A Kaijyu Theater Presents
A Shinya TSUKAMOTO Film
Starring: Tadanobu AS ANO
VITAL
Doctor?
Mr. Takagi?
Mr. Hiroshi Takagi?
So, you don't remember?
Not even my face?
I see.
Never thought you'd f orget this mug.
I...
I think everything's mixed up.
You had an accident.
You were out driving.
A truck crashed into yours.
The driver admits it's his fault.
I had you taken to
my old university hospital.
We were the ones who ruined it.
After all this time.
He said himself that he'd
never make it as a doctor.
I wonder why.
Ever since he was young he told us
he wanted to be a doctor.
But somewhere along the way
he became lost to us.
He's f orgotten all that now.
You okay?
"Doctors and Medicine"
"Dissection"
Come and see!
You remember about this?
Do you understand this?
Well, take your time.
No need to rush.
Medical College
Admlssions Ceremony
Congratulations
on entering medical college!
What do you want to live here for?
Do you have to move out?
Ah, and there's your college?
I suppose it is near.
Look, I'm worried.
Does it have to be here?
The ovum, a product of
almost pure chance...
...by means of cellular growth,
divergence and migration...
...creates an organism.
This person experienced trauma
to the frontal lobe section.
This area is responsible f or
personality and memory.
From this we can conclude the following:
Human character is not a constant...
The brain and spinal cord f orm
the central nervous system.
Nerve cells are concentrated
in this area.
I wonder, then...
where the soul lies...
Beneath this, however...
...there is the vast realm
of the unconscious.
It is here that our suppressed desires...
...can cause deep mental conflict
as they strive to realize themselves.
Hey!
I, er...
When streaking the petri sample
take your time, or you'll contaminate it.
Very good, Mr. Takagi.
Wow! Yours is excellent.
How do you do it?
How's mine?
What a mess!
It's contaminated!
What are you lot up to?
Back to your places.
Stop joking around.
Why are you telling me this
on the phone?
And how can you say it so lightly?
So my Ms. Yoshimoto is after Takagi?
You can't take your eyes off him.
Scary.
So you've been spying on us?
What's wrong with you?
Is it about the entrance exam?
About Takagi being top?
That's why you changed tack, eh?
Or you approached me only to know
the result?
For the price of sweets you should
be more careful.
You sneak y BITCH!
I understand you want to be alone.
But don't brood too much.
I had some of your furnlture taken
there, and put In the same place.
I thought it would help you remember.
Flrst: Ikuml Yoshimoto
Second: Hlroshl Takagl
I'm third. Ikumi beat me again.
Hiroshi, you're second.
Excellent!
How did you do it?
Tell me your secret.
Hey, everybody!
Dr. Nakai has been found, dead.
He hanged himself.
It's still not officially announced yet.
But I heard it in the research lab.
Who's Dr. Nakai?
The microbiology teacher.
No, you're kidding.
So, dissectlon classes are startlng, eh?
It's like a doctors' Initiation ceremony.
So far, what you've done
has been a walk in the park!
Come this far In 3 years,
and that's the best of all.
Slnce you started mediclne
I swear granddad's plcture
has started smlling!
Medical history stems from wanting to
understand the body's mechanism.
Dr. Genpaku Sugita was amazed by
the similarity in Dutch anatomical texts...
and his texts.
So he worked on translating them.
Eventually "Kaitai Shinsho" was
published in 1774 in Tokyo.
Trust your own eyes. This is
the key point, whatever the century.
The truth is there f or you to see.
You must embrace this concept.
As students of medicine
you are very privileged.
You have the opportunity to
explore the bodies bef ore you.
Treat them with respect at all times. We
owe thanks to them and their families...
First, take off the vinyl sheet.
Only remove the cover from
the area to be dissected.
It protects the cadaver from drying.
For today, remove the whole cover.
Inspect your sub ject.
Are there any operation scars?
Make a thorough inspection.
Make a long vertical incision here.
Then make a lateral incision.
Take this corner piece.
Is it usual f or a subject to be so young?
No, it's very rare.
I wonder how she died.
You'll find out as you dissect.
What's wrong?
Because it's her neck?
No.
Don't peel too thickly.
The tendons will stick to the skin.
We use those when we say "ee".
There, beneath the skin in the neck.
She's hopeless.
Remember her "spectacular" speech
in class?
"Human body as being an antenna
and such?" What a joke.
You want this?
How many times did this heart beat?
Seventy times a minute is 4200
times an hour.
So in a day? Well, 24 times that.
Then times 365 f or a year.
How many times if you live to 80?
And yet my TV broke after 6 years.
Was anything wrong with this heart?
There's something wrong in the lungs.
See, I can't get my hand in very far.
There are 2 or 3 white lumps in the liver.
And look at the colon.
This person had a colostomy.
Cancer of the colon can easily move
to the liver.
Why did this person die?
Mr. Takagi?
I don't know.
We can't tell by the organs alone.
We'll find out later.
I wonder what she was like.
Shame to die so young.
I must have dozed off.
I had an awful dream.
I nearly remembered the dream.
And why did I think of that?
Who told me?
That story about Martian robots.
You want to hear?
Do it to me.
Me too.
Most men are so fierce.
You're better f or me.
Today was relaxing.
Don't get me wrong.
I'm not as easy as you may think.
What's up?
You're so distant after class today.
It was me who killed Dr. Nakai.
I dated him bef ore college.
An older friend introduced us.
I was asking about this school.
He had a family, but he was kind to me.
But things got wrong,
and I grew apart from him.
He left no will, and no one
knew about us.
I tried to think it wasn't my fault.
My parents were always happy
to see me.
Some funny-looking reporters were
telling us about war and such.
In our house the sun was
always shining.
So after a while...
The fact that Dr. Nakai was dead...
just didn't bother me.
I wonder what it was like f or him.
Harder.
Do it harder.
What's up?
Nothing. I'm okay.
Watch this.
What?
"Bye bye"
Leave it!
I thought I'd get something
from drawing.
Turns out I got nothing.
They look real to me though.
As f or me, I'm not sure if I am 'real'.
It's like as if I am sleeping and dreaming.
So, you liked drawing.
Are you going to be a doctor?
Everyone thought I would be a doctor.
My parents, relatives, even me.
When I dozed off here the other day
I f elt like I'd slept f or a long time.
What?
I'm remembering something else.
I can't quite grasp it.
I wonder what it is.
When you're "there"
can you remember things from "here"?
But if that were the case...
I see.
Look...
I know we have to take things slowly.
But she died in the car crash that day.
Don't worry. It was not your fault.
Her name was Ryoko.
She passed away bef ore you woke up.
The body that I'm dissecting is...
Ryoko's body.
I don't think it can be a coincidence.
I did hear she wanted to leave
her body to science.
Other than that, I don't know.
If what you think is true...
That would be surprising.
Thank you so much.
Why have you come here?
Just go away.
Your parents were very sincere
about their grief.
What I really want to see
is your sincerity.
You were driving when it happened.
I still feel you murdered my daughter.
If you want to mourn her...
...do it when you truly remember her.
I'm starting to remember already.
Right now, at college...
I'm doing my dissection practice.
There is something I need to know.
If you can tell me...
Ryoko is on the dissection table.
I don't quite understand it.
Are you serious?
Well?
Tell me it's not true.
You want to know if it's her?
Right?
You heartless FUCK!
How the hell should I know?
Just bef ore she died she told us.
Leaving her body to science.
We didn't know you even could.
And now you think you're poking
around inside her?
What kind of a quack's school is that?
I'm getting on the phone.
It's despicable!
In fact, fuck the phone.
I'll go there in person.
Dr. Kashiwabuchi.
Yes?
What is it?
Sorry, nothing.
Sir.
May I dissect my sub ject alone?
Why?
The others are making such a mess.
No, you can't.
It's our first attempt.
There are bound to be mistakes.
What's the matter?
What's wrong.
Nothing.
Today we will observe
the facial muscles.
Take off the head covers.
Where're we heading?
Hiroshi.
What would it be like
to smash into something?
Would it hurt?
I remembered the dream I had.
You hate me!
Well, why then?
You've not made love to me yet. Why?
Is there someone else?
Is there?
Dancing?
She never danced when she was alive.
Your memory is still mixed up.
It isn't a memory.
I was there with her.
Not a memory of myself.
I mean the real me. I was there.
And what kind of "dance" was it?
The one that Ryoko did.
You make sure you take good care
of Ryoko's body.
If not, the school will be in trouble.
And I'll kill you.
I carry a big knif e all the time.
Hey.
My wif e is ill.
You should keep coming round.
Tell us about your time with Ryoko.
I'm going now.
Do you have to?
But where do you go?
I'll see you again.
Stay with me a little more.
But we can't, right?
Hiroshi!
I'll come again soon.
What is it?
May we be moved to another group?
Why?
It's just that...
Mr. Takagi?
Yes.
The other 3 haven't complained.
It's just a matter of time.
What?
What's your problem?
Mr. Takagi, put your gloves on.
Mr. Takagi.
Sir, I think there's an operation scar
here on the head.
I see.
And a blood clot on the other side.
That could be the direct cause.
A gradual hemorrhage, probably.
Do you think
she regained consciousness?
Between the operation and the
blood clot?
It's quite possible.
Our 4-month dissection program,
like the rainy season, will end soon.
Make sure your inspection
has been detailed and thorough.
You're making fine progress.
I suppose studying hands-on
helps you remember.
I guess.
That's good.
I'm happy f or you.
But try not to get too absorbed.
Dr. Kashiwabuchi was a little worried.
You're becoming more distant
as time goes by.
Dad...
...when I saw her on the
dissection table...
I couldn't understand at all.
But now I know much more.
It's like... she made her own way there.
Hiroshi.
Please come back to us.
Ryoko?
You strangle me too.
Grab me!
Please, Hiroshi.
You want to die, right?
Let's do it together!
Strangle me!
Strangle me!
Do you have to go?
I'll come back soon.
No.
No! No!
Please don't go.
What's the matter?
I'll be back soon.
You'll see me soon.
No! No! Don't go!
Hello. Mr. Hlroshl Takagi?
Yes.
This Is the police station.
We have a young woman here...
She won't tell us anythlng,
not even her name.
All she gave us was your name
and phone number.
I'm sorry we had to call so late.
You are Mr. Takagi?
So, you turned up.
What's got into you?
Why are you chasing a dead woman?
What about those of us still living?
All your happy, false memories.
What chance do I have against all those?
Mr. Takagi.
Please, Mr. Takagi.
Please, step back!
Be careful!
Mr. Takagi!
Look out!
I'm confused about "time".
What is my consciousness?
Is it like the story of the
future robots?
That's it.
People programmed robots
with their memories.
After that...
...all the humans died out.
A robot was stranded on Mars.
Bef ore the end there was a huge,
electrical memory surge.
So, me being here,
and the times when I meet Ryoko...
...it's like the robot is showing me.
An electrical broadcast of
my final moments.
Hiroshi.
It's because your memory is returning.
They're memories.
As f or Ryoko.
Well, she's gone now.
No, that's wrong.
They aren't memories.
It's not as clear-cut as that.
I think...
No good to think too much about her.
And the dissection.
You should stop doing it.
No way.
You've done your best.
But it's time to give up.
No!
I don't care what you say.
I'll tell Dr. Kashiwabuchi
to take Ryoko's body away.
You do that, and I'll kill you.
I wanted to think you had killed her.
But the light had gone from her eyes
long bef ore that.
It was when she was in high school.
She was fine before then.
Why did she lose it, I wonder.
Even we didn't know.
And we'll never know now.
I only saw the light one other time.
Just after the accident.
It was after the operation
at the local hospital.
Your dad suggested she be moved
to the university hospital.
That was it.
She was fully conscious
f or 5 or 6 hours.
It was then she mentioned
leaving her body to science.
After she died...
...her body should be tak en to
the university hospital, she told.
I've never seen her so serious.
But that wasn't easy to accept f or me.
No way.
Why should she want to inflict
more wounds, even after she died?
I couldn't understand why
she wanted this.
How could I agree to that when she
was still there, alive, in front of me?
Soon after that she lost consciousness.
A vegetable, according to the doctor.
She was moved to a private room.
My wif e and I were beside her.
It f eels like a dream now.
Just when I thought "It's all over"...
I saw Ryoko sitting up in bed.
I thought she had recovered.
My wif e was asleep.
I saw the curtain at the window.
It was moving gently in the wind.
Ryoko looked so refreshed.
She looked out of the window.
Then she turned slowly to me.
"Don't f orget my request", she said.
She spoke as plain as day.
She died that same evening.
When she's finally laid out...
Put these in her coffin.
It's okay now.
You can f orget about her.
You must be tired, too.
Not at all.
I still have a long way to go yet.
It's not right.
I don't care that his
memory was aff ected.
It's not natural.
It's unforgivable.
In a way...
...it reminds me how you were
when they brought you here.
How could they refuse
when you were so serious.
All the memories of you
came flooding back.
It was frightening.
I have to finish up now.
Just another minute.
Well?
All right, you can take her.
No, hold on.
Just another minute.
Why putting it off?
I think it's better that
I take her now.
We'll take good care of her here.
If I'd known this would happen, I wouldn't
have asked you to bring her here.
It's just coincidence...
that she became Hiroshi's subject.
Makes no diff erence you asked or not.
I can't change the rules.
I didn't want to die
Where do I go?
I'm scared.
I'm scared to be alone.
I'm sorry.
I'm really sorry.
I won't leave you.
I'll always be by your side.
I won't leave you alone.
This is reality.
This is real.
I'm going to stay here.
And we'll have a baby.
Yes!
Yeah!
Ryoko?
Hey!
Our 4-month dissection program
is now over.
Check that bones and organs
have been replaced.
Check the kidneys are on
the correct side.
Put the sash next to the hands.
The hose and sandals go by the f eet.
The triangular cloth and the headdress
go by the head.
Drape the kimono over the body.
Place the cane next to the right hand.
The laying out is now complete.
Lay the flowers inside.
Now place the lid on the coffin.
I'll give out the coffin labels now.
Group 1, number 796.
Mr. Satoru Kamata.
Group 2, number 797.
Ms. Tamae Sugawara.
Group 3, number 798.
Mr. Shuji Kinuta.
Group 4, number 799.
Ms. Ryoko Ohyama.
We will now close our eyes
and pay our last respects.
The coffins will be tak en now.
Listen f or your number carefully.
There must be no mistak es.
I'm sorry.
Thank you.
There is still some time.
Please wait in the reception room.
Let me take you to the room.
Let's move.
This way, please.
We're ready, Mr. Ohyama.
Okay.
It's time.
Is Hiroshi here?
How's his memory?
Much better.
So will he be giving up medicine?
We told him it's his own decision.
And he said...
he'll continue.
It's time.
It is time to lay the body to rest.
It's okay.
You have to be brave.
It is time to part.
Let us pray.
You know, I often thlnk...
If you could see some part of your Ilf e
again, years after you die...
...which part would you choose?
The last images of the last Martian robot.
Manklnd's flnal memory.
You stlll have so long to live,
so you can't answer properly.
As for me...
Ah, it smells wonderful.
Cast:
Tadanobu AS ANO as Hiroshi Takagi
Nami TSUKAMOTO as Ryoko Ohyama
KIKI as Ikumi Yoshimoto
Kazuyoshi KUSHID A as Hiroshi's father
Go RIJYU as Dr. Nakai
Jyun KUNIMURA as Ryoko's father
Ittoku KISHIBE as Dr. Kashiwabuchi
Staff:
Directed by Shinya TSUKAMOTO
Producers: Shinya TSUKAMOTO
Keiko and Kouichi KUS AKABE
Shinichi KAWAHARA
Script, Camera, Artistic Direction and Editing
by Shinya TSUKAMOTO
Sound Recording: Yoshiya OBARA
Camera Operation: Takayuki SHID A
Lighting: Keisuke YOSHID A
Plastic remodeling of human body and parts:
Takashi OD A
Music: Chu ISHIKAWA
Assistant Directors:
Takeshi KOIDE, Hisakatsu KUROKI
Ending Theme Song: 'blue bird'
Written, composed and sung by Cocco
Foreign Affairs: Kiyo JOO