Embark on a fantastical journey of happiness to find your own yellow elephant

Kou Shibasaki, who has a deep affection for the novel, once admitted during its promotion that she wished to become the female protagonist. Thus, this novel, once deemed “unfilmable,” finally saw its adaptation come to fruition. As a devoted fan of Natsuki Shiga, Shibasaki naturally took on the role of the heroine — a kind and thoughtful housewife who, in the opening scene, shocks audiences with a full-frontal nude bath scene. This also marks her first collaboration with popular actor Masami Nagasawa, whose exceptional acting portrays a passionate writer burdened with an unspeakable past. Moreover, their numerous beautiful and intense scenes have undoubtedly sparked buzz, generating major anticipation before the film’s release.

In the film, Kou Shibasaki plays Toshiko Tomoe, a frail wife who spent lonely days as a child confined to a hospital bed. After reading the picture book "The Yellow Elephant," she mysteriously gains the ability to talk to trees and animals, and imagines the yellow elephant from the book one day taking her on a journey around the world.

Growing up, Toshiko meets Takeshi Takegami, played by Masami Nagasawa, under the dim glow of the full moon. They fall in love at first sight and decide to spend their lives together. Though he is an unknown writer, he brings her the same deep happiness as the yellow elephant did. After marriage, the couple moves to a seaside countryside, living a peaceful and idyllic rural life. Their newlywed life seems blissful until Takeshi receives a mysterious letter that gradually changes their relationship. Haunted by guilt and painful memories, Takeshi chooses to leave Toshiko temporarily. Before departing, he writes his hidden secrets in a diary. Meanwhile, Toshiko, longing for her husband’s return, experiences her own thrilling encounters. The seemingly perfect love between the two gradually unveils heartbreaking truths.….

The entire film was shot in Mie Prefecture, Japan. Through the lens of cinematographer Atsuhiko Nabeshima, the region’s stunning landscapes are vividly captured. The delicious dishes prepared by Kou Shibasaki in the film are especially mouthwatering. The movie also features an all-star cast: Akira Emoto and Chieko Matsubara play the couple’s neighbor pair; interdisciplinary artist Lily Franky makes a cameo as a husband who opposes the male lead; child actors Ryusei Hamada and Himeka Asami play adorable childhood friends; and Mao Honda, who played the younger sister in the TV drama “Queen of Housewives,” portrays the young version of the female lead. All these elements bring a refreshing youthful vibe to the film. Notably, veteran actors like Renji Ishibashi, Tasuku Emoto, Sakura Ando, and Kengo Kora lend their voices to the humorous “non-human” animal characters. Paired with the heartfelt theme song “Ice Flower” performed by the Gregorian choir-style group Gospellers, this heartwarming and talked-about film was selected as the closing film for the 2013 Taipei Golden Horse Fantastic Film Festival, with tickets selling out shortly after going on sale. The film will be released in Taiwan on April 26, sure to spark more discussion among movie fans.