Going West: to the West

Sakuma Ryu, who runs a liquor store alone in downtown Tokyo, ends up living with his eldest son and his wife after a small fire breaks out. His sons are always there to help, but Ryu, who has stubbornly lived alone since her husband's death, feels uncomfortable there, and frequently visits his tea-drinking buddy Kinue to vent his frustrations. However, Kinue's sudden death and a postcard inspire Ryu to set off on a solo trip in her husband's beloved Mini Cooper. Her destination is Matsuyama in Shikoku, where she spent her childhood and where her first love, for whom she harbored a faint crush, still lives. The Mini Cooper speeds smoothly between Gifu and Kyoto. But when Shota and a young couple from the future join Ryu in the Mini Cooper, things start to look ominous...

Directed by Kan Mukai, Going West: to the West leans on a strong ensemble — Chikage Awashima, Mikio Osawa, Miki Fujitani — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 1997.