The wine movie I'd like to introduce this time is "Tears of Grapes," which is set in Hokkaido.
When I heard that it was a movie starring Yo Oizumi, I was really interested in it!
Hokkaido is currently attracting a lot of attention as a wine producing region in Japan.
Source: Tears of Grapes | Asmik Ace
The story centers around three brothers, Ao (Oizumi Yo) , who makes wine in the Sorachi region of Hokkaido, and Roku (Sometani Shota), who works in the wheat fields he inherited from his late father, and a mysterious woman, Erika (Ando Yuko) , who suddenly appears in a camper van and begins digging a hole right next to Ao's vineyard.
The film begins with a heavy scene of Ao standing in a field, preparing to commit suicide with an axe.
What was the reason Ao was so upset?
Why did you start making wine?
What does Roku think when he sees his brother like that?
What is the purpose of the mysterious woman Erica?
The feelings of the characters are gradually unraveled, and their relationships slowly change. All of this is complemented by the idyllic scenery, simple and cute tableware and furniture, delicious food made with ingredients from Hokkaido, and wine.
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Natchan
I'm 29 years old and work for a web company. I'm studying wine in the hopes of being able to enjoy it more.
- Iwasu is a sommelier who oversees this website. He runs a bar in Nagoya that stocks a wide range of New Zealand wines.
"Tears of Grapes" detailed information
Director/screenwriter Yukiko Mishima and lead actor Yo Oizumi had previously teamed up on the film " Happy Bread ," which was filmed entirely in Hokkaido and released about a year prior to this one; it was a hit despite only being shown on a small scale.
Like its predecessor, "Tears of Grapes" was shot entirely in Hokkaido, starring Hokkaido native Oizumi Yo, and planned by Creative Office Cue (the Hokkaido talent agency to which Oizumi belongs).
These three films, along with " Sora no Restaurant ," also starring Yo Oizumi, are known as the "Hokkaido Film Series."
| Movie genre | Human drama |
| theme | The charm of Hokkaido, the life of the people, and wine making |
| Production year/country | 2014/Japan |
| time | 117 minutes |
| Director/Screenplay | Yukiko Mishima |
| Cast | Yo Oizumi, Shota Sometani, Yuko Ando, and others |
| Official website | https://www.asmik-ace.co.jp/lineup/1301 |
Director and cast introduction
We will introduce the director and main cast.Director: Yukiko Mishima
He has worked on the Hokkaido Film Series' "The Bread of Happiness" and "Ancient Bookshop Biblia's Case Files."Ao: Yo Oizumi
He first came into the spotlight on local Hokkaido variety shows such as "How Do You Like Wednesday?", and has since appeared in numerous films, dramas and stage productions, including "The Detective is in the Bar" and "I Am a Hero." He has received numerous awards and is one of Japan's leading actors.Roku: Shota Sometani
He started working as a child actor at the age of 7, and has appeared in a number of popular productions, including "Himizu," "Parasyte," and "Goodbye Kabukicho." In the 2020 taiga drama "Kirin ga Kuru," he will play Oda Nobunaga.Erica: Yuko Ando
She is an actress and singer-songwriter. She made her debut in 2003 with the mini-album "Sally," which was used as a CM song, and has also written theme songs for many other movies and TV dramas.Other performers
- Tomorowo Taguchi
- Tomoya Maeno
- Lily
- It's here
- Yuuta Koseki
- Ren Uchikawa
- Kotoha Takashima
- Ren Osugi
- Kyoko Enami
My thoughts after watching "Tears of Grapes"
What was very impressive was the slightly unrealistic worldview that permeates the entire film. It has a unique atmosphere, like a fairy tale or fantasy. This seems to be a common style in the director's previous work , "The Bread of Happiness."
We laid a mat on the ground, grilled lamb chops and corn on the spot, and toasted with wine.
A roofless barber shop with western-style interior.
The characters dress in cute costumes reminiscent of European Celtic tribes and parade through the vineyards playing musical instruments.
There were many such visually enjoyable elements scattered throughout the venue, warming your heart and stimulating your appetite, so although it seemed peaceful, it was actually quite busy.
However, contrary to this calm demeanor, the protagonist Ao (Yo Oizumi) has a cold, closed heart. After his dreams are shattered and he returns to Sorachi, he spends his days growing grapes and making wine with a serious look on his face, without even a chuckle.
It was completely different from the image of the talkative Oizumi we usually see on TV, so it was refreshing (laughs).
His younger brother Roku (Sometani Shota), who lives with him, loves working in the wheat fields he inherited from his father, and bakes bread from the wheat to deliver to his older brother's table.
I felt that the reason why even the dinner table where they were sharing such delicious-looking bread seemed somehow cold and lonely was because of the rift between the brothers.
Then, an unidentified traveler named Erica (Ando Yuko) appears without warning and, without giving any explanation, starts digging a hole right next to the vineyard.
Erika arrives in a camper van and stays on the scene, and cooks a delicious meal for the police officer (Taguchi Tomorowo) who has come to investigate and the curious postman (Maeno Tomoya).
We grilled meat under the blue sky, put butter on browned corn, and toasted with wine together.
It's a wonderful scene that contrasts starkly with the brothers' slightly gloomy meal, and will surely whet your appetite and your desire for wine.
The bright red dress that Erika was wearing also stood out against the natural surroundings and was very impressive!
As a viewer, you might think, "I see, Erika is sure to open up Ao's closed heart," but naturally Ao feels repulsed by the innocent Erika.
We don't know why they're digging the hole until halfway through, but they manage to dig quite deep.
They dug a hole about twice as deep as Erika's height. As they dug the hole deeper, the distance between Erika and Ao grew closer.
As this happens, his relationships with the people around him, including Roku, change. The story progresses slowly but surely.
Ao works hard to make Pinot Noir wine, but it doesn't go well and he becomes depressed again.
It seems that he is cultivating and brewing all by himself, based on documents and other information. He has no one to consult with, and I couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
While everyone tries to cheer up the distressed Ao, Erika takes action... Grape tears, Ao's tears, Erika's tears... Each tear has its own meaning.
It was a story that really touched my heart.
I wonder what the wine Ao makes tastes like...
A passion to make a film from Hokkaido
"Tears of Grapes," said to be the second film in the "Hokkaido Film Series," was planned by Creative Office Cue, a Hokkaido talent agency that became famous for the theater group TEAM NACS , of which Oizumi Yo is a member.
President Ayumi Suzuki felt that while filming in Hokkaido is common, the actual production of the film almost always takes place in Tokyo, which was a difficult situation.
However, considering the future of Hokkaido, they felt it was necessary to not only film on location but also to be responsible for all production and dissemination , and so launched this project.
It was a great achievement that the first film, "Happy Bread," was a nationwide success and led to the second film.
In fact, "Tears of Grapes" fully showcases the charm of the people, scenery, food, and crafts that live there, making you think that Hokkaido is a great place and that you would like to visit.
That was also due to President Suzuki's enthusiasm.
About the filming locations
The film was shot entirely in Hokkaido, and features plenty of pictures of the local idyllic scenery and vineyards.
We've put together some information to help you before and after watching the movie.
Hokkaido Winery
Hokkaido is the second most important wine producing region in Japan after Yamanashi and has also been designated a GI.
Hokkaido has no rainy season, so the amount of rainfall is low and there is a large difference in temperature between day and night, which allows the grapes to ripen well. Ripe grapes with high sugar content are ideal for making wine.
However, in winter, up to 2 meters of snow accumulates, almost completely burying the grape vines. The vines that grow in such an environment are very strong, with their roots going deep into the ground, and thanks to the ingenuity and ingenuity of the growers, they produce excellent fruit.
It's amazing that the vines can be buried in snow! But they can still grow in that environment.
Even in environments that are harsh for humans, with careful care from growers, the trees can produce fine fruit.
The major wineries are "Yoichi Wine," which is famous for Nikka Whisky, and "Otaru Wine," which is often seen in supermarkets nationwide. There are also several wineries in the Sorachi region, where the movie is set, including "Yamazaki Winery," which was the main filming location.
It is also attracting attention as a tourist resource, and there are tours that visit both a winery and a cheese factory, which are a must-see for wine lovers.
It's hard to grasp if you live in Honshu, but Hokkaido is incredibly vast. The Sorachi region alone is larger than the combined area of Tokyo and Kanagawa prefectures (total area 5,792 km²).
Hokkaido supports Japan's food supply through agricultural crops and dairy farming, and it seems likely that in the future we will see a rapid increase in vineyards across its vast land.
In fact, Hokkaido is attracting a lot of attention from new farmers who want to start wineries.
Due to the effects of global warming, more and more people are beginning to believe that Hokkaido is a good place to grow wine grapes (especially varieties such as Pinot Noir and Kerner). It seems certain that we will see a steady stream of new wineries opening in Hokkaido in the future.
Sorachi's "Yamazaki Winery"
The main location for this film is Yamazaki Winery, a boutique winery in Mikasa city in the Sorachi region. The family has been involved in farming for four generations, and the winery business began in 2002.
Unfortunately, they do not offer tours of the winery, but you can sample and purchase wine at the direct sales store.
We carry European varieties such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Bacchus, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Zweigelt.
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It is also available for mail order, so be sure to check out the official website.
▶︎Yamazaki Winery Official Website
summary
We have compiled a list of 15 movies reviewed on this site. Please take a look!
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