Hana and Alice

Hana & Alice (花とアリス)
Directed by	Shunji Iwai
Produced by	Shunji Iwai
Written by	Shunji Iwai
Starring	Anne Suzuki Yû Aoi Tomohiro Kaku
Music by	Shunji Iwai
Distributed by	Toho Rockwell Eyes
Release date(s)	March 13, 2004
Running time	135 min.
Language	Japanese

Hana and Alice (花とアリス) is a 2004 Japanese teen romance film by director Shunji Iwai. The film, shot on HD digital video by the director of photography, Noboru Shinoda, who shared a longstanding working relationship with Shunji Iwai, concerns the life of two girls, the titular Hana (Anne Suzuki) and Alice (Yû Aoi), and the stress placed on their friendship as they move into high school.

Originally shot as a series of short films for the 30th anniversary of Kit Kat in Japan, it was later expanded into a feature film by Iwai and received theatrical release in Japan in 2004. It moved into theaters in other Asian territories later in 2004 and 2005, and into western film festivals, such as New York Asian Film Festival and Seattle International Film Festival.

Cast

• Hana Arai - Anne Suzuki
• Tetsuko Arisugawa (Alice) - Yū Aoi
• Masashi Miyamoto (Mr. Miya) - Tomohiro Kaku
• Kayo Arisugawa (Alice's mother) - Shoko Aida
• Boy friend of Alice's mother - Hiroshi Abe
• Kenji Kuroyanagi (Alice's father) - Sei Hiraizumi
• Ryo Taguchi (Fashion Photographer) - Takao Osawa
• Fashion Shoot Coordinator - Ryōko Hirosue
• Cameo - Ayumi Ito
• Cameo (as herself) - Mika Kano

Plot

Yu Aoi dancing in Hana and Alice

When free-spirited Alice develops a crush on a stranger at the train station, she offers her best friend, Hana, the stranger's "half brother," Masashi. Hana declines, but soon develops feelings for Masashi, beginning to stalk him as they ride the same train throughout the winter. In Spring, when Hana and Alice enter high school, Hana joins the story telling club after learning Masashi is also a member. Still fostering feelings for Masashi, she follows him secretly once more, and witnesses him crashing into a garage door, falling to the ground unconscious. After he has awoken, Hana lies to Masashi: she admits that not only did the blow to the head give Masashi a case of amnesia, but that he has also forgotten that Hana is his girlfriend.

Hana and Masashi begin to date each other, though their entire relationship is based on Hana's lie, forcing Hana to keep lying in order to remain Masashi's girlfriend. Eventually, Alice is wrapped up in Hana's lie, playing the part of Masashi's ex-girlfriend. Through a subsequent series of events, a subtle love triangle develops between Hana, Alice, and Masashi, as Masashi begins to fall in love with Alice. The story ultimately culminates in Masashi's discovery of Hana's lie about his contrived case of amnesia. Though Hana and Alice's relationships were put to a test through the series of events, they eventually make amends, and they remain friends.

Despite outward appearances, this film isn't just about puppy love, as it also tells the story of friendship between two girls, and the different situations in their lives (especially in Alice's family situation).

Awards

• Best Actress: Yû Aoi, 2005 - Japanese Professional Movie Award

Box office

Box office gross:

• Japan: ¥2,490,000,000
• Opening Week Gross: ¥200, 150, 000
• In release: 12 Weeks

External links

• Hana and Alice at the Internet Movie Database