A jaded Japanese detective reevaluates his faded memories of his estranged teenage daughter when asked by his ex-wife to investigate her disappearance in this one-of-a-kind crime drama directed by Tetsuya Nakashima. The film is assembled with a very vibrant visual style that varies from rapid fire edits to bouts of animation to slow paced, leisurely shots that bask in the beauty of Christmas lights. The film also begins in a curious anti-narrative manner as the protagonist's memories are mixed with clips of his daughter partying and the police quizzing him. Narrative point-of-view is also broken for several flashbacks told from his daughter's boyfriend's perspective. Given the plot and stylistic touches, the film is perhaps best described as 'Kill Bill' meets 'The Third Man' and it gets points for originality alone. The dialogue is full of philosophical quips too about how some of us are not "cut out to be a human being" and how easy it is "to fall into a hole so deep" that you keep falling. Yet, for all its daringness and intelligence, the film does not entirely work. The actual solution to the girl's disappearance is mundane and the value of all the red herrings is debatable, especially the question mark placed over the true nature of his relationship to his daughter, but it does cause one to think. The ultimate messages at hand are relatively simple (not everyone is who you think they are; some vices in life are dangerous), however, the emotional roller-coaster is a hard experience to shake. This is an effective film in that it gets you in the protagonist's mind and forces you to question how you would react. The Harry Lime dynamic also works well with a protagonist as naïve as Holly Martins. This is not however the easiest film under the sun to endure.

THE WORLD OF KANAKO could very well serve as a Cautionary Tale for parents worldwide. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that it's Must-See for anyone with children, whatever their age. That's not a joke and it's not an exaggeration: I've seen this kind of thing happen in The Real World, and it's not pretty- nor SHOULD it be; it should be just what it is here- in your face and Down and Dirty. Too often people (especially here in these delusional United $tate$) sugar-coat Life and pretend all's right with the World. Well, it ain't, and THE WORLD OF KANAKO is closer to Reality than anything you're likely to see at your neighborhood multiplex.

I just seen the movie and i am speechless, one thing tho it made me scared of good looking Japanese women. Seriously after the movie i felt you cant trust anyone.There is a mixed emotion and feeling after i seen it and i ain't sure what to say. I do like Asian movies as they are different, they make you think, sometimes to much. When it comes to the disturbing parts of the movie and then i don't mean the bloody parts, its a bit like Swedish movies who can be when they put their mind to it very disturbing, you get a bad feeling in your stomach.Like in some other reviews i also felt a bit Tarantino over it and i cant say i think Tarantino makes a lot better movies, more rather if he seen this i believe he wish he had made it.

from the start of the movie until the end contain discomfort atmosphere with violent and some nudity.The story is quite confusing and I regret that I watch this movie.But after me and my friend have some discuss about this story it quite give us a lot of idea and what director want to teach us about so we give another shot for this story and we got what this story is to remind something for Japan people.The soundtrack is really various and their production is beautiful(even though cg is bad in action) Really recommend for someone who could open- mind for some weird story that is hard to understand.This movie is really good for someone who study art and who love plot twist or complicate story.Last remind.everyone can't be trusted.