Being on the receiving end of a break-up is never easy, but it truly stings after flying halfway across the world only to get dumped as soon as you arrive. This nightmare scenario is the catalyst for an unforgettable adventure in filmmaker Joshua Woodcock‘s One Night in Tokyo. Winner of “Best Feature Drama” at the 2024 Cinequest Film Festival, One Night in Tokyo is an expansive and lively story of personal discovery amidst heartache and betrayal.
Finding Love in a Hopeless Place
The film follows Sam (Reza Emamiyeh), an Iranian-American man who anticipates spending his birthday week with his long-distance girlfriend, Becca (Cailee Oliver). Traveling to Tokyo with a thoughtfully detailed itinerary (and a whole lot of anticipation), Sam is devastated when his girlfriend proposes they break up. His world is turned upside down at Becca’s suggestion that they spend time apart, despite traveling across the world to visit her. As this reality sinks in, Sam painstakingly re-books a flight to leave for the following morning, giving him less than 24 hours to make the most of his one night in Tokyo.
Watch the One Night in Tokyo trailer here.
Sam calls his friend, who is busy but connects Sam to his girlfriend, Ayaka (Tokiko Kitagawa), who can show him around the city. Sam and Ayaka don’t hit it off right away, mainly due to the language barrier. One major hurdle: Sam doesn’t understand Japanese, and Ayaka speaks limited English. Their struggle to communicate is difficult to navigate at first, but a simple translation app soon fixes the problem. However, nothing could prepare them for the traumatic experience they will soon encounter. Instead of breaking their spirits, Sam and Ayaka form a bond that brings them even closer together.
Two Strangers Left Questioning the Meaning of Life and Love
Woodcock’s romantic drama takes the viewer on a trip throughout the magical streets of Tokyo at night. We witness Sam and Ayaka share and experience each other’s cultural traditions. Woodcock beautifully conceptualizes these relationship complexities through bold visual storytelling, including the cinematography and score. The ebb and flow of emotional turmoil and dry humor make for a winning combination. The film relies on time blocks to break up the story, with the passing hours acting as chapters. This element enhances the countdown effect as well as adds a sense of urgency to their situation.
Takeaway
Woodcock describes the film as “John Hughes making a French New Wave film in Japan,” which is pretty spot on. If you’re a fan of Celine Song’s Past Lives or Yasujirō Ozu’s Tokyo Story, you’ll love One Night in Tokyo.
AloJapan.com