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The Travellers
Three episodes, three stories, three destinations. The common denominator that binds the diverse narrative, Haruma Miura, who appears in all three episodes of this omnibus production.This anthology miniseries is a fusion of dramatic storytelling and immersive travelogue presented in a format of three short films, each helmed by its own individual director which features a distinctive premise, storytelling approach, cinematographic style, music score and atmospherics.
Tourist is the first drama ever produced by Paravi, a Japanese premium OTT platform which began operations in the same year. Santa Yamagishi, Smith and Hatsuki Yokoo directed episodes 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The screenplays for episodes 1 and 2 were written by Yasuko Kuramitsu (Imawa no Kuni no Alice) and Yuichi Toyone while episode 3 was written by Mitsuki Yoshida. The award-winning 4-member Korean indie band, Hyukoh provided two of their hit songs for the production, namely Comes and Goes (opening theme) and LOVE YA! (ending theme). Principal photography took place across all three locations of Bangkok, Taipei and Ho Chi Minh.
What I Loved
This is a quality production with sleek cinematography that makes the most of the gorgeous filming locales through intimately framed moments and vividly depicted scenes. Each of the three episodes appears remarkably cinematic with a slightly raw edge and the kind of tastefully-rendered colour grading as well as warm palettes that I appreciate. Superb direction and design in a mostly outdoor setting has further augmented this very well produced drama.
The conceptual and somewhat surrealistic storylines that focus primarily on human drama are uniquely crafted with convincing relatability and depth to the characterizations, imbued with no lack of emotional complexity, intrigue and tension. All three episodes were a joy to behold.
I absolutely adored Haruma Miura’s performance in this entire production. His portrayal of the charming stranger in each story, Makoto Ameku, is utterly mesmerising which speaks volumes of the massive talent and charisma he possessed. To be honest, I did feel an immense sadness while watching his scenes in this drama - the world has undeniably lost such a fine actor in Haruma Miura, and we as viewers are very much the poorer for it.
Episode 1 - Bangkok
The troubled TV producer, Satsuki Nogami, played by Asami Mizukawa, faces an existential crisis where she questions the purpose of her existence before pondering the potential for cathartic release offered through death. A fateful encounter with Makoto Ameku following an incident of snatch theft leads to a session of “compensated dating” that eventually reinvigorates her outlook on life. I thought Asami Mizukawa delivered a heartfelt performance in this segment.
Episode 2 - Taipei
The due-to-be-married Honoka Tsunomori, portrayed by the effervescent Ikeda Eliza, goes on a bachelorette trip to Taipei with her friends before returning home to tie the knot. An unexpected turn of events leads to her chance meeting with Makoto Ameku, with whom she experiences an evening of thrills and spills. Ikeda Eliza manifests a youthful exuberance in her interpretation of a conflicted young woman who endures the pre-wedding jitters. This episode ended up being the most unusual and rather fun, with an infusion of Taiwanese cultural elements.
Episode 3 - Ho Chi Minh
Machiko Ono’s Kaoru Tachibana, who is going through marriage problems, chases after her two-timing husband and his mistress to Ho Chi Minh. She comes across a stranger, Makoto Ameku, who she enlists to assist her in tracking down the adulterous couple. Machiko Ono’s performance is perhaps the most nuanced in a convoluted story amongst the female leads in the drama.
Final Thoughts
Each of the stories depicted is simple yet believable, relatable, poignant and heartfelt. They subtly explore the underlying theme of self discovery where every character at long last attains a certain degree of self-actualization and closure to a chapter of their lives.
This production featuring a memorable performance by Haruma Miura truly deserves to be seen and appreciated. Despite being relatively short, Tourist has been an unforgettable viewing experience for me.
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What I loved about Tourist was the acting is subtle, the characters are real and bring their own unique charms and downfalls and they are so human that you can't hate them, because they're relatable. These characters could be someone you know and they're all trying to find answers to problems or face issues in their lives to help them move on. The story itself is quite solid, with great cast and acting. And through the actions of each encounter we are able to understand more about the characters than is said in the dialogue, just as you would if you were to interact with someone new in the real world.
The music fit well and the opening theme sequence was well done and fit the drama well.
While I probably wouldn't watch Tourist again in a hurry, it is one of the better short dramas that I have enjoyed for its simplicity and understated storytelling, and one that I would recommend to a drama fan who was feeling a little lost with what to watch and wanted to understand themselves a little better.
Personally, I rated it an 8 because these are the kinds of stories that I like. Short, sweet and to the point and I see a lot of myself in Miura's character. There is also something to be said for the Japanese way of storytelling - it's always so unique and there is always an element of relatable humanity.
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