Drama
Female Directors, Festival Award Winners, Gangsters & Outliers

Under the Open Sky

すばらしき世界

2021 / 126 minutes / Unclassified 15+

Official website

Old (yakuza) habits die hard

Life behind bars has hardened ex-yakuza Mikami (Kōji Yakusho). Released after his 13-year murder sentence, feeling overlooked and desperate for independence, he sets out to tell his story and find his long-lost mother by teaming up with young TV director Tsunoda.

Mikami’s brash attitude and altercations with the outside world provide plenty of drama for Tsunoda’s project, but friction grows behind the scenes. Returning to society tests Mikami’s patience, and reveals his skewed version of justice.

Yakusho’s (The Blood of Wolves and The Third Murder, JFF 2018) Silver Hugo winning performance is his career best, with compelling depth and inner torment supported by cast members Taiga Nakano and Masami Nagasawa (Masquerade Hotel, JFF 2019).

Under the Open Sky is director Miwa Nishikawa’s first foray into adaptation (Ryūzō Saki’s novel Mibunchо̄), and muses on ruptures in society and deep vulnerabilities. After apprenticing under Hirokazu Kore-eda (Shoplifters), Nishikawa has established a reputation for sophisticated and insightful dramas, including JFF 2016’s audience favourite, The Long Excuse.

2020 Chicago International Film Festival - Winner of the Silver Hugo Award for Best Performance by Koji Yakusho

2020 Chicago International Film Festival - Winner of the Best International Feature Film’s Audience Choice Award
Audience warning: Contains violence and drug use

Sunday 31st October
19:00
Concluded

Palace Electric, Canberra

Sunday 7th November
19:00
Concluded

Palace Raine Square, Perth

Sunday 14th November
18:15
Concluded

Palace Barracks, Brisbane

Thursday 18th November
20:40
Concluded

Palace Barracks, Brisbane

Wednesday 24th November
18:00
Concluded

The Kino, Melbourne

Saturday 27th November
12:00
Concluded

The Kino, Melbourne

Friday 26th November
20:30
Concluded

Palace Verona, Sydney

Thursday 2nd December
18:00
Concluded

Palace Norton Street, Sydney

Screens in: Canberra, Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney

Cast: Miwa Nishikawa

Cast: Kōji Yakusho, Taiga Nakano and Masami Nagasawa

Based on: Ryūzō Saki’s novel Mibunchо̄

Genre: Drama

Category: Female Directors, Festival Award Winners, Gangsters & Outliers

Language(s): In Japanese with English subtitles