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Vital

Play trailer Poster for Vital R,  2004,  1h 26m,  Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 83% 6 Reviews Tomatometer 71% 2,500+ Ratings Popcornmeter
83% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 71% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Following a devastating car accident that took both his memory and the life of his girlfriend (Nami Tsukamoto), Hiroshi Takagi (Tadanobu Asano) begins searching for answers. When he happens upon an anatomy textbook in his closet, Takagi remembers his pre-accident studies and decides to enroll in medical school. During the course of his lessons, Takagi is involved with the dissection of cadavers when he becomes obsessed with one body in particular, and memories slowly begin to return.

Critics Reviews

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David Rooney Variety Jun 30, 2005
Macabre yet oddly poignant, graphically physical but also metaphysical, clinical yet unexpectedly soulful. Go to Full Review
David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Jan 27, 2013
0/4
A typically worthless endeavor from noted hack Shinya Tsukamoto... Go to Full Review
MaryAnn Johanson Flick Filosopher Feb 11, 2006
Beautiful and disturbing, this Asian horror art film explores the intersection between madness and grief with a serene calm that belies the psychological turmoil under its silken surface. Go to Full Review
Josh Ralske All Movie Guide Aug 4, 2005
6/10
Vital offers its share of disturbing images and gristly medical-lab sound effects, but in the end, its pursuit of closure is surprisingly hopeful. Go to Full Review
Daniel Kasman d+kaz. intelligent movie reviews Feb 28, 2005
B-
Jon Popick Planet S Magazine Feb 26, 2005
As expected, Tsukamoto attacks as many of your senses as possible. Go to Full Review
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Vital

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Cast & Crew

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Shin'ya Tsukamoto

Director

Tadanobu Asano

Hiroshi Takagi

Nami Tsukamoto

Ryôko Ooyama

Kiki

Ikumi

Jun Kunimura

Mr. Ooyama, Ryôko's father

Kazuyoshi Kushida

Hiroshi's father

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Vital

Vital (2004) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Following a devastating car accident that took both his memory and the life of his girlfriend (Nami Tsukamoto), Hiroshi Takagi (Tadanobu Asano) begins searching for answers. When he happens upon an anatomy textbook in his closet, Takagi remembers his pre-accident studies and decides to enroll in medical school. During the course of his lessons, Takagi is involved with the dissection of cadavers when he becomes obsessed with one body in particular, and memories slowly begin to return.
Director
Shin'ya Tsukamoto
Producer
Kiyo Joo, Shin-Ichi Kawahara, Ittoku Kishibe, Keiko Kusakabe, Koichi Kusakabe, Shin'ya Tsukamoto
Screenwriter
Shin'ya Tsukamoto
Distributor
Tartan Films USA
Production Co
Kaijyu Theater
Rating
R (Aberrant Sexual Behavior|Disturbing Images|Brief Language)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Theaters)
May 18, 2004, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 29, 2020
Runtime
1h 26m
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