or Distant Thunder is a 1981 Japanese film

Cinema of Japan

The has a history that spans more than 100 years. Japan has one of the oldest and largest film industries in the world – as of 2009 the fourth largest by number of feature films produced. Movies have been produced in Japan since 1897, when the first foreign cameramen arrived...

 directed by Kichitaro Negishi

Kichitaro Negishi

is a Japanese film director. Although his films are admired by critics in Japan for their intelligence, Negishi has received little international recognition for his work. He has not been credited with a distinctive style but he has been called a subtle director who often elicits strong...

.

Synopsis

Enrai is a low-key study of a farmer, Mitsuo Wada, in 1980s Japan when modernization and urbanization were threatening rural areas. After his father leaves his wife to run off with his mistress, Mitsuo struggles to preserve his livelihood with the help of his mother, grandmother, and his arranged marriage bride, Ayako.

Cast

• Toshiyuki Nagashima as Mitsuo Wada as Hirotsugu Nakamori
• Eri Ishida as Ayako Hanamori as Kaede as Mitsuo's father as Mitsuo's mother as Mitsuo's grandmother
• Yumiko Fujita
  Yumiko Fujita
  Yumiko Fujita is a Japanese actress.-Selected filmography:* Under the Flag of the Rising Sun * Karafuto 1945 Summer Hyosetsu no Mon * The Bullet Train...
  
   as Chii
• Keizō Kanie
  Keizō Kanie
  is a Japanese actor. He won the award for best supporting actor at the 1st Yokohama Film Festival for Angel Guts: Red Classroom and Jūkyūsai no Chizu and at the 12th Yokohama Film Festival for Ware ni utsu yoi ari and Boku to, bokura no natsu....
  
   as Kaede's husband

Background

Enrai is based on the 1980 novel of the same name by Wahei Tatematsu

Wahei Tatematsu

was a Japanese novelist. He wrote several novels including Enrai and Dogen-Zenji, about the devout Budhist who founded the Soto Sect of Zen Buddhism in 1227.He was also known for his environmental work...

. The film, financed by ATG

Art Theatre Guild

Art Theatre Guild was a film production company in Japan that started in 1961 and ran through to the mid 1980s. ATG, as it is abbreviated, released mostly Japanese New Wave films. Films released by ATG include Nagisa Oshima's Diary Of A Shinjuku Thief , Toshio Matsumoto's masterpiece Funeral...

, Nikkatsu

Nikkatsu

is a Japanese entertainment company well known for its film and television productions. It is Japan's oldest major movie studio. The name Nikkatsu is an abbreviation of Nippon Katsudō Shashin, literally "Japan Cinematograph Company".-History:...

, and the smaller Nikkatsu-related company New Century Producers, marked director Negishi's breakthrough into mainstream film after several Roman porno features for Nikkatsu. Enrai was released in Japan as a VHS tape by in July 1998 and subsequently as a DVD in February 2008 by .

Awards and nominations

3rd Yokohama Film Festival

Yokohama Film Festival

The is a noticed yearly awards ceremony held in Japan. The festival was started as a small affair by fans and film critics, and first held on February 3, 1980. Ten films are chosen as the best of the year, and various awards are given to personnel...

• Won: Best Director - Kichitaro Negishi
  Kichitaro Negishi
  is a Japanese film director. Although his films are admired by critics in Japan for their intelligence, Negishi has received little international recognition for his work. He has not been credited with a distinctive style but he has been called a subtle director who often elicits strong...
  
  
• Won: Best Screenplay - Haruiko Arai
• Won: Best Cinematography - Shouhei Andou
• Won: Best Actor - Toshiyuki Nagashima

6th Hochi Film Award

Hochi Film Award

The are film-specific prizes awarded solely by the Hochi Shimbun.- Categories :*Best Picture*Best International Picture*Best Actor*Best Actress*Best Supporting Actor*Best Supporting Actress*Best New Artist*Special Award*Best Director- Winner :...

s

• Won: Best Film
• Won: Best Actor - Toshiyuki Nagashima
• Won: New Face Award - Eri Ishida