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Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles

Play trailer Poster for Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles PG 2005 1h 47m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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80% Tomatometer 74 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Upon learning his estranged son (Kiichi Nakai) has cancer, a Japanese fisherman (Ken Takakura) travels to Tokyo to see him. Though his son rejects him, the fisherman decides to finish the dying man's project: capturing a famous Chinese opera star's performance on film. However, the singer cannot perform, for he is too grief-stricken at his separation from his illegitimate son. The fisherman decides to reunite the singer and the child and sets out to find him.
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Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles

Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles

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Critics Consensus

Doesn't reach the heights of Zhang Yimou's best, but this is still a heartwarming tale of love and forgiveness from the acclaimed Chinese director.

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Critics Reviews

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Marjorie Baumgarten Austin Chronicle 10/30/2006
3/5
It's the kind of story that shows more than it tells, a story that's forged in the spaces that exist in between characters and spaces. Go to Full Review Stanley Kauffmann The New Republic 10/26/2006
What remains most vividly after Riding Alone For Thousands of Miles, however, is not its story but its world--the immersion in that world of a foreigner, not a polo-shirted Yank but a stiff-necked Japanese. And it is all overseen by a Chinese director. Go to Full Review Richard Nilsen Arizona Republic 10/19/2006
3.5/5
It sounds like a slight plot, and it is, but it is rich in detail that makes up for the simplicity of the story. Go to Full Review Fernando F. Croce CinePassion 08/30/2009
A profound example of unashamed feeling expanding across cultural barriers Go to Full Review Amber Wilkinson Eye for Film 06/14/2008
4.5/5
This may be one man's story but the themes are epic. Go to Full Review Maria Garcia Film Journal International 03/01/2007
The director fails to overcome a script that ignores the backstory of the characters, and that agonizingly details minor subplots. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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12/05/2014 Meaning of the family was beautifully portrayed in this touching story. Good watch for the Father's day. See more 12/27/2013 And suddenly Mr. Zhang has decided to let me down. See more 05/19/2013 Kinda manipulative and simplistic, but it did get to me a few times and I ended up enjoying it. That narration needs to go, though. See more Frances H 04/28/2013 Emotionally touching study of familial love and grief set against the breath-taking beauty of rural China. See more 12/06/2012 A film about a person making a film?? Filmception? See more 06/06/2012 GREAT GREAT MOvie !!! See more Read all reviews
Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles

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Cast & Crew

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Yimou Zhang

Director

Ken Takakura

Gou-ichi Takata

Shinobu Terajima

Rie Takata

Kiichi Nakai

Ken-ichi Takata

Qiu Lin

Lingo

Yang Zhenbo

Yang-Yang

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Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles

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Movie Info

Synopsis Upon learning his estranged son (Kiichi Nakai) has cancer, a Japanese fisherman (Ken Takakura) travels to Tokyo to see him. Though his son rejects him, the fisherman decides to finish the dying man's project: capturing a famous Chinese opera star's performance on film. However, the singer cannot perform, for he is too grief-stricken at his separation from his illegitimate son. The fisherman decides to reunite the singer and the child and sets out to find him.
Director
Yimou Zhang
Producer
Xiu Jian, Weiping Zhang, William Kong
Screenwriter
Zou Jingzhi
Production Co
Edko Films, Zhang Yimou Studio
Rating
PG (Mild Thematic Elements)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Japanese
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Sep 1, 2006
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 11, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$251.6K
Runtime
1h 47m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
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