Summer's Release (解夏) 20 years old

Summer's Release

Takayuki (Takao Osawa) is an elementary school teacher in Tokyo. He is seized with Behçet's syndrome, and will gradually lose his sight. He resigns from his job and leaves his girlfriend, Yoko (Yuriko Ishida) to return to his hometown, Nagasaki, where his mother lives. Takayuki spends his days strolling around Nagasaki, to imprint familiar scenes on his memory. Yoko visits him and insists on staying. Takayuki has major concerns for her future, and his own life. He drives her away, for her own good. After days of affliction, the two reunite. The story leads to an emotive conclusion, the end of his spiritual journey.

Credits

Summer's Release Cast

Name Character
Yuriko Ishida She was 34, now 54 years old
Eri Watanabe She was 49, now 69 years old
Takao Osawa He was 35, now 56 years old as Tanako
Arata Furuta He was 38, now 58 years old
Seiichi Tanabe He was 34, now 54 years old
Tatsuo Matsumura He was 89, 90 years old when he died
Sumiko Fuji She was 58, now 78 years old

Summer's Release Crew

Name Department
Jun'ichi Kikuchi as Editor. Editing
Takahide Shibanushi as Director of Photography. He was 46 (now 66) years old Camera
Toshiyuki Watanabe as Music. He was 48 (now 69) years old Sound
Itsumichi Isomura as Director. He was 53 (now 73) years old Directing
Itsumichi Isomura as Screenplay. He was 53 (now 73) years old Writing
Summer's Release poster
Summer's Release (20 years)

  • Release day: Saturday, January 17, 2004
  • Runtime: 113 minutes