In the 1950s, a Japanese-American fisherman is suspected of killing his neighbour at sea. For Ishmael, a local reporter, the trial strikes a deep emotional chord when he finds his ex-lover is linked to the case. As he investigates the killing, he uncovers some startling clues that lead him to a shocking discovery.
Cinematography
Every frame looks like a faded watercolor of grief.
Score
James Newton Howard's strings will wreck you.
Acting
Max von Sydow's closing argument should be illegal.
Director
Scott Hicks
Ethan Hawke
Ishmael Chambers
Youki Kudoh
Hatsue Miyamoto
Reeve Carney
Young Ishmael Chambers
Anne Suzuki
Young Hatsue Imada
Rick Yune
Kazuo Miyamoto
Max von Sydow
Nels Gudmundsson
James Rebhorn
Alvin Hooks
James Cromwell
Judge Fielding
Richard Jenkins
Sheriff Art Moran
Arija Bareikis
Susan Marie Heine
Eric Thal
Carl Heine Jr.
Celia Weston
Etta Heine
Daniel von Bargen
Carl Heine Sr.
Akira Takayama
Hisao Imada
Ако
Fujiko Imada
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Scott Hicks shot the strawberry farm flashbacks during an actual harvest, using real Japanese-American families as extras.
The film flopped because Miramax dumped it in December Oscar bait season against The Green Mile and The Talented Mr. Ripley.
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