Movies by Akiko Iwase
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The Forest
Set in the Aokigahara Forest, a real-life place in Japan where people go to end their lives. Against this backdrop, a young American woman comes in search of her twin sister, who has mysteriously disappeared.
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Minamata
War photographer W. Eugene Smith travels back to Japan where he documents the devastating effect of mercury poisoning in coastal communities.
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Chibiham, Juicy & Me
The story follows Paprika, an American exchange student on a "homestay" in Japan and her friend, Juicy, who have to deal with the arrival of Paprika's obnoxious cousin, Chibiham. Chibiham is determined to have a good time while visiting Japan, but she's oblivious to cultural differences and runs roughshod over the locals - complaining about the food, picking fights with store clerks, and otherwise making a nuisance of herself. Will Juicy's mother be able to set Chibiham straight?