Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles (2005)

In the quiet fishing village of Japan, Takata, a seasoned fisherman, grapples with a gnawing sense of emptiness from the estrangement with his son, Kenichi. The tides of fate turn when Rie, his empathetic daughter-in-law, informs him of Kenichi's grave illness and urges him to visit his son in a Tokyo hospital. However, Kenichi's pain runs deep, refusing to let his father into his hospital room. As a bridge to understanding his son's world, Rie hands Takata a videotape featuring Kenichi's work, a riveting documentary set in the remote village of Lijiang, in China's Yunnan province. The film reveals Kenichi's profound passion for Chinese opera and his bond with lead singer Li Jiamin, who vows to perform a significant folk opera the following year. Caught in the heart-wrenching realization of Kenichi's terminal liver cancer, Takata embarks on a journey to Lijiang, determined to capture on film Li Jiamin's promised performance as a final gift to his son. Stepping into the heart of China, Takata finds himself navigating a series of unexpected obstacles and forming new relationships, each one drawing him closer to a deeper understanding of himself and his son. As he grapples with his own regrets and strives to complete Kenichi's unfinished work, Takata's journey becomes more than a simple mission - it transforms into a poignant exploration of reconciliation, love, and the enduring power of art.

Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles is a drama movie featuring Ken Takakura and directed by Yasuo Furuhata.

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