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"An existential journey as solemn and intimate as it is majestic and imposing, Japón represents an impressive introduction for debuting Mexican director Carlos Reygadas. Spreads a weighty canvas of big themes like death and rebirth, human strength and fragility, sex and love, religion and faith in humanity." - Variety
A man from the city goes to a village in a majestic ravine to prepare his suicide. He finds shelter with an old widow. Entirely against his intentions, two things bring him back to the land of the living: first, a cousin of the widow, just out of jail, wants to rob the old woman; second, the man's sexual desires are suddenly awoken. Through the evolving relationship with the woman, he is able to leave the ravine that he had entered intending to die.
Supported through the Hubert Bals Fund for innovative talent in developing countries, Japón made its world premiere at Rotterdam this year, and was then snagged for Directors' Fortnight at Cannes 2002 where Reygadas received the Camera d'Or Prize (Special Mention) for a debut film.
"On the strength of Japón, Reygadas has the talent to become a force in world cinema." - Hollywood Reporter
Carlos Reygadas (born in Mexico, 1971) started making short films in 1998, after studying International law in Mexico and London. Japón is his first feature.