The wine movie we'd like to introduce this time is "Sideways," a Japanese film set in Napa Valley, California.
This is a Japanese remake of the 2004 hit American film "Sideways."
Napa Valley is one of the world's most famous wine producing regions.
The film I saw recently , "Bottle Dream: The Miracle of California Wine," was also set in Napa Valley.
Napa Valley is the region that made California wine famous around the world. It is still America's most important wine producing region.
The protagonist, Michio (Kohinata Fumiyo) , is a struggling screenwriter. However, he has not been able to produce a hit and is content with teaching at a screenplay school. He is also depressed after his girlfriend, with whom he was living together, left him.
Another character , Daisuke (Namase Katsuhisa) , is Michio's best friend from when he was studying abroad in the U.S. When he was young, he appeared in an American movie as a ninja and became famous overnight, but after that he was hired as a manager at a restaurant in Los Angeles.
One day, Daisuke invites Michio to his wedding.
The location is Napa Valley, famous for its American wines.
Michio, a wine lover, visits California with the hope of touring the wineries of Napa Valley and of "some kind of change." However, Daisuke, on the other hand, is planning to take Michio on a "womanizing trip" for the week before the wedding.
When the two visit Napa Valley, they are reunited with Mayuko (Suzuki Kyoka) , a woman from their days studying abroad, and meet her friend Mina (Kikuchi Rinko) .
[Characters in this article]
- Mika is 35 years old and works at an apparel company. She is getting into wine and is really interested in wine glasses.
- Iwasu is a sommelier who oversees this website. He runs a bar in Nagoya that stocks a wide range of New Zealand wines.
"Sideways (Japanese remake)" detailed information
This work was a co-production between film distribution company 20th Century Fox and Fuji Television, shot entirely overseas with overseas staff , and attracted a lot of attention at the time.
Director Cellin Gluck was born and raised in Japan. In addition to this film, she has worked on international co-productions and many overseas locations. In 2000, she launched her own video production company and is currently based in Los Angeles and Shanghai, where she works all over the world.
The lively soundtrack that plays throughout the film was composed by Jake Shimabukuro , a world-renowned ukulele player from Hawaii.
Furthermore, the 80's American hit songs that play at key points in the film are sure to bring back memories for those of the same generation as lead actor Kohinata. In particular, the ending theme song, Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time," is sure to be a hit with many viewers.
It may not be a nostalgic song for you, Mika-san... (sweat)
I know "Time After Time"♪ It's a great song.
| Movie genre | Romance Drama |
| theme | About adult youth, love, and life |
| Production year/country | 2009/Japan |
| time | 123 minutes |
| director | Cellin Gluck |
| Screenplay | Takayuki Uesugi |
| Cast | Fumiyo Kohinata, Katsuhisa Namase, Kyoka Suzuki, Rinko Kikuchi |
| Official website | Fuji TV Movie Introduction |
Cast introduction
Source: Sideways Official Guidebook Official Website
Let me introduce the four main cast members.
Michio Saito: Fumiyo Kohinata
A famous Japanese actor who has appeared in countless film and stage productions, including many masterpieces. He has played leading roles as well as supporting actors. In recent years, he has appeared in the TV dramas "Confidence Man JP" and "Emergency Interrogation Room" series.Daisuke Uehara: Katsuhisa Namase
He started out on the stage and has appeared in numerous films and TV dramas for over 20 years. He has made a strong impression with comedic roles such as Vice Principal Saruwatari in the drama series "Gokusen" and Detective Inspector Yabe in "Trick." He also hosts variety shows.Mayuko Tanaka: Kyoka Suzuki
He has appeared in many dramas and movies. Since "Osama no Restaurant" in 1995, he has appeared in many of Koki Mitani's works. He is a talented actor who can play a variety of roles.Mina Parker: Rinko Kikuchi
He rose to fame after starring in "Babel," which won the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2006. Since then, he has appeared in many international productions, such as "Pacific Rim," and has also played memorable roles in Japanese dramas, such as "We Can't Become Beasts."My thoughts on "Sideways (Japanese remake)"
Since it's a remake, it's inevitable to compare it to the original "Sideways," but this one has its own merits.
First and foremost, it is extremely approachable. The fact that it features two actors, Fumiyo Kohinata and Katsuhisa Namase, who are so well-known in Japan, makes it all the more approachable.
Furthermore, I thought that the roles of Michio and Daisuke, played by the two of them, were perfect for them, comparable to the roles of Miles and Jack in the original version.
The defining feature of Michio, played by Kohinata Fumiyo, is that he is too Japanese. Despite having studied abroad in the US, he can only speak thick katakana English. Furthermore, when introducing himself, he insists on calling himself "Saito Michio" rather than "Michio Saito". There is a scene where he strongly retorts to someone who teases him by saying "Don't get hung up on small details", and throughout the film he is portrayed as a stubborn Japanese person who cannot adapt to a different culture.
In contrast to Michio, his best friend Daisuke (Namase Katsuhisa) has lived in America for a long time and has become completely obsessed with the country, so he's a flirtatious guy who makes you chuckle, thinking, "There are so many people like that!"
And the female cast. Kyoka Suzuki, who plays Mayuko, the girl Michio had a crush on while studying abroad, exudes a mature and calm aura, while Rinko Kikuchi, who plays the slightly unconventional Mina, is cute and very appealing.
Kyoka Suzuki is beautiful even when she is smiling silently, and Rinko Kikuchi instantly brightens up a scene with just one word. The pairing of these two contrasting characters is also a very tasteful casting choice.
The four of them are more than attractive.
Plus, the scenic Napa Valley views are stunning.
The scene where they toast with wine while looking out at the vineyards was so beautiful that I couldn't help but think, "That's nice."
However, the scenes and lines related to wine, which is the key to the movie, seem to be lighter than in the American version. There were very few scenes where wine was discussed. Rather than a passion for wine, the movie mainly depicts how the characters are confused and reconsider their lives because of wine. The phrase "adult youth " really fits the bill.
Michio's line, "Wine is a drink to be shared," also conveys that who you drink with is more important than what you drink .
Furthermore, the climax of the story incorporates elements of trendy Japanese dramas, making it easier to relate to and watch.
By the way, drunk driving, which I was worried about in the American version, is prohibited here (lol)
Of course, that would be the case if you think about compliance. (laughs)
In the American version, due to the differences in laws and enforcement at the time, there was a scene that was a bit shocking for Japanese people, where Daisuke openly drinks wine while driving.However, in the Japanese version, Daisuke clearly declares, "If you drink, don't drive. If you drink, don't drive."
There are many tourist services available locally, such as winery tours with transportation. Napa Valley is one of the places that wine lovers should visit at least once.
Behind the scenes of "Sideways (Japanese remake)"
In fact, there is an episode where filming at the winery was difficult.
Director Cherin Gluck, who attended the premiere screening in Napa Valley, said, "Most of the wineries turned us down."
The reason is that in the original American version of "Sideways," the main character Miles famously utters the line , "I never drink Merlot."
He is a wine geek who particularly likes Pinot Noir, and it seems likely that he said this because of his strong passion for wine, but it seems that the local wineries, which handle a variety of varieties, were not amused by his comment.
The success of this movie has led to an explosion in sales of Pinot Noir, but fewer people are willing to buy Merlot, which Miles said he would not drink. Wineries seem to think that the influence of the movie will not necessarily improve their business.
However, the script for the Japanese remake of "Sideways" has been changed. The main character, Michio, is a typical wine lover, and does not have any strong preference for not drinking Merlot. In fact, there is even a scene where he praises Merlot as delicious.
However, even when the production team for the Japanese remake explained this to them, most wineries refused to allow filming.
In other cases, filming was possible but a high usage fee was required, and they had to give up due to budgetary constraints.
There are many wineries in Napa Valley, but in the end, only the few that "welcomed" the visitors appear in the film.
In particular, Frog's Leap , where Mayuko works, was the first winery to agree to filming, even though negotiations were difficult. The scene where Mayuko explains about wine in a beautiful tasting room is very impressive, so be sure to check it out.
Winery featured in "Sideways (Japanese remake)"
Most of the filming took place in Napa Valley, California's famous wine region.
Napa Valley is a region located on the North Coast of Northern California.
The grapes are exposed to strong sunlight during the day and cool breezes from the Pacific Ocean at night. The grapes ripen perfectly due to this daily temperature difference, and become a powerful, rich wine.
The main varieties grown are Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Syrah, etc. Many wines with a rich fruit flavor are produced.
Frog's Leap
In the movie, Mayuko worked at the winery "Frog's Leap." While studying to get a wine qualification, Mayuko also worked in the tasting room introducing wines.
After much ado about the negotiations, they were the first winery to readily agree to let us shoot there. They have a very good reputation.
The owner, John William, is a Japanophile who has visited Japan before. The production volume is not large and it is a slightly premium line, but if you can get your hands on it, why not open it on a special occasion?
William was born into a dairy farming family and studied cheese making at university. He happened to start working at a winery during his time at university and fell in love with wine. After gaining experience in wine making around the United States, he founded Frog's Leap with a friend in 1981.
He was never wealthy and had difficulty raising funds, and the location of the current winery, Rutherford, was not initially suitable for growing grapes. However, his passion for wine helped him overcome these difficulties.
Even though he has now become a world-renowned winery and is highly regarded worldwide, he never becomes complacent. Rather than pursuing commercial success, he is committed to making wine that is fun and respectful of nature.
Darioush
"Darioush" is a winery that appears many times in the film, such as when Mayuko goes there to pick up the wine to celebrate her wedding with her ex-husband, and when she goes there to buy wine to serve at Daisuke's wedding.
The owner, Iranian-born Darioush Haredi, is a businessman who runs a supermarket in California. After a successful supermarket business, he fulfilled his childhood dream of founding a winery in 1997. He is also a long-time wine collector, and is particular about small-batch premium wines rather than mass-produced commercial wines.
The tasting room featured in the film was beautiful, but the guest center, built in 2004, is famous for its ancient palace-like design.
When I saw the price of the wine, I thought it was a premium wine.
It was chosen as the wedding wine in the movie, so I think it's a premium wine that's perfect for celebrations.
Beringer
Beringer is a famous California winery with 150 years of history .
The Beringer brothers, German immigrants, founded the company in 1876. Then, from 1918 to 1915, the United States went into Prohibition, a law that banned the production, distribution, and sale of alcohol. While many wineries found themselves in a difficult position, Beringer overcame the situation by brewing wine for church services, which was the only permitted option, and went on to enjoy the success it enjoys today.
They currently own several large vineyards in California, where they cultivate grape varieties suited to the climate and soil of each region. The high-quality wines they produce have won several international awards.
We offer a wide range of wines, from table wines that you can drink every day to carefully selected premium wines, to delight wine fans around the world.
They have also launched a series aimed at Japanese people in collaboration with Sapporo Beer. The appeal is the ease with which they can be purchased for as little as 1,000 yen.
I saw it being sold at my local supermarket so I'll definitely buy it!
summary
"Sideways," the Japanese remake of the globally popular American film "Sideways," has been remade to add a Japanese touch to make it more relatable.
The cast is also luxurious, and rather than focusing on wine as a niche subject, it is more of a human drama that involves wine, so I think it is a movie that even those who are not particularly knowledgeable about wine can enjoy. I also think that the nostalgic Western music in the background is a perfect fit for the work.
I think it might be fun to first watch the lighter Japanese version, and then watch the original American version.
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