, do excuse me My, what a shock
I'm sure you were shocked, too
And what did you do?
I leaned forward and tried to grab her arm
For what purpose?
What...?
For what purpose did you attempt to grab her arm?
I thought I could save her
If only I'd grasped her arm...
You did everything in your power
to prevent her descent?
Yes, I think I did
That's all
The prosecution may proceed
You said you reached out your hand to help her
Yes
You didn't imagine the opposite effect?
I mean,
here's a man who has just shoved her violently
suddenly cooing at her, reaching out to her. Don't tell me,
she'd turn around and say, "Oh, my, you're so kind"
When she fell on her backside she screamed in pain, right?
Yes
She landed on an exposed flooring screw
Even through her clothes, it caused a serious internal hemorrhage
I bet that hurt even after she died
An archer could mistake it for a target and shoot it
Don't you think anyone would dread the person who caused that?
I think... you're right
You say you apologized, with a mere "Sorry"
"I've reformed, I won't do it again," are convenient excuses for the perpetrator
But it's hardly sufficient
for the wounded party to overcome her terror
And you couldn't even imagine that
That must mean you're unbelievably dumb about other peoples' feelings
Is that your opinion!
Excuse me, I've let my emotions carry me. I withdraw
Tell me
You knew all along she'd back away in terror and fall
into the river
That's hardly a retraction
Objection! Your Honor!
Prosecutor, your opinion?
I consider the objection unfounded
Objection sustained Please rephrase the question
Suppose...
that Chieko san had fallen on the bridge on her own,
would she have cowered at your outstretched hand?
But in fact,
she fell on the bridge because you shoved her
After that, your extended hand
might seem to threaten a mortal blow, right?
Tell me
Didn't you corner her, with just that in mind?
Eat your noodles
You eat them I ordered too much
No, you should eat them You'll lose your strength
I'm not going back
What?
I can't stand to see Minoru's face
Making a laughingstock out of him
He didn't mean any harm
Maybe it's best that you don't
That's what it means to stand trial
Both my opponent and I,
have to strip the defendant naked in order to win
Do you have to call him "Defendant" in his own home?
What'll happen to Minoru?
I still can't tell Bear with it
You don't have any conviction? Aren't you a professional?
I can have convictions but his own testimony could overturn them
I wish my convictions could produce evidence
What the hell is your job, then?
Can't you for once, help us?
You know full well the burden I've borne for your self-indulgence
And you've reaped your share of benefits from it, too
If you think I'm the only beneficiary,
that's a failure of your own self-victimized imagination
Uncle
I've had it
I'd better go home, Takeru
But it's...
I'll find a way, I'd better go
Fine, go home!
See?
Why? You should stay here
I'll be fine. Sorry I should never have come here
Stop! You should stay over!
What's wrong with you, Dad!
Save your family fights for when we can afford them
Up early
Yeah, where's Uncle?
Headed out
After gobbling 3 bowls of rice for breakfast
Asked you to call him
Chieko's mother gave it back
She didn't say a word It was just in the package
Let's offer prayers at her family altar I'll go with you
Take an offering of something Chieko liked
Maybe like a bottle of sake I'm not really sure...
Offer her sake and she'll come back to haunt you
What?
Chieko couldn't even drink a little glass of beer
Just like you
I couldn't believe it
I wished it was just a dream
My whole family was in shock
But on that bridge,
when you steadied her because she was in danger,
why did Chieko reject you?
What did she say to you, exactly?
Tell me if you remember
"No, don't touch me"
What? One more time
"Don't touch me"
Did you steady her breast or her backside?
No, her shoulder
You steadied her shoulder and she took that tone?
Won't you tell me honestly?
When she took that tone, asking you not to touch her, how did you feel?
How can I say...
I guess she just,
found me physically repulsive...
I thought she must really hate me
I felt wretched
Had anything like that ever happened before?
No, never
What made Chieko san react that way?
That...
I don't know
That's all
You may proceed, Prosecutor
Physical repulsion in women can be really tricky
I often stumble over that one myself
By the way, you're single?
Yes
You're 35 Do you have any plans for marriage?
No
Had you ever considered Chieko san in that way?
She was also single, approaching her 29th birthday, right?
Not to put too fine a point on it,
but in these parts, she was of an age to get hitched, right?
Day in, day out, you worked side by side with her
You were almost family
She was an upstanding person, did you consider her for a wife?
Isn't that how everyone else saw it?
That would really have been up to Kawabata san...
I'm asking what you thought Did you have feelings for her?
Spit it out
Well...
Yes
Romantic feelings?
Yes
Did you confess your love?
Why not?
I'm not very popular with women
I thought if she rejected me, it would be awkward at work
But you could have kept at it
You two got along, right?
Yes, but...
But you just weren't confident
Getting along and being in love aren't the same thing
Hey, if there was someone guaranteed to instantly fall in love with me,
I'd be on that train
Have some confidence!
So, now, turning to Exhibit #17, the victim's autopsy report
Unrelated to cause of death, victim's vagina contained traces of semen,
estimated to date from one day prior to the accident
Further DNA analysis of this semen,
determined that the semen was not the defendant's
In other words, one day prior to the accident, the victim
probably had sexual relations with a man other than the defendant
Defendant, I'd like to know, were you aware of her partner?
Wasn't the real reason you couldn't reveal your feelings,
that you knew she was already involved with another man?
What's the deal?
Didn't you know and feel jealous?
Weren't you seething with resentment?
Furthermore, didn't your attitude
put her under pressure about the romantic partner of her choice?
What's up?
Talk to me
Hurts...
How dare you! I'm sick of you! I'm going to Tokyo with him!
Takeru said I should make a new life for myself
He's lying
He's lying!
He's tricking you! I swear he's tricking you!
Cut it out! I don't want to live my life like my mother and you!
I'm sorry
Oh, I didn't know
What did you say?
I had no idea...
she had someone
If she had a lover,
then I've done irreparable harm...
to that person, as well...
No, no, that's not what I mean How could you miss that?
You were together everyday...
I'm so terribly sorry
What's this about, it's not over yet!
Let's enjoy ourselves This is a gift from me
Please do your best, sir
This is terrific
Of course I'll do my best
It's the family gas station, after all
Besides, we can't let you take it over!
Brother,
realistically, how much longer will it take?
Ultimately, they have no conclusive evidence, either
Without that, they'll have to fold
So, at the next session...
Takeru, you'll get up on that witness stand
and you'll say, "My brother is a blah-blah-blah, a man of character,
"who provided Chieko san,
"with concern and tenderness, etc., etc., etc."
That's all you'll have to do and...
"Victory"?
No, no, we're just looking for, "Innocent"
Now, now, young folks, no need to be in such a hurry
How's the part-timer getting along?
Wonder if Dad'll fire him when I get back
That's not fair, is it?
If I win, I think I'll blow my savings on redecorating the station
Paint it in bright colors, get rid of that gloomy atmosphere
Make it self-service at night and fuller service during the day
And turn the inside into sort of a café
Play some bossa novas...
You know lots of designers, don't you?
Can you ask one of them to handle it?
Do it right
Say...
I know, we'll show your photos In huge frames, it'll be really cool
I said, say...
Yeah
I want you to tell me
Yeah, what?
Why'd you cross the bridge?
Hey,
weren't you there when I testified in court?
We're not in court, here
Like I said, after you crossed,
Chie insisted on crossing, too,
and I told her it was dangerous, alone
We're talking me
Chieko was really nagging you, right?
"I hate that depressing gas station Run away with me, Takeru!"
Or something pushy like that
Gotta be kidding, right? Couldn't let a girl like that, tie you down
So I invited her
Actually, I'm not scared of that hanging bridge
It freaked Chieko out, but I told her it wasn't as scary as it looked
Told her you might be waiting for her
Then she said she'd go A good one, right?
Cut it out! Don't blame me
Just kidding
Kidding, kidding, kidding...
Of course that's a lie
I'm not going to volunteer to go up there...
Cut the crap!
Tell me the truth, the truth!
I've been telling you!
The truth... Let it go
Let what go?
I mean, do you believe in the truth of my innocence?
No, right?
What the hell? What are you saying?
You just don't want to be the brother of a killer
Why the...
I can't believe it!
You can believe whatever you want
Just hold on
Why... should I doubt my older brother?
Don't ask me
Cut the crap, I've had it!
Excuse me, I'm...
Hey, wait! Why won't you agree with me?
Why don't you say, "I know you'd never doubt me"!
You always doubt everyone,
never trusted anyone, no matter what
That's the Takeru I know
God dammit!
Let's go
"I swear
"to tell the truth according to my conscience,
"concealing nothing,
"and to speak no falsehoods This I do swear"
Witness,
Hayakawa Takeru
How are you related to the defendant?
We're brothers
I'm the younger
On the day of the accident,
did you notice anything unusual about your brother?
What was he usually like?
My brother
was very dedicated and kind,
he was a very honest person
I am... someone with nothing to be proud of
But my brother was different
He was the one person I could trust,
the one person I was connected to
But that all changed
He'd never been capable of such devious lies
When are you talking about?
What lies are you referring to?
My brother's testimony in court
In court?
What, specifically are you referring to?
What proof do you have to determine that he lied?
Until now, I've acted like I knew nothing
Because I wanted to protect my brother
And in doing so, I protected myself, too
But I'm sick of it
If by telling my story,
I tear both of us apart
and we both end up leading pathetic lives,
I'll stake my life,
to tell the real truth
Because I want
my real brother back
Please answer my question
If you don't intend to answer, fine, that's all
What do you mean by "His devious lies"?
It's not important, he's confused
Counsel, please withdraw
What is this "Truth" you refer to?
I...
I watched my brother
close in on Chieko san on that hanging bridge
They struggled on the swaying bridge
Then she...
My brother pushed her off the bridge
I saw her scream as she fell
I saw everything
How the hell dare you spout such bullshit!
You told me over and over, you didn't know!
Calm down, Counsel
Where?
Explain where you saw all this!
Counsel!
Witness
Are you certain your memory is accurate?
It's as I swore, earlier
Yes, I understand
Thank you for calling
Seven years later
No, no, I swear it's true
I don't like to brag about my work but these are really terrific
Sometimes, I run across pictures I'd completely forgotten I'd taken,
that I might have taken as a student, but sometimes they're pretty good
Oh no... I'm so disorganized Excuse me a moment
Been a while
Oh
Do you remember me?
Won't you say "Good evening" to him?
You have to say, "Good evening"
We drove down to celebrate my mother-in-law's 60th birthday nearby
The traffic was awful, the kid was crying, couldn't eat...
Rie, will you ask him if he wants seconds...
Do you want seconds?
Yes, please
Rie, you're so sweet, have my broccoli
Oh, how nice
No, no!
It's on your plate, now
That's 3,382 Yen
He's done, Minoru san
It's tomorrow, we received a notice
Takeru san...
Please, look after him
The truth is, recently...
your dad's a little... Maybe it's his age...
Losing his marbles?
It may not be about that...
No one's visited Minoru san these past 6 months
If I were family, I'd go, but...
I don't even know if he's planning to come back
Yohei, there's no way I can...
I don't think he'll go back
He can't go back
But either way, there's nothing I can do about it
But he's your brother, Takeru san
He's not my brother anymore
I'm sure he feels the same
It just feels better that way, right?
I don't understand
Takeru san,
back then, you said you were doing it to get your brother back
That's why you had him locked up, right?
I can't understand it
If it were my brother, I never could
I can't believe what you did was right
You came to tell me that?
Please bring him, back to me and his father
Look
We're going
You've stolen everything, forever?
What exactly did you gain?
Memories of Hasumi Gorge, 1980
It is clear to everyone
I stole to the end and my brother was lost
But even as time flows, always fleeting and fickle,
one thing is true. It was I who had slipped from the slender floorboard
of that perilous, yet well-anchored hanging bridge between us
Now, I can see it all so clearly
Can crumbling wood be restored,
can corroded handrails prevail?
I wonder
if that bridge survived
Yohei, my car won't go any further
Let's take the truck
Do you know where he went?
I really don't
Guess he headed home, we just missed him
Want to call home?
Your dad should be there
No, let's leave it be
Let's go
Hey, Yohei, can you stop?
Brother!
Let's go home!
Staring idly at the passing cars,
It seems the sun is going to set
Gently swaying, the red sun sinks
Don't worry, the dark of night
will hold you tenderly
Step by step, let's go home
Step by step, go home slow
Executive Producers: KAWASHIRO Kazumi SHIGENOBU Yutaka YAKIGAYA Shoji
Development Producers: YASUDA Masahiro KORE-EDA Hirokazu
Producer: KUMAGAI Kiichi
Cinematographer: TAKASE Hiroshi
Lighting: ONO Akira
Sound: SHIRATORI Mitsugu
Production Design: MITSUMATSU Keiko
Music: Cauliflowers
Editing: MIYAJIMA Ryuji
Written and Directed by: NISHIKAWA Miwa
English subtitles: Linda Hoaglund
© 2006 SWAY Production Committee