Plot
A mystery outside of San Francisco brings together small-town sheriff Paul Del Moral, Japanese author Aki Akahori, and a traveler from Reno who soon disappears, leaving behind his suitcase and a trail of questions.
Storyline
In a small town south of San Francisco, Sheriff Paul Del Moral (Pepe Serna) is driving home through the fog when he accidentally strikes a pedestrian, a lone Japanese man. However, before an investigation can take place the man disappears from the hospital without a trace. At the same time, Japanese mystery author Aki Akahori (Ayako Fujitani) takes a trip to San Francisco in order to escape the press tour for her latest book--a potboiler in her world famous "Inspector Takabe" series. Feeling lonely and vulnerable, she begins a romantic affair with a mysterious Japanese traveler from Reno (Kazuki Kitamura). Her new lover is charismatic and charming but abruptly disappears from the hotel, leaving behind his suitcase and a trail of questions...
Writers: Dave Boyle, Joel Clark
Cast: Ayako Fujitani -
Aki
Pepe Serna -
Paul Del Moral
Kazuki Kitamura -
Akira
Yasuyo Shiba -
Junko
Hiroshi Watanabe -
Hitoshi
Tetsuo Kuramochi -
Shinsuke
Yuki Matsuzaki -
Tsubasa
Shiori Ideta -
Chika
Elisha Skorman -
Teresa Del Moral
Masami Kosaka -
Tatsuji
Rome Kanda -
Kageyama
Ross Turner -
Doctor
Thomas Cokenias -
Bald Man
Geo Epsilanty -
The Porter
Ron Eliot -
Desk clerk
Taglines:
The greatest mystery she's ever written. And it could be her last.
Country: USA
Language: English, Japanese
Release Date: 15 June 2014
Technical Specs
Runtime:
User Review
Author:
Rating: 9/10
Director Dave Boyle is largely known for two things: character-driven
comedies and an interest in (and understanding of) Japanese culture.
While work such as "Big Dreams Little Tokyo" and "White on Rice" used
the former to good effect, his latest film "Man From Reno" capitalizes
on the latter in the context of a modern-day noir. In two separate
narratives that inform one another, veteran character actor Pepe Serna
and Japanese actors Auako Fujitani and Kazuki Kitamura all give
career-best performances in parts that afford them time and space to do
more than what's usually asked of them. Serna grounds his small-town
sheriff with a matter-of-factness and dedication that hints at a great
understanding of the character; Fujitani crackles with intellect as a
mystery novelist a little too eager to live out an adventure similar to
those about which she writes, and Kazuki Kitamura is finally given a
role that acknowledges and maximizes his mischievous charm. Set and
shot in the Bay Area of California, "Man From Reno" is a clever,
noirish mystery that plays as part procedural, part character drama.
Director Dave Boyle takes a major step out of his comfort zone with the
film and the payoff is immediate. If you're a fan of snappy, believable
dialogue and plot twists, this one's for you.
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