The Woodsman And The Rain is a 2011 Japanese film which follows the story of a depressed and lonely Lumberjack who inadvertently gets pulled into the world of film through a simple act of kindness. His world is completely changed as he begins to enjoy his new found passion of helping out on the film set, which begins the healing process he needs to start enjoying life again. He befriends the shy, incompetent and self doubting rookie Director and together they begin to understand each other during their unique friendship.
The film opens with Katsuhiko (Koji Yakusho) doing a very mundane job of cutting down a tree, something he’s done a thousand times. It’s dangerous, hard-laboured work, clearly, but he’s so used to it that it has become a simple routine for him. On this day, things change as a shouty man, Torii (Kanji Furutachi) comes running up the hill trying to get him to stop. The tree nearly hits him, scaring the life out him in the process as he reveals they’re filming and Katsuhiko needs to stop. A comical moment as each character doesn’t seem to understand the others’ ‘language’. Katsuhiko is a simple Lumberjack living in a small village where nothing exciting happens which he reveals to Torri, the producer of the film. We find that Katsuhiko’s family life is directly related to his emptiness. It’s coming up to the second year of his wife’s passing, and he has a lazy, lay-about son who he is frustrated with for throwing away his life. In a chance meeting he comes across the producer of the film once more, and a quiet and shy young man, who unbeknown to him is the director played by Shun Oguri. He helps them find a location for their film around the Village. The favours keep on being asked of him, as they want him to chaperone the entire crew to the new location before actually being in the film himself, to his frustration. He’s invited to the rushes and becomes filled with new found excitement in his life. He reveals to his friends (and co-workers) about the film, and their excitement and envy fills him with pride. He meets Koichi, the director once more, and there’s a heartfelt talk in his van as he’s giving him a lift to the train station. This is the running theme for the film and one that it’s strength is built on. Any scene involving Yakusho and Oguri is magic as the the two work off each other perfectly. Their characters bring out the best in each other, and in the process make each other stronger. Katsuhiko is enthralled by Koichi’s screenplay and it gives the young director a bit of confidence that was missing. As time goes on and Katsuhiko becomes more involved in the film he helps Koichi find the strength he needs to have confidence in his ability and work, and, by stumbling along with some moments of luck, Katsuhiko manages to get the entire village involved in the film, becomin
g an important member of the crew at the same time.
The film is built on friendship and develops from there. We see the blossoming sweet friendship between the Lumberjack and the Director. Through this interaction wounds are healed. Katsuhiko’s mind is taken off the impending anniversary of his wife’s passing, the experience helping him realise there’s life after death for those who have lost someone, a powerful message for the film to get across. There’s a message in the film about self belief too, told through the eyes of the Koichi. The power to overcome your insecurities and know your own strength is important, especially for young people in this world and that’s what Katsuhiko seems to tell Koichi in a conversation they have during a lunch break when discussing trees. It’s another nice moment for the film which, overall, is a funny and heart warming drama.
Rating: Veteran Koji Yakusho leads the way with youngster Shun Oguri, going toe to toe with his co-star in this wonderfully warm Japanese Drama (6.0/10)
The Woodsman And The Rain is now available on Blu-ray and DVD in the UK from Third Window Films
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