The Beauty of the Sun-Drenched Forest Depicted by Gus Van Sant is a Must-See

What surprised me most about this film was how it made me feel that the Aokigahara forest is a very beautiful place. At the beginning of the story, Arthur, an American man heartbroken by the loss of his wife, enters Japan with only his passport, a little money, and a letter, and makes his way to the Aokigahara forest by Shinkansen. Aokigahara is known in Japan as a "forest of death" and I had always imagined it to have a somber atmosphere. However, under the direction of master Gus Van Sant, this forest is transformed into a beautiful woodland. Trees grow densely, light filters through the gaps, and it shines down on Arthur. As you watch the visuals, with intentionally reduced environmental sounds and only sighs escaping, you are drawn into the perception of a clean forest with clear air.




Yes, it was a beautiful forest, until the appearance of Takumi, played by Ken Watanabe, a man covered in blood.—Takumi's appearance gradually changes the situation. As night approaches, the air grows cold, and the forest transforms into "The Sea of Trees," where life and death are connected. Even though he is not being chased or running from anyone, the film shows us how frightening nature can be as night falls. The stark contrast between day and night might even evoke a sense of fear.

Another surprising aspect of this film is that it is a mystery with "riddles" hidden throughout. At first, I thought it was a moving human drama about a man who, realizing his feelings for his deceased wife, heads to the Aokigahara forest, has a fateful encounter with another man, and finds the will to live... But that was not the case.

What drove the protagonist Arthur, who realized his true feelings for his wife, to the brink of despair and towards the Aokigahara forest? Who is Takumi, who suddenly appeared? Why did they meet? What secrets are hidden in this forest? Where will their journey, seeking an exit, lead them?—It is a moving mystery with a charm that makes you want to rewatch it from the beginning after all the puzzle pieces have fallen into place.—It was a moving mystery with such charm.




Arthur is played by Matthew McConaughey, who has been at the forefront of Hollywood for 20 years since "A Time to Kill" and won the Academy Award® for Best Actor for "Dallas Buyers Club." He delivers a deeply human performance of Arthur's journey from guilt and loss into the Aokigahara forest to find a glimmer of hope, moving the audience to tears.

Takumi, who meets Arthur in the forest, is played by Ken Watanabe, Japan's national treasure, who has challenged not only films but also Broadway stages in New York since his Academy Award® nomination for "The Last Samurai," earning a Tony Award® nomination for Best Actor. He delivers a performance full of presence in the mysterious role of guiding Arthur's soul towards liberation, despite being a weak and wounded character. You might only see a vulnerable Ken Watanabe in this film.

Adding to the star power, the role of Arthur's wife Joan, a key to unraveling the drama's mystery, is played by Naomi Watts, an acclaimed actress who has been nominated for an Oscar® for "21 Grams" and "The Impossible."

Overseeing these Oscar-winning actors is master director Gus Van Sant, nominated for the Academy Award® for Best Director for "Good Will Hunting" and "Milk." He has transformed Chris Sparling's script, which first gained attention in "Buried," into a film with a spiritual and poetic flavor.

We hope you will fully enjoy the beauty of the sun-drenched forest depicted by Gus Van Sant. The film opens on April 29th (Friday, holiday) at TOHO CINEMAS CHANTER and other theaters nationwide.



The Sea of Trees
Opens April 29, 2016 (Friday, holiday) at TOHO CINEMAS CHANTER and other theaters nationwide.
Director | Gus Van Sant
Starring | Matthew McConaughey, Ken Watanabe, Naomi Watts
Distribution | Toho Towa
2015 / USA / Original Title "The Sea of Trees"

tsuiokunomori.jp

(c) 2015 Grand Experiment, LLC.