A Branch of a Pine Is Tied Up

"The Pine's Branches" is the latest work in Murata Tomoyasu’s series “Sei toshi ni matsuwaru kioku no tabi (Journey through memories of life and death),” which he began following the Tohoku earthquake in 2011.

Cast

Reviews

Similar Movies

The Return

Tatsuya Nakadai, the world’s greatest living actor, returns to the screen in a brilliant adaptation of a story by novelist Shuhei Fujisawa. A traveling gambler known as “Funeral Uno” he is now 86 years old and returning to his hometown for the first time in 30 years. Partly told in flashbacks, he is forced to face his lifelong nemesis, Boss Kyuzo, a vile yakuza portrayed by another superstar of samurai cinema, Atsuo Nakamura! Before the two old gamblers can settle a 30-year-old score they must put their lives on the line in a game of dice that can only lead to a bloody sword duel the likes of which has never before been seen! Superb performances all around in a film loaded with surprises and exciting swordplay!

⭐ 7.3

Little Women

Four sisters come of age in America in the aftermath of the Civil War.

⭐ 7.3

The Three Sisters of Tenmasou Inn

Tenmasou is a long-established inn atop a mountain overlooking the sea, in a town called Mitsuse that exists between heaven and earth. The inn is run by Nozomi Tenma, the proprietress. Her younger sister Kanae works as a dolphin trainer. Their mother Keiko is the inn's elder proprietress, who is still resentful of her ex-husband that deserted his wife and family.

⭐ 7.3

Women's Letters

On the front lines of the Great War, nurse Simon repairs the broken faces of the soldiers every day with love letters, words from women that have the power to heal the wounds of these paper soldiers. Simon himself seems impervious to holes, uncreasable, untearable in his white coat. His secret is his war godmother, who occupies all his thoughts whenever he has a moment to breathe. But when death strikes where it is least expected, can words written on paper still erase the pain?

⭐ 8.2

Hit Me Anyone One More Time

Keisuke Kuroda wakes up in a hospital bed unable to remember who he is. While sneaking out of the hospital, he sees a glimpse of the news and realizes that he is the Prime Minister of Japan. His approval rating was the lowest in the history of modern Japan. During a recent speech, a citizen had thrown a rock at him causing him to lose his memory. Keisuke Kuroda’s subordinate takes him to the official residence of the prime minister where he tries to implement changes to the country. The only people aware that he has lost his memory are his three secretaries.

⭐ 6.9

Marvin's Room

A leukemia patient attempts to end a 20-year feud with her sister to get her bone marrow.

⭐ 6.7

Tattoo

Marc Schrader, a rookie cop caught red-handed with drugs in a police raid of an illegal rave, joins a homicide investigation conducted by Chief Inspector Minks. The victim is a naked young woman with the skin stripped off her back, killed as she staggered into traffic. As Schrader and Minks investigate the murder, the case is complicated by a finger found in the stomach of the victim. Forensic examination proves the finger belongs to Nobert Günzel, who was previously convicted of rape and assault. The police raid Günzel’s residence, and discover a blood-stained table with restraints and bits of human flesh in his basement. They also find video equipment and preserved, tattooed skin from the victim’s back. Soon, they found dead bodies buried in the garden. Günzel then goes missing.

⭐ 6.1

The Puppet

A female puppet appears locked in a room, lying on the floor and immobile. Through various experiences, strings begin to attach to her body, and her movements gradually become more fluid. Each string is associated with a scene related to an aspect of women's social issues, such as the body, equality, or gender.

⭐ 5.0

Yang Lain Boleh Hilang Asal Kau Jangan

Kesha, a final-year film student, lives in a warm family with her mother who also her beloved teacher, Yuke. However, their lives change when Yuke begins to experience increasingly severe memory loss. Amidst this, Kesha is faced with a major dilemma, continue pursuing her dreams or return home to avoid missing out on moments with her mother before it's too late.

⭐ 6.5

The Old Man Movie

An outrageous road movie about The Old Man and his grandkids in a 24 hour race against time to stop a milky madman hell bent on killing his prized cow to save the world.

⭐ 6.5

Eclectic Shorts by Eric Leiser

Eric Leiser displays his boundless creativity in this short collection; A stunning compilation of works presented with a mixture of live action, stop motion animation, puppetry and pixilation techniques, produced between 2001 and 2006.

⭐ 0.0

Earthquake

Various interconnected people struggle to survive when an earthquake of unimaginable magnitude hits Los Angeles, California.

⭐ 6.2

RiRi

A independent short stop-motion animation film with cut-out puppets.

⭐ 0.0

Satyricon

After his young lover, Gitone, leaves him for another man, Encolpio decides to kill himself, but a sudden earthquake destroys his home before he has a chance to do so. Now wandering around Rome in the time of Nero, Encolpio encounters one bizarre and surreal scene after another.

⭐ 6.7

Tora! Tora! Tora!

In the summer of 1941, the United States and Japan seem on the brink of war after constant embargos and failed diplomacy come to no end. "Tora! Tora! Tora!", named after the code words used by the lead Japanese pilot to indicate they had surprised the Americans, covers the days leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor, which plunged America into the Second World War.

⭐ 7.2

Blocks

A group of puppets in a handmade world encounter a giant visitor with an unexpected surprise.

⭐ 0.0

Miss Hokusai

A daughter is constantly overshadowed by her famous father, but she is determined to make her own mark in the world.

⭐ 6.7

Beautiful Mystery

Shinohara, a young bodybuilder, joins a para-military sect in northern Japan. His instructor, Takizawa, takes a liking to the new recruit. After an early “special” training session the two develop a lasting and loving relationship.

⭐ 4.6

Only for One Night

A husband with a perfect life cheats with his wife's sister, with extreme consequences befalling them all.

⭐ 5.0