Kûchû teien (Hanging Garden) poster & wallpaper
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Masahiro Hirota, Itsuji Itao, Kyôko Koizumi, Michiyo Ookusu, Anne Suzuki ... see more see more... , Seksan Sonimsat , Hiromi Nagasaku , Ryo Katsuji , Seiji Chihara , Eita , Asami Imajuku

A seemingly normal family turns out to be a hotbed of neuroses in this disquieting drama from Japanese filmmaker Toshiaki Toyoda. The Kyobashis are a cheery and open-minded household where no topic of... read more read more... conversation is considered off-limits for their children, as evidenced one morning when teenage daughter Mana (Anne Suzuki) asks her parents about the details of her conception over breakfast. When Mana learns she was the result of an assignation at an "adults only" hotel in a seedy part of town, she begins hanging out there, sometime picking up men and sometimes simply soaking up the creepy atmosphere. Her brother, Ko (Masahiro Hirota), has been having trouble in school, so his parents have hired a tutor, Mina (Sonim), to help him with his studies; however, Ko has also been having sex with his new study buddy. Father Takashi (Itsuji Itao) is also having an affair with Mina as well as another woman, while his wife, Eriko (Kyoko Koizumi), has a shocking secret that would startle even her own eccentric brood. Kuchu Teien (aka Hanging Garden) was screened in competition at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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84% liked it

338 ratings

Unrated, 1 hr. 53 min.

Directed by: Toshiaki Toyoda

Release Date: May 12, 2005

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Flixster Reviews (32)

  • lesleyanorton
    September 25, 2011
    lesleyanorton
    The Kyobashi family believe in complete honesty with each other. Except of course for the secrets they're not letting on about like adultery, deep inadequacy and love hotels. If it was an English film it would play like a farce. As a Japanese drama, it plays less predictably an... read mored surprisingly touching. Definitely worth a watch.

  • sitenoise
    June 7, 2009
    sitenoise
    Only from Japan. This has a sensibility and sense of humor similar to ADRIFT IN TOKYO and FUNUKE, SHOW SOME LOVE, YOU LOSERS! Bizarro-land family dynamics. Things are said where the delivery and body language don't play at the same level of intensity as the words. Kyôko Koizumi p... read morelays this kind of role perfectly, similar to her character in ADRIFT. Hiromi Nagasaku also has a wonderful small role. The soundtrack is a little trite and annoying in parts as are the 360 degree camera swings but it's funny and intense with a spectacular ending.

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Critic Reviews

Dennis Harvey
March 1, 2006
Dennis Harvey, Variety

Another unpredictable left turn in story and stylistic terrain for helmer Toshiaki Toyoda. Full Review

Aaron Hillis
May 7, 2006
Aaron Hillis, Premiere Magazine

An absolute treat... stellar sound design... Hanging Garden rests in a compelling balance between frank cynicism and black magic realism. Full Review

Brian Mckay
March 1, 2006
Brian Mckay, eFilmCritic.com

Toyoda's film is an exploration of the problems that plague a modern Japanese family, giving us a unique view that can be appreciated by those both within and outside of the filmmaker's culture. Full Review

Margaret A. McGurk
August 5, 2006
Margaret A. McGurk, Cincinnati Enquirer

Click to read the article Full Review

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