Harukana jidai no kaidan o

Stairway to the Distant Past is the second film in the Mike Hama Private Investigator Trilogy. If you've seen part one The Most Terrible Time in My Life you must seek this out to find out how all your favourite characters are getting on. The films themes are age and family as Mikes mother "Dynamite Sexy Lilly" returns to Yokohama with her strip act many years after deserting Mike and his sister Akane. She reveals who Mikes father is and he sets out to find him. This films DoP deserves an Oscar as the picture is stunningly shot - it reminded me most of the Cinema du Look of Luc Besson and Leos Carax. Be sure to watch The Trap part three of the series.