Thicker Than Water

(Ken’en, 犬猿)

UK Premiere

Gripping drama exposing the turbulent relationships between two pairs of siblings as they grapple with one another like cats and dogs – or, to be more faithful to the original Japanese title, like ‘dogs and monkeys’. Kazunari (Masataka Kubota) has his life as an upstanding office worker thrown into turmoil when his violent ex-con brother (Hirofumi Arai) unexpectedly shows up on his doorstep. Meanwhile, Yuria (Keiko Enoue), a woman portrayed as reliable but conventionally unattractive, juggles the responsibility of running the family print shop with taking care of her ailing father. Her younger sister Mako (Miwako Kakei) is a complete antithesis; charming and ditzy, she flouts all duties in favour of flirtations and impressing on everyone her status as a ‘high-profile’ actress. Entertainingly intersected at various points, the two narratives – complete with interspersed slapstick – delineate the rising tensions among the siblings which soon are ready to overflow.

The latest offering from Himeanole director, Keisuke Yoshida, this work is based on his original script and shines an expository light onto the perpetual dichotomy of sibling rivalry and filial love.

真面目で優しく堅実な性格の弟と、凶暴でだらしのない兄。一方、仕事はできるが見た目が残念な姉と、チャラチャラした頭の悪い妹。そんな金山兄弟と幾野姉妹の姿を通し、兄弟姉妹ならではの複雑な関係を、おかしくも壮絶な愛憎劇へと昇華させたヒューマン・コメディー。(Japanese synopsis by Eikoku News Digest)

2018/103 min/English Subtitles

The director, Keisuke Yoshida, will attend select screenings of the film and take part in Q&A sessions at the following venues:

ICA, London:                   Friday, 8 February and Saturday, 9 February

QUAD, Derby:                 Saturday, 9 February

Storyhouse, Chester:      Sunday, 10 February

Watershed, Bristol:         Monday, 11 February

Showroom, Sheffield:     Tuesday, 12 February