Cinematic Point Of View

Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s 2019 film “To the Ends of the Earth” is really special. Known for his horror films, like Pulse or Cure, in this movie Kurosawa tells a very intimate human, grounded story of awakening to your life and the world around you. It’s primarily a woman’s story but it could be the story of anyone who has lived as a doormat.

The movie follows a small team of Japanese filmmakers trying to shoot a tv travel documentary in Uzbekistan. Yoko, the main character played brilliantly by Atsuko Maeda, is the host of the show. She is a cautious and insecure young woman who finds her sense of identity tested, again and again, as she struggles to navigate unfamiliar city streets and communicate with the locals while maintaining her personal integrity.

Through a series of what I’ll call misadventures, she starts to break down and wake up. You know that feeling when you have to go to work and put on a fake “professional” persona? You know how tiring and draining that can become? Yeah, that’s this coming to an end for Yoko. She’s ready to live an authentic life.

It’s very surreal at first for her. Like walking in a waking dream. She wanders around with a small, handheld camera observing things on her own through the buffer of the lens. What does life present around the next corner? It’s exciting, empowering, mysterious, and thought provoking.

The film beautifully demonstrates what it feels like for a successful, independent woman to try and make it on their own in a male dominated world. Yoko is always doing her best and yet she is often blocked, forgotten, overlooked, idolized, and disrespected.

She works harder than anyone and takes all the blame when something goes wrong.

She tries to keep that happy face going but just below the surface, she is bubbling over with a longing for something more.

Slowly, she begins to venture out on her own and finds the space to find out who she is. Find her voice. Her own direction. It’s the first time she’s allowing herself to explore her feelings and the world. No boyfriend. No work mates.

Sometimes she puts herself in danger. Sometimes she sits and listens to beautiful music. Sometimes she breaks into song. It’s a beautiful journey of self discovery.

You really never know what’s going to happen next in this film and I love that. It’s very much alive. The fresh, unknown feeling really helps put you in Yoko’s shoes.

In the end you will feel inspired and hopeful. There are a couple of really unexpected moments that hit hard in the 3rd act that I don’t want to spoil.

Seek this movie out. It’s a magical and important piece of highly underrated cinema.