Hitozuma taxi: Kyonyû ni norikomu

One night, a man named Sakaki gets into the taxi driven by Masayo. He asks to be taken to a desolate stretch of coast. Although Masayo wants to avoid getting mixed up in trouble, she reluctantly starts the car after Sakaki flashes a thick wad of cash. As the taxi drives through the city at night, the two reflect on their respective pasts; both harboring a sense of loneliness, they gradually come to understand one another.

Directed by Yutaka Ikejima, Hitozuma taxi: Kyonyû ni norikomu leans on a strong ensemble — Satsuki Mochida, Mayuko Sasaki, Lemon Hanazawa — 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 drama titles of 2004.