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Beijing Watermelon

Original title: Pekin no suika
  • 1989
  • 2h 15m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
286
YOUR RATING
Beijing Watermelon (1989)
Drama

The film is based on true events. It centers around Shunzo, a popular greengrocer who lives in a city near Tokyo. His life, and that of his wife, Michi and their two children, undergoes a dr... Read allThe film is based on true events. It centers around Shunzo, a popular greengrocer who lives in a city near Tokyo. His life, and that of his wife, Michi and their two children, undergoes a dramatic change when he encounters Li, a poor college student from China.The film is based on true events. It centers around Shunzo, a popular greengrocer who lives in a city near Tokyo. His life, and that of his wife, Michi and their two children, undergoes a dramatic change when he encounters Li, a poor college student from China.

  • Director
    • Nobuhiko Ôbayashi
  • Writer
    • Yoshihiro Ishimatsu
  • Stars
    • Bengal
    • Masako Motai
    • Yasufumi Hayashi
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    286
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Nobuhiko Ôbayashi
    • Writer
      • Yoshihiro Ishimatsu
    • Stars
      • Bengal
      • Masako Motai
      • Yasufumi Hayashi
    • 3User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win total

    Photos10

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    Top cast32

    Edit
    Bengal
    • Haruzo Horikoshi, the Greengrocer
    • (as Bengaru)
    Masako Motai
    Masako Motai
    • Michi Horikoshi
    Yasufumi Hayashi
    • Toru Horikoshi
    Haruhiko Saitô
    • Mr. Ioka, the Pharmacist
    • (as Haruhiko Saitoh)
    Takashi Sasano
    • Mr. Yamada, the Real Estate Agent
    Hana Kino
    • Matsue Otobuji
    Akira Emoto
    • Mr. Teramoto, the Shopkeeper
    Yugi Ogata
    • Bank Clerk
    Ryô Ôkubo
    • Mr. Aotani
    • (as Ryo Okubo)
    Ryô Iwamatsu
    • Policeman
    Kazunori Hagiwara
    • Yasuo Hirai
    Hiromi Oshima
    Hiromi Oshima
    • Yumi Horikoshi
    Jun Yamada
    Hiromi Oda
    • Midori
    Shinbo Minami
    • Foppish Man
    Ryô Amamiya
    • Customer
    Kazue Tsunogae
    Takeko Kitamura
    • Director
      • Nobuhiko Ôbayashi
    • Writer
      • Yoshihiro Ishimatsu
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews3

    7.2286
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    Featured reviews

    10thomas-korn

    Ôbayashi does Robert Altman (quite well)

    Altman was known for having "layered" dialogue in most his movies (everyone talking over each other) Ôbayashi had to use this - and the mostly wide shots otherwise, the story would get lost. This is a highly under rated and under appreciated movie. The whole family, not just the father were the main characters. If the movie focused on any one character over any other, the movie would be confusing.

    Please watch this movie and understand every aspect of it helps lend focus exactly where it was needed.
    8samyanari

    A Japanese greengrocer's warm relationship with Chinese students

    Adapted from a true story. A greengrocer and his wife befriend and aid Chinese college students over a period of years. Neglect of their business results in a financial crisis which is resolved with the aid of the grateful students. Later, the couple are guests of the ex-students who are now in Beijing. Has humor and warmth. To achieve a natural setting, The director often has several people talking at the same time and often on different subjects. When Chinese is spoken, there are vertical titles, accompanying the English subtitles.

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    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • November 18, 1989 (Japan)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Пекинский арбуз
    • Production companies
      • Makkusdai
      • PSC
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 15m(135 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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