A Stranger of Mine

Takeshi Miyata (Yasuhi Nakamura) is a straitlaced business man, and this film follows him over the course of one long Friday evening, where he meets many people, all who have intertwining fates. After six months, he is still getting over his girlfriend Ayumi (Yuka Itaya), and when his childhood friend, the now detective Yusuke Kanda, telephones about Ayumi, he has to find out what is happening.

The two meet, and Miyata learns that his ex-girlfriend is getting married. The detective invites a random solitary diner to join the two men, before making a hasty exit and leaving the two alone. The diner, Maki (Reika Kirishima), whose engagement was called off the day before, returns with Miyata to his apartment, but soon Ayumi appears wanting some of her things. Yakuza intrigue too plays a role in this gripping feature.

Director Kenji Uchida’s debut work was a triumph, winning numerous awards for his writing including the SACD Screenwriting Award at Cannes in 2005, along with several others.