Deer Friend
| Deer Friend | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Yukihiro Sawada |
| Screenplay by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Akira Shiizuka[1] |
| Music by | Joe Hisaishi |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Toho |
Release date |
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Running time | 116 minutes[1] |
| Land | Japan |
Deer Friend (仔鹿物語, Kojika monogatari) is a 1991 Japanese film directed by Yukihiro Sawada.[1] It was released in Japan on April 20, 1991 where it was distributed by Toho.[1]
The film won Tomokazu Miura the award for Best Supporting Actor at the Mainichi Film Concours. Miura also won for his roles in Nowhere Man and The Great Shogunate Battle.[1] At the Japanese Academy Awards, Joe Hisaishi won the award for best score, along with three other films he scored in 1991.[1]
Plot
[edit]Eight-year-old Kenichi and his family live next to the railway line in a small village. Kenichi's father is a train driver, but the line will be closed by autumn. His father finds a new job at an insurance company in Sapporo and plans a move for his family. Meanwhile, Kenichi's grandparents are very old and will pass away soon. But due to the family's impending move, no one will be left to take over their farm.
One day, Kenichi discovers a fawn and its mother in the forest. Kenichi accidentally scares away the mother, who runs in front of a car and dies. The children of the village learned to love nature from local forest ranger Mr. Oriya. This, along with his guilt, leads Kenichi to conclude that he must take care of the fawn. He hides the fawn in a disused train station and names it "Lucky".
At first, the fawn doesn't want to drink milk. Kenichi cautiously questions Mr. Oriya on how to feed baby animals. He believes that if Mr. Oriya finds out about Lucky, he will inform the authorities. Mr. Oriya tells Kenichi that mother's milk contains a substance that newborns need for sustenance. Ultimately, Kenichi takes milk from a cow that has just given birth to a calf. Lucky happily drinks the milk.
Kenichi manages to raise Lucky on his own until he accidentally sets fire to the station. He is discovered, but Mr. Oriya is able to clear everything up. He had seen through Kenichi and already informed the authorities, who allow him to raise the fawn.
Now raising Lucky without secrecy, Kenichi enlists his friends to help out. However, Lucky soon falls ill, and everyone worries about its health. The children's elementary school teacher gives them the day off so they can look after the animal. Eventually, Lucky is nursed back to full health.
As autumn approaches, Lucky longs to return to his herd in the forest. Kenichi learns to let Lucky go and says a heartfelt goodbye. Afterwards, the family sets off for Sapporo. However, Kenichi's father finally notices that the family is unhappy with the move. In the end, he decides to turn back and take over the grandparents' farm.
Production
[edit]Cinematographer Akira Shiizuka was a specialist in animal photography who had shot several animal-related films, including the 1983 blockbuster Antarctica.
Home media
[edit]In 1992, the film was released on VHS in Germany under the title Flecki, My Friend. The film was made available on German DVD in 2003.
See also
[edit]- The Yearling, a 1946 adaptation of the book of the same name
- The Yearling, a 1994 remake of the 1946 adaptation
- D.W.'s Deer Friend, a 1998 TV episode
- List of Japanese films of 1991
Footnotes
[edit]References
[edit]- Galbraith IV, Stuart (2008). The Toho Studios Story: A History and Complete Filmography. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-1461673743. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
External links
[edit]- Deer Friend at IMDb
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