Taro and Jiro in Antarctica

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Movie
German title Taro and Jiro in Antarctica
Original title 南極 物語 , Nankyoku Monogatari
Country of production Japan
original language Japanese
Publishing year 1983
length 143 minutes
Rod
Director Koreyoshi Kurahara
script Toshirō Ishido
Tatsuo Nogami
Koreyoshi Kurahara
Kan Saji
production Tomohiro Kaiyama
Masaru Kakutani
Koretsugo Kurahara
Juichi Tanaka
music Vangelis
camera Akira Shiizuka
cut Koreyushi Kurahara
Akira Suzuki
occupation

Taro and Jiro in Antarctica ( Japanese 南極 物語 , Nankyoku Monogatari , Eng . "South Pole Narrative") is a Japanese film from 1983 based on a true story. The award-winning adventure film was directed by Koreyoshi Kurahara and has been very successful in Japan . The main role was played by Ken Takakura .

action

In February 1958, a group of Japanese scientists set out on an expedition to Antarctica with the icebreaker Souya . They are supposed to replace the first expedition group of eleven men in the Shouwa base. However, due to poor weather conditions, the second group cannot get close enough to the Shouwa base and does not advance any further. The first group has to be flown out by helicopter. 15 sled dogs , called Sakhalin huskies in the film, are left chained up, with the will to return to the base and to the dogs as soon as possible, which is not possible due to a lack of fuel. The expedition group worries about the dogs, as it is extremely cold at the base and the food supplies only last for a week.

Eight dogs can unchain themselves and wander outside, where six of the dogs die. The two brothers Taro and Jiro, who, unlike the other 13 dogs, were born in Antarctica, survive.

In January 1959, a third group traveled to the base to bury the dogs and were met by the two surviving Taro and Jiro.

Publications

The film, which was shot over a period of three years in northern Hokkaido , was released in Japanese cinemas on July 23, 1983, grossing 5.9 billion yen, making it a huge commercial success. After ET - The Extra-Terrestrial , Taro and Jiro in the Antarctic in Japan was the most successful film of 1983. Outside of Japan, the film could not repeat the success. It was released on DVD in Japan and Hong Kong in the 2000s.

reception

The majority of the critics received the film positively. The camera work by Akira Shiizuka , the music by Vangelis and the warmth of the story were particularly praised.

Lawrence van Gelder wrote in the New York Times of March 30, 1984: “Some children may respond to the film's deprivation story and its furry heroes. Some adults might find great satisfaction in the sheer beauty of the scenery. But behind the feelings and the scenery lies a superficial film. " ( Some children may be responsive to the movie's tale of hardship and to its furry heroes. Some adults may derive much satisfaction from the sheer prettiness of the scenery. But beneath the sentiment and the scenery lies a shallow movie. )

Awards

At the Japanese Academy Awards in 1984, the two sled dogs Taro and Jiro were named Most Popular Actors . The film was also in the categories of Best Film , Best Camera , Best Music and Best Lighting , but had to admit defeat to other films in all categories. At the Mainichi film competition , the film won the audience award and in the best camera category .

Taro and Jiro in the Antarctic ran in 1984 in the competition of the Berlin International Film Festival for the Golden Bear , but could not prevail against John Cassavetes ' Love Streams .

The film was Japan's entry for a Best Foreign Film nomination at the 1984 Academy Awards , but it was neither nominated nor awarded.

Remake

In 2006, an American remake of Taro and Jiro in Antarctica was published under the title Antarctica - Gefangen im Eis (original title: Eight Below ) . From Walt Disney Pictures with a budget of 40 million US dollars produced the film in the United States played a US $ 81.7 million. The action was moved to 1993, and instead of a Japanese group of scientists, it was Americans in the remake. The main role was played by Paul Walker and directed by Frank Marshall .

In 2011, for the 60th anniversary of the Japanese TV station TBS, the story was written as a dorama under the name Nankyoku Tairiku ~ Kami no Ryouiki ni Idomunda Otoko to Inu no Monogatari ~ (Antarctica ~ The story of dogs and men who challenge the home of the gods ~) newly filmed. It is the most expensive production by the Japanese TV station.

Remarks

The "real" Jiro died in July 1960 on his fifth Antarctic expedition. His stuffed body, like that of Hachiko , is in the National Science Museum in Tokyo's Ueno district . Taro returned to Hokkaido University and died there in 1970 at the age of 15. His body is on display in the university.

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