Swallowtail Butterfly

Aka: Suwaroteiru
Director: Shunji Iwai
Release date: September 14, 1996
Language: Mandarin, Japanese, Enlish
Subtitle: English (Hard-subbed)
Genre: Drama

Starring:
Hiroshi Mikami
Chara, Ayumi Ito
Yosuke Eguchi
Andy Hui
Atsuro Watabe

Synopsis:
Swallowtail Butterfly takes place in an alternate Japan, in a ghetto where immigrants from all over the world have come to live and make their fortune. The city is called Yentown, and it is much like Tokyo. Sixteen-year-old Ageha (Ito), a young girl whose mother has just died, is passed on from person to person until a prostitute named Glico (Chara) finally takes pity on her.
Under Glico's care, Ageha has many experiences with the other poverty-stricken immigrants in Yentown. Eventually, due to a sudden twist in fate, the immigrants are given a chance to realize their dreams. But in doing so, they destroy their solidarity, and have to face their problems separately.

Trailer:



Related Links:
Trailer: YouTube
Online Streaming: N/A
More Info: Wikipedia.org
Download Links: 01 - 02 - 03 - 04 - 05 - 06 - 07 - 08 - 09

Curiosities:
Awards:
Awards of the Japanese Academy:
Newcomer of the year: Ayumi Ito
Most Popular Film
Fant-Asia Film Festival: Best Asian Film : Shunji Iwai
Yokohama Film Festival: Festival Prize: Best New Talent: Chara
Award Nominations:
Awards of the Japanese Academy:
Best Actress: Chara
Best Art Direction: Yohei Taneda
Best Cinematography: Nobor Shinoda
Best Film
Best Lighting: Yuuki Nakamura
Best Sound: Osamu Takizawa
Best Supporting Actress: Ayumi Ito
Moscow International Film Festival: Golden St. George

Anime | Chinese | Japanese | Korean | Manga | Taiwanese | Thai | Others

Hana and Alice

Aka: Hana to Arisu
Director: Iwai Shunji
Release date: 2004
Language: Japanese
Subtitle: English (Hard-subbed)
Genre: Comedy, Drama

Starring:
Anne Suzuki as Hana Arai
Yû Aoi as Tetsuko Arisugawa (Alice)
Tomohiro Kaku as Masashi Miyamoto (Mr. Miya)
Shoko Aida as Kayo Arisugawa (Alice's mother)
Hiroshi Abe as Boy friend of Alice's mother
Sei Hiraizumi as Kenji Kuroyanagi (Alice's father)

Synopsis:
Upon entering high school, two best friends named Hana and Alice notice a boy a year older than them while waiting for the train, and they both develop a pretty strong crush on him. One day while secretly following him home, Hana witnesses the boy walk right into a wall and pass out. When he wakes up, she lies and convinces him that he must have amnesia, because he doesn't remember the fact that she was his girlfriend. Hilarity ensues as the two girls attempt to run with the lie. Of course, complications soon arise.

When free-spirited Alice develops a crush on a random stranger at the train station, she offers her best friend Hana the guy's "half brother". Hana declines, but soon develops feelings for the strange boy. Later, when they enter high school, Hana joins the storytelling club, and her crush, Masashi, is in it too. Upon witnessing him hit his head on a garage door, she lies and says she is his girlfriend.

A series of events follow, and a subtle triangle develops between Hana, Alice and Masashi. Despite outward appearances, this film isn't just about puppy love, it also tells the story of friendship between two girls, and the different situations in their lives (especially in Alice's family situation).
(Credit: Wikipedia)

Review:

I didn't watch this movie yet so I can't make a review but if you did please let us know what you think :)

Trailer:


Related Links:

Trailer: xmonkid
Online Streaming: Veoh
More Info: Imdb
Download Links: 01 - 02 - 03 - 04 - 05 - 06 - 07 - 08 - 09
OST:

1. Season Of Flowers
2. Hana And Alice-cherry Blossoms
3. Fish In The Pool
4. Sweetie
5. Amnesia
6. Slug Horror
7. Round Dance
8. Wo Ai Nee
9. Sweetie-secret Meeting
10. Dancing In The Rain
11. Hana's Season-Ocean
12. Hana's Thought
13. Wo Ai Nee- Arabesque
14. Hana And Alice

Download: MU

Credit: LaBraxton @asianosts

Curiosities:

Tagline: Best friends and boyfriends: which one will you choose?

Award:

Japanese Professional Movie Awards: Best Actress: Yû Aoi

Anime | Chinese | Japanese | Korean | Manga | Taiwanese | Thai | Others