Hana and Alice
Encyclopedia
is a 2004 Japanese teen romance film
by director Shunji Iwai
. The film, shot on HD
digital video
by the director of photography, Noboru Shinoda, who shared a longstanding working relationship with Shunji Iwai
, concerns the life of two girls, the titular Hana (Anne Suzuki
) and Alice (Yû Aoi
), and the stress placed on their friendship as they move into high school
.
Originally shot as a series of short films for the 30th anniversary of Kit Kat
in Japan
, it was later expanded into a feature film by Iwai and received theatrical release in Japan in 2004. It moved into theaters in other Asia
n territories later in 2004 and 2005, and into western film festivals, such as New York Asian Film Festival
and Seattle International Film Festival
.
When free-spirited Alice develops a crush on a stranger at the train station, she offers her best friend, Hana, the stranger's "half brother," Masashi. Hana declines, but soon develops feelings for Masashi, beginning to stalk him as they ride the same train throughout the winter. In Spring, when Hana and Alice enter high school, Hana joins the story telling club after learning Masashi is also a member. Still fostering feelings for Masashi, she follows him secretly once more, and witnesses him crashing into a garage door, falling to the ground unconscious. After he has awoken, Hana lies to Masashi: she admits that not only did the blow to the head give Masashi a case of amnesia
, but that he has also forgotten that Hana is his girlfriend.
Hana and Masashi begin to date each other, though their entire relationship is based on Hana's lie, forcing Hana to keep lying in order to remain Masashi's girlfriend. Eventually, Alice is wrapped up in Hana's lie, playing the part of Masashi's ex-girlfriend. Through a subsequent series of events, a subtle love triangle
develops between Hana, Alice, and Masashi, as Masashi begins to fall in love with Alice. The story ultimately culminates in Masashi's discovery of Hana's lie about his contrived case of amnesia. Though Hana and Alice's relationships were put to a test through the series of events, they eventually make amends, and they remain friends.
Despite outward appearances, this film isn't just about puppy love, as it also tells the story of friendship between two girls, and the different situations in their lives (especially in Alice's family situation).
Romance film
Romance films are love stories that focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate involvement of the main characters and the journey that their love takes through courtship or marriage. Romance films make the love story or the search for love the main plot focus...
by director Shunji Iwai
Shunji Iwai
is a Japanese film director/video artist, writer and documentarian.-Life and career:Iwai was born in Sendai, Japan, Miyagi prefecture. He attended Yokohama National University, graduating in 1987....
. The film, shot on HD
High-definition video
High-definition video or HD video refers to any video system of higher resolution than standard-definition video, and most commonly involves display resolutions of 1,280×720 pixels or 1,920×1,080 pixels...
digital video
Digital video
Digital video is a type of digital recording system that works by using a digital rather than an analog video signal.The terms camera, video camera, and camcorder are used interchangeably in this article.- History :...
by the director of photography, Noboru Shinoda, who shared a longstanding working relationship with Shunji Iwai
Shunji Iwai
is a Japanese film director/video artist, writer and documentarian.-Life and career:Iwai was born in Sendai, Japan, Miyagi prefecture. He attended Yokohama National University, graduating in 1987....
, concerns the life of two girls, the titular Hana (Anne Suzuki
Anne Suzuki
is a Japanese actress.A model since the age of three, she got an early break in her acting career at 12 when she starred in the Hollywood film Snow Falling on Cedars with Ethan Hawke. She was next featured in the action movie Returner opposite Takeshi Kaneshiro, and won the Best New Actor at the...
) and Alice (Yû Aoi
Yû Aoi
is a Japanese actress and model. She made her film debut as Shiori Tsuda in Shunji Iwai's 2001 film All About Lily Chou-Chou...
), and the stress placed on their friendship as they move into high school
Secondary education in Japan
Secondary education in Japan is split into middle schools which cover the seventh through ninth grades, and high schools which mostly cover grades ten through twelve...
.
Originally shot as a series of short films for the 30th anniversary of Kit Kat
Kit Kat
Kit Kat is a chocolate-coated wafer confection that was created by Rowntree's of York, England, and is now produced worldwide by Nestlé, which acquired Rowntree in 1988, except in the United States where it is made under licence by The Hershey Company. Each bar consists of fingers composed of three...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, it was later expanded into a feature film by Iwai and received theatrical release in Japan in 2004. It moved into theaters in other Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n territories later in 2004 and 2005, and into western film festivals, such as New York Asian Film Festival
New York Asian Film Festival
The New York Asian Film Festival was first held in 2002, growing out of the previous year's New York Korean Film Festival...
and Seattle International Film Festival
Seattle International Film Festival
The Seattle International Film Festival , held annually in Seattle, Washington since 1976, is among the top film festivals in North America. Audiences have grown steadily; the 2006 festival had 160,000 attendees...
.
Cast
- Hana Arai - Anne SuzukiAnne Suzukiis a Japanese actress.A model since the age of three, she got an early break in her acting career at 12 when she starred in the Hollywood film Snow Falling on Cedars with Ethan Hawke. She was next featured in the action movie Returner opposite Takeshi Kaneshiro, and won the Best New Actor at the...
- Tetsuko Arisugawa (Alice) - Yū AoiYû Aoiis a Japanese actress and model. She made her film debut as Shiori Tsuda in Shunji Iwai's 2001 film All About Lily Chou-Chou...
- Masashi Miyamoto (Mr. Miya) - Tomohiro KakuTomohiro Kaku-TV:*ROOKIES *Hana Yori Dango *Medaka *Stand Up!! *Toshiie and Matsu *Handoku *Seija no Koushin -Films:*Household X...
- Kayo Arisugawa (Alice's mother) - Shoko AidaShoko Aidais a female J-Pop artist and actress. She was born in Higashimurayama, Tokyo, and debuted as a member of the J-Pop duo Wink. She began working as a solo artist on April 1, 1996, one month after Wink dissolved...
- Boy friend of Alice's mother - Hiroshi AbeHiroshi Abe (actor)is a Japanese model and actor.He began his career as a model, but he successfully made the transition to acting, becoming one of the most regularly visible presences in Japanese media. He is a 1988 graduate of Chuo University.-Career:...
- Kenji Kuroyanagi (Alice's father) - Sei HiraizumiSei Hiraizumiis a Japanese actor.Hiraizumi starred as Koichi Matsudo in L: Change the WorLd. and he also starred in Osaka Tough Guys.-External links:* http://info.movies.yahoo.co.jp/detail/typs/id119631/...
- Ryo Taguchi (Fashion Photographer) - Takao OsawaTakao Osawais a Japanese actor and a producer. He began his career as a fashion model when he was a university student in 1987.He rose to prominence in a lead role on the television drama Heaven's Coins in 1995. He turned his focus to film roles from 2000.-Movies:...
- Fashion Shoot Coordinator - Ryōko HirosueRyoko Hirosueis a Japanese actress and pop star, best known in the West for her roles in the Luc Besson-produced Wasabi and the Academy Award-winning Japanese film Departures. She also starred in a comedy series Yasuko to Kenji in 2008.- Early life :...
- Cameo - Ayumi ItoAyumi ItoAyumi Itō is a Japanese actress who received her big break in 1996, when she was cast as the central character of Ageha in Shunji Iwai's hit movie, Swallowtail Butterfly. The following year, she won her first Japanese Academy Award for 'Rookie of the Year'...
- Cameo (as herself) - Mika KanoKano sistersand , known collectively as the , are Japanese celebrities.-Early life and background:The Kano Sisters say they are half-sisters with different mothers. There is also a 3rd "sister" who initially made appearances with the two. She eventually withdrew from the scene, according to industry sources,...
Plot
Amnesia
Amnesia is a condition in which one's memory is lost. The causes of amnesia have traditionally been divided into categories. Memory appears to be stored in several parts of the limbic system of the brain, and any condition that interferes with the function of this system can cause amnesia...
, but that he has also forgotten that Hana is his girlfriend.
Hana and Masashi begin to date each other, though their entire relationship is based on Hana's lie, forcing Hana to keep lying in order to remain Masashi's girlfriend. Eventually, Alice is wrapped up in Hana's lie, playing the part of Masashi's ex-girlfriend. Through a subsequent series of events, a subtle love triangle
Love triangle
A love triangle is usually a romantic relationship involving three people. While it can refer to two people independently romantically linked with a third, it usually implies that each of the three people has some kind of relationship to the other two...
develops between Hana, Alice, and Masashi, as Masashi begins to fall in love with Alice. The story ultimately culminates in Masashi's discovery of Hana's lie about his contrived case of amnesia. Though Hana and Alice's relationships were put to a test through the series of events, they eventually make amends, and they remain friends.
Despite outward appearances, this film isn't just about puppy love, as it also tells the story of friendship between two girls, and the different situations in their lives (especially in Alice's family situation).
Box office
Box office gross:- Japan: ¥2,490,000,000
- Opening Week Gross: ¥200, 150, 000
- In release: 12 Weeks