‘Ghost of Ueno’: A human drama about the invisible among us
Chinese director Qi Wang's film examines the plight of the homeless and disenfranchised in Japan with a humanist lens.
"Ghost of Ueno," a Chinese film directed by Qi Wang, tells a heartwarming story of friendship. Unlike many non-Japanese films set in Japan, which often cast non-Japanese actors as protagonists, this movie stars two Japanese actors, Satsuki (Mugi Kadowaki) and Toshi (Naoto Takenaka). The film is based on an original script co-written by Asian American filmmaker Wayne Wang.
Satsuki, a gloomy social worker, and Toshi, a cheerful homeless man, form an unconventional bond as they attempt to solve the mystery surrounding Gojo. Gojo was found dead in a blue tarp tent within Ueno Park, leaving behind a diary that provides hints about his life. The film, while not relying on genre horror as its title might suggest, offers a surprisingly warm and touching narrative.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
