Story

Junichi Miyata (Ken Mitsuishi) is a 50-year-old truckdriver. His life hasn’t been the same since he lost his wife to cancer 10 years ago. His son and daughter don’t seem to respect him and are anxious to go to Tokyo to attend expensive private universities. Without money, status, or fame, the only thing that Miyata thinks he can retain for himself is a sense of dignity and style. One day, he develops stomach pains and begins to suspect he might be dying from the same disease that took his wife. Believing he doesn’t have much time left, he attempts to reconnect with his kids with the help of his friend, Sawada (Tomoro Taguchi).

Overview

Director Yuya Ishii is only 27 but has made and released countless films, including last year’s festival hit Sawako Decides. His bitterly ironic comedies focus on down-and-out characters who are ready to say uncle to life, and the star of his latest is the good-natured but constantly frustrated Miyata, performed beautifully by Mitsuishi. A Man with Style, however, is the director’s first “family film,” focusing on Miyata’s family unit, and its charm, pathos, and generosity towards its characters make it his most well-rounded work to date.