British distributors Arrow Films have revealed that they are planning to bring to Blu-ray Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda's I Wish (2011), starring Koki Maeda, Ohshirô Maeda, and Hiroshi Abe. The preliminary release date set by the distributors is May 27th.
Family-based drama directed by Hirokazu Koreeda in which two brothers torn apart by their parents' divorce and living in separate towns dream of reuniting their family. Hearing that a new train line will soon link the two towns, Koichi (Koki Maeda) convinces himself that at the precise moment of both trains passing each other at top speed, his wish will come true. With the help of his friends and brother Ryunosuke (Ohshirô Maeda), Koichi sets out to realise his dream of uniting the family once more.
In 2011, I Wish won Best Screenplay Award (Hirokazu Koreeda) at the San Sebastian International Film Festival.
Note: Director Kore-eda's Still Walking is currently available on Blu-ray in North America, courtesy of the Criterion Collection. See our listing here.
Watched this last night on Netflix. This film has a sweet story that a lot of times really doesn't go places. But thats the beauty behind it. Its an intimate look at Japanese life and family matters that many can relate.
I Wish is one of my top films from last year. Hirokazu Kore-eda is one of those directors who is gifted enough to tell stories in ways that are quite realistic and engaging. I already have his wonderful Still Walking and I'll be happy to add I Wish to my collection (either this edition or, if one is released, a US edition).
