My Secret Cache (1997)

"I Wish Someone Would Rob The Bank, Preferably Taking Me Hostage...A Tragic Heroine"

There is a drama series, unrelated to this movie, with the same title...hope that it was as HILARIOUS as this movie!
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This was HILARIOUS movie! From the beginning I knew that I was going to enjoy it!

Suzuki Sakiko (Nishida Naomi) is the oldest child of a middle-class family whose 'obsession' is M-O-N-E-Y!

Unfortunately, she wins no friends when she shows them her savings booklet (her prize possession!), and she would prefer money from a guy rather than him using the money to buy her snacks or a meal.

Her mother suggests that she become a bank teller since she loves money so much; this is where we find her as a couple of robbers stage a robbery and take her as a hostage!

The rest of the story follows her as she is found, goes back to work and finally starts on her quest to recover the suitcase loaded with money...somewhere in the Aokigahara mountains (near My Fuji). The movie is loaded with

I loved her tenacity in learning the skills necessary to recover the suitcase. She 'acts' as a young female who has a goal in life from recovering from the ordeal and meets every obstacle with determination, motivation and careful planning. Yet at the same time, she seems to really to get into her character, showing an adolescent playfulness that becomes light comic pleasure onscreen.

She 'makes' opportunities by applying herself and being in the right place at the right time!

The support cast, including her family college faculty and staff, add greatly to the story and allow her to reach the goals she needed at the right times. They all become her obstacle at sometime but she is able to navigate their interference.

What happens as she becomes involved with other people and learns new skills, is her moving from loving money to loving adventure for itself! When you watch the movie, you will understand what I am talking about.

The music was placed where it was needed and appropriate and the cinematography was fantastic. The site for her journey down the river was beautiful, with a return to the same lovely scenery when her actual search begins. The landscapes and atmosphere are worth watching the movie in itself!

Although this was a low budget movie and her actions were sometimes foolish (as the director wanted them to be), you cannot help but start but wanting this dreamer and her antics to win the day!

I am going to have to find more films by Nishida Naomi and this movie's director, Yaguchi Shinobu.

By the way, the reason she got into college finally is typical comical gag, but it was done superbly by the bit player that pulled it off!


RE-WATCH VALUE: Definitely, especially with friends!

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